Doug Armstrong is ready to deal.
The St. Louis Blues GM has an embarrassment of riches - though, considering their failures in the NHL postseason of late, it may not exactly be fair to term them riches - at the forward position and it seems, according to the latest report, that he's got his heart set this offseason on sending some of it elsewhere in exchange for picks or players that can help the franchise right those recent playoff wrongs.
"Utterly disappointed with another playoff failure, change is in the offing within their core roster if there's a deal that makes sense. Word is the Blues would like to move apples for apples in any deal, which is a very difficult thing to do in the cap system, particularly in a summer when so many teams are looking to shed salary, not add any," reports ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.
"But if there's a deal out there that makes sense, word from rival executives is that the Blues are more open-minded than ever to move one of their long-standing core guys, whether that's David Backes, T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund or other veterans."
The first-round playoff loss to the upstart Minnesota Wild after yet another promising regular season caused talk to swirl around St. Louis that all manner of changes could be afoot for the talented team.
Head coach Ken Hitchcock's future was questioned, but he was ultimately brought back on a one-year deal. With Hitchcock avoiding blame for yet another playoff collapse, it seems Armstrong is indicating that he believes the failure lies with the players. HNGN passed along a report earlier this week that Armstrong was willing to deal some "core" players and LeBrun's report only furthers that talk.
Oshie's name has been discussed time and again as a potential trade target. The Bruins were reportedly hot on his trail prior to the March trade deadline, but nothing ultimately came of it and Oshie shook off an early season funk to ultimately post pretty good numbers.
Still, he comprises part of a no longer young core of Blues forwards whose time at the top in St. Louis could be coming to an end, especially as players like Jori Lehtera and Vladimir Tarasenko prove that they deserve expanded roles and increased playing time.
Berglund, a former first-round pick, hasn't yet blossomed into the play the team hoped he would be. He's still only 27 though, and could potentially make good on his still-ample promise in a new NHL home.
Backes is entering the final year of his contract, meaning it's probably the best possible time to move him. Then again, his contributions won't easily be replicated or replaced - he finished 2014-15 with 26 goals and 32 assists - and it may behoove Armstrong to keep the talented and versatile center.
Really, Backes pretty much represents the dilemma currently facing Armstrong - the Blues GM has got plenty of talent like Backes in place, but the current construction of his roster is clearly flawed.
Whether shipping some of that talent - or riches - elsewhere in the offseason will result in better playoff outcomes in the near future for St. Louis is the question that Armstrong must answer.
