Teams are taking the league by storm, and then there are others that are concerning. One team that is shockingly in a bad place is the 2022-23 St Louis Blues. The Blues have gotten off to a tough start and have not been winning games. With the season in jeopardy, if they continue to be losing a pair of star players could be shipped out of town.
St Louis Blues Could Move On From Their Two Stars
The 2022-23 St Louis Blues are off to a brutal start. They have only won three games and sit last in the Central Division and last in the Western Conference. After getting bounced in the second round, expectations were higher for this team.
But they are brutal and keep losing, and are on an eight-game losing streak. General manager Doug Armstrong has indicated that if a turnaround does not happen, changes are coming. To make matters worse, they scored a lowly 23 goals in all situations while allowing the 13th most with 43. The dynamic duo of the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, have as many goals together as the entire Blues team. And if they keep losing, they could trade two of its players that are pending unrestricted free agents upon the season’s end.
The Two Trade Chips
It is never ideal to trade your two-star players, but if this team keeps losing like they are they may want to fetch a return than lose them for nothing. The two players are captain Ryan O’Reilly and winger Vladimir Tarasenko. Tarasenko has trade protection, whereas O’Reilly does not.
Vladimir Tarasenko
The man controls his fate. All the cards are held in his hand, and he can control where he goes. He currently sits third on the team with nine points and leads with four goals. Tarasenko has spent his entire career with the Blues. Last year was his best season, and in total, he scored 256 goals, 277 assists, and 533 points in 617 games.
Ryan O’Reilly
This is the more intriguing candidate. As Lebrun stated, he is three seasons removed from winning the Stanley Cup and winning the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP. He will be a hot commodity at the deadline, given he plays the centre position, and depth goes a long way come playoff time. The Blues are not playing well, and neither is he right now. But he is a solid two-way centre and provides depth to a contending team. Given he has no trade protection and is a pending UFA, the odds of him receiving a longer-term extension aren’t likely.
Teams Interested
Colorado Avalanche
The defending Stanley Cup Champions are set when it comes to their wingers, but there is a glaring hole on the roster. After losing Nazem Kadri to free agency, Chris MacFarland could look to replace him. The second line could use a centre and O’Reilly could be the answer. A leader and a captain who knows how to win a championship would be a welcomed addition to a team that plans on defending its title. MacFarland could very well bring him back to Colorado for his second stint. O’Reilly would be an upgrade over Alex Newhook, who has three points in 11 games.
Where Do The Blues Go From Here?
The 2022-23 St Louis Blues are a mess. And if the losing continues, don’t bet on Jordan Binnington going on the same magical run he did in 2019. If the losses pile on, significant changes could come, leading to those two players mentioned above leaving town. It is still early in the season and things can turn around in St Louis. If not, it could be rough.
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