The St. Louis Blues, led by GM Doug Armstrong, have failed in the season's biggest moments time and again in recent years. As such, questions over the future of the franchise and some of its key pieces swirled at the outset of yet another begun-too-soon offseason.
Reports emerged that Armstrong was considering altering the "core" of the team and was listening on the likes of TJ Oshie, Patrik Berglund and perhaps even David Backes. Then, just prior to the 2015 NHL Draft, an even more interesting rumor started making the rounds that mobile defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk could potentially be available for the trading.
Now, those rumors have again come to the fore, as NHL information maven John Buccigross, in response to a reader's question as to whether something "meaningful" was in store for the Blues in the not-too-distant future, offered simply that "it's coming."
Buccimane expanded on those thoughts shortly thereafter, in response to a reader suggesting they liked the potential fit of Shattenkirk in Columbus.
Blues were calling around bout Oshie. Don't know if they still are. Prolly. @shattdeuces/Oshie link seems possible. https://t.co/6URchcTw9L
— John Buccigross (@Buccigross) July 2, 2015
It's not surprising in the least that the Blues were making calls to other teams on Oshie - his name has been the subject of trade rumors for months, going as far back as the NHL trade deadline in March. He's a talented player who picked up the pace of his play in the second-half of the 2014-15 season, but he also comprises a portion of a Blues core that just hasn't been up to snuff in the postseason.
He's still young, 28, managed 19 goals and 36 assists in 72 games last year and is sent to enter the second-to-last year of a five-year, $20.875 million contract extension that carries a fairly modest $4.175 million average annual value.
The still-persisting notion that Shattenkirk could be available, on the other hand, is beyond head-scratching. He's a talented puck mover with good mobility and ample ability to push the pace of play.
The former first-round pick, just 26, potted eight goals and 36 assists in just 56 games for St. Louis last year. He added another eight postseason helpers.
TSN's Darren Dreger refuted the notion that Shattenkirk could potentially be on the move, reporting that the Blues say he's "not in play."
Considering the team let Barrett Jackman walk, missed out on Kevin Bieksa via trade and hasn't done much other than sign Chris Butler to boost their blueline, Dreger's report seems to make the most sense.
Still, it seems the biggest takeaway for Blues fans from all of this is that Armstrong is active in the market and something is likely to come sometime in the near future for St. Louis.
UPDATE, 5 PM: Oshie's a Washington Capital. The Blues got Troy Brouwer, goaltender Pheonix Copley and a 2016 third-round pick back in the deal.
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