The St. Louis Blues missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs this previous season, but they you should not want a repeat functionality in 2023-24. St. Louis is hoping for a return to postseason hockey upcoming spring. They have a sound roster by now in position and manufactured some moves to bolster their present team.
Their most notable shift could be the much-publicized trade for forward Kevin Hayes. Hayes joined the Blues from the Philadelphia Flyers in what essentially amounted to a cap dump. However, the offer originally was intended to contain Flyers blueliner Travis Sanheim and Blues defender Torey Krug, but that version of the trade fell as a result of.
No matter, the intention for the Blues this future time is obvious. That explained, there exists a fact in which St. Louis is out of playoff rivalry close to the NHL trade deadline. And in that situation, the workforce has a couple of players they could market off for draft assets.
So, acknowledging both equally options, let’s consider a glance at the Blues and establish a few likely trade candidates on the roster as the 2023-24 NHL year approaches.
Jakub Vrana
The Blues obtained Vrana at the 2023 NHL trade deadline in March from the Detroit Purple Wings. Vrana fell out of favor with the Purple Wings corporation soon after entering the league’s player assistance program very last Oct. The 27-12 months-previous Czechian forward took full gain of this new start by scoring 10 aims and 14 points in 20 games.
The Blues undoubtedly hope Vrana can continue on to create off his speedy get started with the workforce. He has shown he can be a extremely productive aim scorer in the NHL in the past. In truth, he even has a 25-objective time below his belt. For what ever reason, things just haven’t gone his way in recent several years.
A productive Vrana could enable the Blues into playoff contention this approaching year. But, if the group is on the outside wanting in, St. Louis can trade him. The 27-year-outdated has one 12 months remaining on his contract. Moreover, the Red Wings retained salary in his trade to St. Louis.
Any contending team could have a successful Vrana on a $2.625 million cap strike. Probably even much less than that if the Blues are inclined to eat some salary. It is tricky to think about customers not having an curiosity in this opportunity appear trade deadline year.
Kasperi Kapanen
Kapanen joined the Blues very last period soon after becoming put on waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Kapanen suited up for 23 video games in St. Louis and finished up scoring additional objectives with the Blues (8) than he did with the Penguins (7) in 20 fewer video games.
Kapanen has continuously place up all-around 30-40 details since 2018-19, even though he has only eclipsed 40 factors just as soon as. On a $3.2 million wage, that output could possibly be a bit really hard for a crew to acknowledge. Even so, if Kapanen can sustain his rate from the finish of past time, maybe you will find some thing remaining to unearth with the 27-calendar year-aged.
Kapanen is a no cost agent at the conclude of this upcoming period. It may possibly not just be a make-or-break marketing campaign, but the pressure is on to present a thing. But even in the event Kapanen carries on at the pace he’s settled into, the Blues could use one particular of their a few retained salary slots and dangle him on the trade sector this spring.
Marco Scandella
Scandella is the most professional participant on this record. He has used 13 yrs in the NHL as a result much. The 33-yr-previous blueliner has suited up for the Minnesota Wild, Buffalo Sabres, and Montreal Canadiens in his occupation. And he could increase an additional group to the list this upcoming period.
Scandella is coming off an harm-shortened time in which he performed just 20 game titles. He skipped the to start with half of the period recovering from hip surgical treatment. And then missed the remainder of the season just after blocking a shot versus the Nashville Predators in early April.
Accidents are certainly a issue for any player acquiring up there in age. A further obstacle is Scandella’s modified no-trade clause. The Montreal indigenous can veto a trade to 7 groups of his selecting. Teams could already be cautious because of to injury issues. His no-trade defense undoubtedly will not enable matters.
However, Scandella can rebuild himself this period. Remaining healthful by the trade deadline goes a extended way towards assuaging worries about his health. This could open his marketplace up and let the Blues to recoup some belongings for the veteran blueliner if the chance occurs.