Rumors are swirling that the St. Louis Blues may be open to trading team captain Brayden Schenn. According to TSN’s Darren Dreger on Insider Trading, the Blues could entertain offers for the veteran forward, though any deal would require a “mammoth” return.
Schenn, 33, is in the middle of an eight-year contract carrying a $6.5 million cap hit, set to expire in 2028. He currently holds a full no-trade clause, but that shifts to a 15-team list starting next season. While this gives the Blues more flexibility in the future, it also raises questions about whether they’d move him sooner rather than later.
The club has already parted ways with two players this season in veteran forward Brandon Saad and former top prospect Scott Perunovich. If the Blues were to part ways with Schenn, it would mark yet another leadership transition. Since 2016, the team has seen captains David Backes, Alex Pietrangelo, and Ryan O’Reilly depart. Schenn, who was given the ‘C’ ahead of the 2023-24 season, has been a key figure in the locker room, known for his physical, two-way game and veteran presence.
The Blues have made major personnel changes over the past few seasons, firing Stanley Cup winning head coach Craig Berube and later head coach Drew Bannister. General Manager Doug Armstrong has emphasized the need for the team to raise its standards, especially as they navigate a self-proclaimed multi-year retool project. This process hinges on the development of top prospects like Dalibor Dvorsky, Otto Stenberg, and Jimmy Snuggerud up front, as well as defensemen Theo Lindstein and Adam Jiricek.
Since joining the Blues in 2017, Schenn has been a model of consistency. In 562 regular-season games with St. Louis, he has registered 162 goals and 417 points while averaging 18:28 of ice time. His hard-nosed playing style and ability to contribute in all situations have made him a valuable piece of the team’s core. Removing a player of his style and stature could leave a substantial void for a team and city who pride themselves on blue-collar style work and play.Without a player like Schenn in the lineup, there leaves little options for the list of players willing to stand up and make the hard play or willing to start a fight to help get their team energized or to respond to a tough call should the situation call for it.
With the Blues sitting in the middle of the pack of the Western Conference, looking to finish outside of a playoff spot once again and instead looking toward the future, Armstrong faces a tough decision. Do they keep Schenn as a veteran leader to guide the next wave of talent? Or do they capitalize on his trade value while they can?
For now, the captain remains in St. Louis-–but if the right offer comes along, that could change in a hurry.