Why the St. Louis Blues must try for a blockbuster trade for Leon Draisaitl

You know, every year, you get that one team that just shocks the NHL universe with a blockbuster trade or a major move that nobody saw coming. Something akin to when Johnny Gaudreau signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets, of all teams, a couple of years back. Well, while this article involves why the St. Louis Blues should pursue Leon Draisaitl in a trade is likely a pipe dream, it still deserves our utmost attention. 

And yeah, in case you haven’t heard, the Draisaitl trade rumors are heating up, even if there are some obstacles the Edmonton Oilers would need to climb through thanks to a 10-team no-trade clause and a no-movement clause. But if the situation is right, oh, you can count on Draisaitl waiving those clauses to go elsewhere, especially if there’s a chance he’ll receive the most lucrative deal possible. 

Okay, that’s great and all, but the Blues are also a cash-strapped team, so how could they even fathom trading for Draisaitl? Hey, if you’ve been a well-respected executive in this league for as long as general manager Doug Armstong has, he’ll find a way to make it work. But let’s have some fun and figure a few things out for ourselves. 

St. Louis Blues must try for a blockbuster trade involving Leon Draisaitl

Either Justin Faulk or Torey Krug, a pair of viable blueliners despite their older ages, would be a perfect fit in a trade like this. The 16th overall pick can go, and perhaps even Pavel Buchnevich, who would be much easier for the Oilers to fit into their budget next season and beyond, as opposed to Draisaitl. 

This is one of a few trade packages the Blues could offer for Draisaitl, and doing so would place him onto a team that has a trio of promising forwards in Jake Neighbours, Jordan Kyrou, and Robert Thomas. Not to mention Brandon Saad and Brayden Schenn, so you’re completing the top-six by trading for Draisaitl. 

And this doesn’t even count reliable players on the bottom-six, which would include Kevin Hayes and likely Zachary Bolduc and Zach Dean. Plus, the Blues, in such a scenario, would most likely get rid of a blueliner currently on a full no-trade clause, and they would probably have no problem heading over to Edmonton. 

St. Louis may get another player in this deal should Doug Armstrong find a way to make a big trade with Oilers general manager Ken Holland. But the possibility is real here, and someone like Draisaitl would transform the trajectory of the Blues if Armstrong is willing to at least make the inquiry.

Update: The Oilers and Ken Holland went their separate ways shortly before this article was published.