The St. Louis Blues are reportedly discussing potential trades involving defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. They're also said to be among the teams - perhaps the team - pushing hardest for a Jonathan Drouin trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning. And while the two seem likely to be connected considering need aligns so perfectly - the Lightning want defense, the Blues need scoring - that isn't necessarily the case.
"Well, I think Doug Armstrong is looking at a lot of different things. There's no question the Blues are in on Jonathan Drouin, but Shattenkirk may not be part and parcel of that," TSN's Bob McKenzie said Monday, while appearing on Edmonton's TSN 1260, per Today's Slap Shot. "But Shattenkirk may be an expendable piece of the puzzle because they have so much depth on the blueline. They've got to maintain a budget and balance things out a little bit there. The emergence of Parayko and Edmundson playing some big minutes probably gives them the luxury of being able to move a guy like Shattenkirk.
"His name is most certainly out there. It wouldn't surprise anybody if at some point he's traded. But that doesn't mean it necessarily is connected to the Drouin trade, if St. Louis is one of the teams that will be in on Drouin."
A report from earlier in the day on Monday suggested that the Blues are very much in on Drouin and may, in fact, be trying the hardest to get something done. As McKenzie notes, the Blues already have ample cap space tied up in Alex Pietrangelo, signed through 2019-20 at a $6.5 million hit, and Jay Bouwmeester, signed through 2018-19 at $5.4 million, per General Fanager.
Shattenkirk, 26 and playing at an All-Star level this year, is signed through 2016-17 at $4.25 million. He's a top, puck-moving talent when healthy, but the problem over his career has been keeping himself on the ice.
And even if he does stay healthy and provide consistently high-quality production for the remainder of this season and next, that means an even bigger ask on his next deal, something that's already said to trouble Armstrong.
With the Blues so desperately needing an injection of scoring talent up front and already fearing what Shattenkirk will cost, a deal seems to make sense. And with Drouin, the former No. 3 pick, available, the connection is difficult to ignore.
But that doesn't mean Armstrong and Lightning GM Steve Yzerman will come together on a deal, as much sense as it may make.
