Latest On The Blues’ Deadline Plans

The Blues reported openness to dealing away captain Brayden Schenn has made the team one of the more intriguing clubs to watch leading up to the trade deadline on March 7.

The Fourth Periods David Pagnotta noted this morning that St.

Louis was one of the most active teams in trade conversations during the 4 Nations break and has also begun to receive calls on core forwards Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou .

Pagnotta adds the formers reported availability had a trickle effect on additional talks, but more teams have expressed firm interest in Schenn than the others as theyve had more time to marinate.

While Schenn has been seen as a speculative fit for a few teams, namely the Avalanche , there hasnt been any mention yet of a team demonstrating clear interest.

That changes with Pagnottas report, as he notes the Golden Knights are one of several teams that have contacted St.

Louis general manager Doug Armstrong about a Schenn trade: [The Golden Knights] have cap space.

Obviously, Shea Theodore is out.

We had heard the initial prognosis was six-to-eight weeks, which would take them right towards the end of the season.

So, well see kind of where that goes.

But (Schenns) on their radar and a few other teams, as well.

How high the Blues set the asking price for Schenn remains to be seen.

Its been a sellers market thus far, but Schenn has a full no-trade clause and carries a $6.5MM cap hit thats already a tad steep for what hes provided offensively over the last two seasons.

Considering hes 33 years old and signed through the 2027-28 campaign, there wont be an oversized list of teams willing to take on that contract.

St.

Louis does have all three of its salary retention slots available.

Still, theres an inherent risk of limiting their retention availability for that many seasons if the Blues endure a longer retool or rebuild than expected.

If someone steps up for them, they certainly wont be keeping any money on Buchnevich or Kyrou, both signed through the 2030-31 season.

It stands to reason that Kyrou would land the most significant return of the trio.

Hes the youngest at age 26 and leads the team in scoring with 23-2144 through 56 games.

Hes tied his career-best +10 rating, and while his offensive production is his worst per-game basis in four years, he boasts more substantial possession impacts than in the past and has added a bit more physicality to his game with a career-high 31 hits.

An $8.125MM cap hit may stand as a small overpay at present but checks in at market value once the salary cap begins its meteoric rise next season, assuming his current 64-pace is where he bottoms out.

Hes averaged 33 goals and 73 points per 82 games since his breakout 2021-22 campaign.

Buchnevich put pen to paper on a six-year, $48MM extension one day after becoming eligible to sign one last summer, but his production has continued to slide after back-to-back seasons above a point per game in 2021-22 and 2022-23.

His totals dropped to 63 points in 80 games last year, and hes only pace for 52 points over an 82-game schedule in 2024-25 with 11-2334 through 54 appearances.

His minus-two rating is his worst since arriving in St.

Louis four years ago, as is his 11.1% shooting rate.

With so much term attached at an $8MM annual commitment, a Buchnevich trade will likely need to wait until the summer at the earliest for teams to gauge whether the chance at a resurgence is worth the risk of him plateauing at 50-65 points per season.

This article first appeared on Pro Hockey Rumors and was syndicated with permission..

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