my hypothesis has always been that ron caron was obsessed with getting a big tough defenseman.
re: baron specifically, i think that was a panic trade to fill the hole created when they lost scott stevens.
1989-'90 season:
March 6 - Adrien Plavsic and St. Louis' 1st round (Shawn Antoski) in 1990 to Vancouver for Rich Sutter, Harold Snepsts and 2nd round choice (Craig Johnson) acquired from St. Louis in September 6, 1988 trade. [big young softie in plavsic for the bigger and grizzled, crease-clearing vet harry snepsts]
1990 offseason:
July 12 - Scott Stevens signed as a free agent.
1990-'91 season:
October 3, 1990 - Mario Marois claimed from Quebec in Waiver Draft. Bob Bassen claimed from Chicago in Waiver Draft. [not especially big, but marois was a physical guy; he seems to have replaced gordie roberts, another formerly decent physical two-way d-man who was on his last legs]
March 5 - Geoff Courtnall, Sergio Momesso, Cliff Ronning, Robert Dirk and fifth round pick (Brian Loney) in 1992 to Vancouver for Garth Butcher and Dan Quinn. [giving up a big, young pylon in dirk for a tough as nails vet who was on the brink of becoming a pylon himself]
1991 offseason:
September 2 - Scott Stevens awarded to New Jersey as compensation for the Blues signing free agent Brendan Shanahan. [creating a hole to be filled by...]
September 22 - Ron Sutter and Murray Baron from Philadelphia in exchange for Rod Brind'Amour and Dan Quinn.
1991-'92 season:
February 7 - Adam Oates to Boston for Craig Janney and Stephane Quintal.