St. Louis Blues: Which 2019 Cup holdovers are most likely to be traded this offseason?
By David Crum
The St. Louis Blues team is entirely different from the Cup-winning squad.
The most successful holdover is undoubtedly Robert Thomas, who, by all accounts, is the future of the current team.
Thomas appears to be staying put for the years to come.
That being said, there is a circumstance in which one of two key veterans may be traded.
Would former St. Louis Blues head coach Craig Berube go after a proven leader to bolster the Toronto Maple Leafs?
It’s not entirely impossible that Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving and newly appointed coach Craig Berube have discussed adding missing pieces to Toronto's highly talented roster.
One scenario, albeit a long shot due to contractual figures and no-trade clauses, is bringing in a veteran player from the St. Louis Blues to bolster the Maple Leafs into a championship contender.
Two intriguing names exist: Colton Parayko and Brayden Schenn.
Both know Berube and held some leadership or captain status under his realm.
We’ve also seen this scenario play out several times in professional sports. Familiarity, coachability, and irreplaceable leadership can drive such an acquisition to exist.
Would Parayko or Schenn entertain a trade to the Maple Leafs?
It’s possible. The Maple Leafs are a win-now roster, loaded with extreme talent.
Either player could immediately step in, fill leadership gaps, and provide guidance for such a talented team to win a Cup.
Schenn notably played exceptionally well in the 2018-19 post-season run and could be a difference-maker for the existing Toronto roster.
Both have pretty hefty contracts and currently entertain complete no-trade clauses. In other words, they can’t be traded without their consent.
Would either of them lift their no-trade clauses? It’s possible. First, they know the coach, Craig Berube. Second, they would enter play with a championship-caliber team. And perhaps most telling, they would be sought-after leaders who would help polish an existing team and carry the Maple Leafs to the next level.
In the offseason, speculation is what we do. But don’t be entirely surprised if a phone call or some inquiry were made for either player.
Money is the trickiest aspect of any potential deal, as the Maple Leafs would not trade any star player for aging veterans with declining statistics.
However, Berube knows Parayko or Schenn could greatly help his new team.
feed