The St. Louis Blues have acquired forward Pavel Buchnevich from the New York Rangers in exchange for Sammy Blais and a 2022 second-round pick.
Buchnevich, 26, is a restricted free agent just one year away from UFA status, meaning any long-term deal he’ll be signing with the Blues would come at a cost. It certainly could be worth it though after his outstanding 2020-21 campaign, in which he scored 20 goals and 48 points in 54 games, establishing himself as a true top-six difference-maker. Buchnevich averaged nearly 19 minutes a night for the Rangers last season, playing mostly with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.
The key in Buchnevich’s performance that makes him so appealing is that just eight of his points came with the man-advantage. A dangerous player when penalty-killing and an even-strength positive, the 6’3″ Buchnevich can help replace some of the offense that St. Louis is losing this summer. Jaden Schwartz, Tyler Bozak and Mike Hoffman are all pending unrestricted free agents, while the relationship with Vladimir Tarasenko has deteriorated to the point where a trade is still expected.
In Blais, the team is giving up another member of their 2018-19 Stanley Cup roster, but one that still hasn’t changed much from the player he was then. The 25-year-old forward certainly fits into New York’s new identity of “tough to play against” as he brings plenty of physicality to the table, but has just 35 points in 119 career regular season games.
The key here is the cap room for the Rangers, who were looking at a potential arbitration award above $5MM for Buchnevich after two excellent seasons. If they weren’t going to sign him to a multi-year contract as a core piece up front, it made sense to walk away now. Still, the return is somewhat underwhelming for a player that was so successful this year, even if Blais does come signed at a reasonable $1.5MM cap hit.
With young wingers like Alexis Lafreniere, Vitali Kravtsov and Kaapo Kakko already in place, the Rangers didn’t have a ton of room for Buchnevich moving forward. It’s the exact opposite in St. Louis, where he could very well slide in on the top line next season, depending on how things shake out for the rest of the offseason.
Darren Dreger of TSN was first to report Buchnevich was traded, while Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reported the return.
Wtf
Unless this is a pre-cursor to acquiring Eichel, this makes no sense for the Rangers. Blues just stole Buch from the Blue Shirts.
great deal for the Blues hope Drury knows what he’s doing
Not sure why the Rangers did this, but…good fortune for the Blues. Quality replacement for Tarasenko.
Gotta make room for that Barclay Goodrow contract!
Yeah, this is beyond stupid. Trade a much better player because of salary concerns after you sign a much worse player thereby creating the need to do that…terrible management. Already done with Drury.
Well now Flyers fans can exhale, safe in the knowledge they no longer made the day’s worst trade.
Nah that Ristolainen trade was brutal. 14th overall and a future 2nd is a ridiculous overpay.
Not a chance that’s an overpay. Many people on here acts like draft picks are already stars. Draft picks certainly dont make a team competitive, having good players does. Yes many first round picks go on to be difference makers. Many turn into 3rd liners and many dont make it at all. I think philly paid a fair price for Risto.
Let’s go!!! Great move for the Blues!!!
Drury, Dolan and Sather will F**k us.
I feel like this is a bad trade…that mandate from ownership is to win now and y’all got futures for a top six winger? Who cares if this is a precursor for Eichel…we need guys for Eichel to play with!
Highway robbery by the Blues
This is such a St. Louis Blues trade
Great trade for the Rangers. Clearing out Space getting a second and a young left winger to work well with Girard
How is everything on the island that you’re on all by yourself?
Gerald*
This is basically the same return they got for Lias lol
AND OEL TO VANCOUVER
Seriously! Sammy Blais? I could almost understand if he was a banger , but his hit stat is not better than buchnevic. If you were going to move him at least get something in return! Just what we needed another left winger. WTF DRURY
First the goodrow contract then this. Ingave you creds for galant but omg!!!!
The Blues pantsed Drury
Just watched this guys videos of his big hits?
All high hits and from behind too. Not what i wanted in a hitter. Hate this trade!!
between the term on the Goodrow deal and the return for Buch Drury is starting to baffle me.
NYR didn’t get nearly enough back. Salary cap or what doesn’t matter.
I think a first rather than a second would have been a better return but not awful because we were not resigning Buch.
JD must be laughing his a$$ off watching this one go down. And here we’re watching the beginning of the implosion lead by Dolan and executed by Drury.
This deal is flat out horrible.
Going to miss Sammy Blais in STL. One of the few tough players last season. Better return for the Rangers than fans might think, but still an absolute fleece job by Army getting a Top 6 winger.
Turk will plenty happy adding hard nose Blais .His type of player…
Blais isn’t a tire fire, definitely not, but Buchnevich is a good player. The Rangers had looked like they’d be a contender this year, and they’re sliding backwards.