Ok, I’ve never seen a team rebuild in this manner but it’s definitely out of the box thinking. This only happens if the organization embraces a full rebuild.
The plan would be to trade key players to teams trying to turn a corner and therefore getting a higher 1st round pick. Stockpiling 1st round picks is the key but it doesn’t work if they’re all at the end of the round.
I won’t try to disclose full details of a trade. I’m trying rather to pair up Blues players that would return 1st’s from teams with needs of said player while also making sure that team isn’t a contender (with one exception).
Pietrangelo to Islanders for currently 14th overall. I’d try to get them to add the 2020 1st or possibly Bellows.
Tarasenko to New Jersey for currently 4th overall. Tarasenko holds a ton of value and he’s definitely the winger New Jersey needs. Do they part with 4th overall? Possibly.
Schenn to Montreal for currently 20th overall. Montreal is desperate for center help and I’m guessing they finish closer to 15th worst than 20th.
Try to take Callahan as a cap dump in return for their 1st which is currently 31st.
The Blues keep their own pick which is currently 3rd overall.
Steen + Maroon + possible pick to Vegas for their 1st which is currently 18th overall.
Blues wind up with the following picks and possible players
3rd = Alexander Newhook C
4th = Bowen Byram LHD
14th = Anttoni Honka RHD
18th = Arthur Kaliyev LW
20th = Matthew Robertson. LHD
31st =. Philip Broberg LHD
34th = Mikko Kokkonen LHD. for
@Ranksu
Based on in part of The Draft Analyst as to what player is at least available, not necessarily who they have slotted at the specific rank.
Next year the Blues would definitely have cap space to make a run at Bobrovsky if they desired.
Obviously it’s impossible to say for sure who’s going to be available and where the different team’s picks will wind up. The question is would you be willing to part with Tarasenko, Pietrangelo, and Schenn in an all out rebuild if this is the sort of return one could expect?