It's not every day that the St. Louis Blues dominate hockey headlines. Then again, it's not every day they trade away a fan favorite and core roster member.
They did just that today by sending forward David Perron to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for fellow winger Magnus Paajarvi and a second round selection in the 2014 NHL entry draft.
Perron, 25, was one of three first round picks in the taken by the organization in 2007. The draft that was going to really fill the prospect cabinet in the height of the rebuild. His surprise performance at the training camp following his selection earned him a roster spot in the big show he never relinquished. Combining his soft hands and offensive flair, perhaps best summed up in his
undressing of Mark Streit, made Perron #1 in the hearts of fans.
The white skates (and tinted visor) and perceived (by some, not all) treatment under former bench boss Andy Murray we're the final touches that cemented No. 57 in to the Scottrade Center roof as a lightning rod.
Through six seasons the Sherbrooke, Quebec native racked up 84 goals and 198 points in 304 regular season games. In the lockout shortened 2012-13 season he amassed 10 goals (third highest on the team) and 25 points while appearing in all 48 games. A .52 points/game pace put him barely behind his career .58 points/game pace.
A solid performance that put even more distance between Perron and his debilitating concussion that took more than a year of the game away.
So then why trade a highly skilled, offensively motivated, and popular producing forward on a team that doesn't have all that many that can be described as such?
It's all about the money.
With defenseman Alex Pietrangelo looking for a lucrative new contract and forward Chris Stewart filing for arbitration (we'll get to that in a minute) the space between the current payroll figures and the upper limit is the narrowest it's been ever in the current salary cap era.
Given GM Doug Armstrong's desire to dress a deep lineup and the emergence of goalie of the future Jake Allen, Slovak netminder Jaroslav Halak and the remaining 1 year at $4.5 million contract were likely the preferred option to be moved in a salary dump trade. As it can be, the market for moving a goalie isn't always the easiest to barter in. Even though his value isn't what it used to be, Perron is still a desirable asset for a team looking to increase the talent level on their roster.
Enter the Edmonton Oilers who have a new GM, former Blues center Craig MacTavish, and are looking to revamp their roster. Not only for the upcoming campaign that starts this fall, but for the next several in to the future. Their coffers are still stocked with promising young players that have made those only a few years ahead of them expendable and not paid much.
Hence, Magnus Paajarvi, the 10th overall selection in the 2009 draft, going the other way. In 163 NHL games the Norrköping, Sweden native has registered 26 goals and 58 points. Normally one would think that a player drafted so highly wouldn't be part of a deal like this one. But with recent top picks in Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Nail Yakupov in addition to Jordan Eberle and Sam Gagner the opportunity for Paajarvi to break in continually reduced to nothing.
With the swap Edmonton gets a proven threat that can help insulate their young stars and eventually replace Ales Hemsky when he moves on in free agency (or the next trade deadline) and the Blues get an unsigned RFA who will agree to a contract for much less than what they were paying to who was traded away.
It appears to be a win-win for both teams on paper... for now.
The rub will be what type of contract Stewart agrees to and how well he produces. If Stewart can forget his miserable playoff performance (1 assist in 6 games) and repeat his regular season success (team leading 18 goals and 36 points in 48 games) then moving Perron was a no brain-er. If he regresses in to his 2011-12 form (15 goals in 79 games) then hindsight will declare a dud.
Some clarity was gleamed in to that contract as Stewart filed for arbitration Wednesday. Since the team and player couldn't come to an agreement the ever waiting to bloom power forward is due to be paid very well as
Garth pointed out earlier today. That said, Stewart at $4 million and Paajarvi at something in the $1.5 to $2.0 million range is easier to fit in to the budget than Stewart plus Perron's $3.5 million.
A one year deal worth that much for Stewart may make life harder on Armstrong this summer, but in terms of what the winger would get on the open market, it's a potential steal. Enough so that other teams would still have significant interest should he be made available. Not saying he is, but for the right deal, as we've seen in Armstrong's tenure, virtually any player is available.
What would the Blues look for in return?
It's no secret that their depth in prospects is not as great as it once was, but there are still high end potential performers waiting for thier chance. With Perron moving on Jaden Schwartz becomes the heir apparent to the open top 6 left wing position. Vladimir Tarasenko is a lock in a top 9 right wing role. Forwards Dmitrij Jaskin and Ty Rattie are NHL ready or as close as can be without being presently. There is plenty of depth to back fill Stewart's spot.
If the defense is set, once Pietrangelo signs it will be, and they move another forward what possible area are they trying to improve? The answer may surprise you.
To say the Blues are always looking to improve is as cliche as it is common knowledge. One area is in goal. Where Halak and Brian Elliott have done well enough and Allen is their future, the opportunity to gain even more strength in net is not one that will be avoided. Being "well enough" isn't good enough to bring end the Cup drought in St. Louis.
The last two post seasons following the regular season stand as prime examples to that point.
Who would they turn to improve? Someone like Ryan Miller comes to mind and for good reason. The Blues' interest in an experienced netminder with credentials like his, Olympian and Vezina winner, is nothing new. To draw a comparison, their interest is Miller is like their interest in Jay Bouwmeester.
We all know how that ended up.
That said, not every deal happens quickly or happens at all. Transactions like these, major team direction changing ones, take time. The genesis of the Bouwmeester acquisition as a case in point. Remember the Erik Johnson trade as well? Conversation percolated throughout the 2010-11 season and didn't culminate in a deal till February 2011.
Whether or not another trade occurs this summer will largely have to do with the asking price. The Blues and Armstrong are prepared to send Allen down to their new AHL affiliate in Chicago and go at it with Halak and Elliott while they wait to see if the price to get Miller, or someone like him, goes down.
My gut feeling is that the situation with Miller is projecting down a similar path as the Bouwmeester situation did last year. Will Buffalo pull the trigger like Calgary did?
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Time for your take. Sound off in the comments. Who came out ahead in the trade? What's Stewart worth? Should the Blues bring in Miller or stand pat in net?
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Thanks for reading. Please feel free to follow me on Twitter to talk hockey (and food, sci-fi, the weather...):
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