On NBCSN for Rivalry Night, Darren Dreger of TSN commented (via Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports) on the oft-rumored St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. Dreger said that the asking price for the upcoming free agent is still incredibly high, and it may be as much as a prospect and first-round draft pick. 
Dreger added that there may have to even be a third piece, depending on the quality of the other two. That would be quite a haul for just a few months of the Blues’ alternate captain, who revealed that there is a list of about 12 teams he’d consider signing with in recent days.
It will be interesting to see if the Blues even end up dealing the defenseman, as since firing Ken Hitchcock they have turned around their season, going 4-1 (and are leading Detroit 1-0 as of this writing) in their last five. While he could clearly bring back a solid package of future assets, this is a team that still has its sights set on the 2017 playoffs and a run at the Stanley Cup. The Blues are currently in third place in the Central division, and have a solid foothold for the playoffs.
If the acquiring team negotiates an extension with him prior to the deal, perhaps it would be worth it. But when there remains a chance that a team like the Bruins or Maple Leafs could sign him for nothing but money this summer, it would be a tough pill to swallow. His new team (or St. Louis for that matter) would be able to sign him to an extra year, should they get a deal done before July 1st.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
They must deal him. The Blues already pay Pietrangelo 6.5m and there no way they’ll pay Shat more than that and as one of the premier offensive Dmen out there he will get more. Last year with the way the Backes thing worked out they have no choice. They must return future assets to offset the fact that they are a small market team spending to the cap.
He’s a rental. You’ll get a prospect and a pick. Review some of the high profile players that were traded in the past 10 years that were rentals. I remember the Iginla to Pittsburgh deal. Garbage Calgary got. It doesn’t help when the player ties the GMs hands by limiting the trade pool.
It’s somewhat different here as any squiring team will only make the deal if they sign him to an extension. That means they are technically trading for a building block.
As a blues fan if they trade shatt22 they can not say they are trying to win. No cups in 50years, I am not looking to the future I want to win now. Shatty is top 3-4 player on this team and needs to finish the season especially with way team is playing now since Hitch got the axe. if win cup
He’s a great offensive player but he’s a minus 10 on a team with a winning record??? Does anyone else from Toronto see this??? We already have a player like this guy…. His name is Gardner. Puts up points but let’s more in while he’s on the ice. Not worth a first rounder. Keep him blues. I’m happy with a rebuild in Toronto.
The plus minus for the Blues players means nothing this year. Their goal tending was historically atrocious for the majority of the season thus far. Any player who logged any decent amount of ice time had their plus minus plummet due to this.
They want to much for him honestly. Blues still have chance at playoffs and that makes it hard to deal him too. He will be an asset for sure but no one wants to give up a ton for just possible rental player. Blues need to bring down the return a little bit to ensure they don’t just lose him like others in the off season. And if that happens they will regret not making a deal……again.
He’s a rental- the price has to drop.
The BLUES-Year after Year,always the same!