With each passing day, it looks more and more likely that the Blues will be sellers at the trade deadline. They have lost seven of their last eight, dropping their record to 20-27-9. They are also in last place in the Central Division and are 12 points back of the final wild card spot in the West. A miracle needs to happen in order for the Blues to get back into the playoff conversation. That's why it's smart for the Blues to trade pieces for future assets.
But the Blues do not need to wait for the trade deadline to start the teardown process. With the Olympic freeze set for 3:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday, many teams will be looking to upgrade. One player who will be easy for the Blues to move is Mathieu Joseph. He's set to be a free agent at the end of this season and is on a very team-friendly deal. But why might Joseph be moved, and where could he end up?
Why Mathieu Joseph is the easiest player to move before the Olympic freeze
In 39 games this season, Joseph has recorded two goals and nine assists for 11 points. He's currently on pace to have a better season than he did last season and have one of the highest point totals of his career. His advanced numbers are decent as well. According to Natural Stat Trick, he has 48.28 CF%, 51.95 SCF%, and 49.24 xG%. These numbers are right in line with his career averages. They also suggest that his offensive production is better than his counting stats suggest.
While Joseph is having a decent offensive season, that is not his main role as a player. He is a bottom-six forward known for his forechecking and aggressiveness. He is also one of the fastest skaters, ranking in the 80th percentile of max skating speed according to NHL EDGE. This has helped him be one of the best penalty killers in the league. This is a kind of player that every playoff team wants. It's the type of player who won't get the attention but can make the difference in a playoff series.
What makes Joseph a candidate to be traded before the freeze is how simple trade negotiations would be for him. As mentioned before, Joseph is a pending free agent with a salary of $2.95 million. This means that a team can take him on without the Blues having to retain salary. He will also only cost a team a mid-round pick. The highest it would take is a third-rounder. This makes negotiations simple and can help a deal get done quickly.
Several teams should be interested in Joseph's services. The Canadiens should be one of the best landing spots, as they are in need of an experienced forward. Someone to help lead the young core they have assembled. The Devils could also be a team to watch, as they are in desperate need of a change. He's someone they can acquire on the cheap to try and turn the season around. If it fails, they still have all the pieces that can help them in the future.
Moving Joseph would be the first domino to fall in the Blues' fire sale. He's an easy player to move, one who could land the Blues a decent return and set them up for future trades.