The St. Louis Blues have found an answer to their immediate minor league goaltending issues, acquiring Jared Coreau from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for future considerations. Coreau can give the Blues another option at the AHL level, given they currently have Evan Fitzpatrick up at the NHL level. The two organizations completed another trade later in the night, with the San Antonio Rampage sending minor league forward Jared Thomas to the San Diego Gulls. That deal is likely the considerations from the NHL trade, but since Thomas is on an AHL deal he could not be included.
Coreau had recently been allowed to attend the Spengler Cup for Team Canada, and gives the Blues organization an experienced name that has posted very good numbers in the minor leagues before. Signed out of Northern Michigan University by the Detroit Red Wings, Coreau was an up-and-coming goaltending prospect at one point that was kept down by Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek. He finally received his first NHL opportunity in 2016-17, but failed to really establish himself as a full-time option.
He became a Group 6 unrestricted free agent at the end of last season, and Anaheim signed him to a one-year two-way contract worth just $650K at the NHL level. That’s a desirable contract for a team looking for minor league depth, but still didn’t make Coreau worth enough for even a late-round pick. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent once again at the end of this season.
Coreau has shown flashes. Surprised more teams wouldn’t give him a shot.