When July 1st comes, free agency will open. The St. Louis Blues will, like any other team, search for a low risk, high reward player. Yakov Trenin can be that player.
Trenin’s Early Career Shows Potential
Trenin has played in 299 NHL games for the Nashville Predators and the Colorado Avalanche. The Russian native has scored 48 goals and added 34 assists.
The most Trenin has scored in a full season is 17 goals in the 2021-22 season. However, there is potential Trenin can do more.
Before making his NHL debut in the 2019-20 season, Trenin spent time in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League. In all three seasons he spent in the league, Trenin scored more than 25 goals, recorded more than 35 assists, and accounted for more than 60 points.
In spite of the difference in competition between the QMJHL anf the NHL, there is reason to believe Trenin can offer more to a NHL team. He has a documented good work ethic, and even at a young age in his career, Trenin was sought after and acquired by the Avalanche at the 2024 Trade Deadline.
The Player Trenin Is Fits The Blues
If the player Trenin has been is the player he is always going to be, he still offers a great deal to any NHL team.
The Blues are heading into the free agency period with questions on their forward lines. There is speculation that Pavel Buchnevich may be converting to the second-line centre position to fill a void there. However, doing so would open up a spot on the wing.
Trenin could slide into that wing position, or if someone else was promoted to take that role, he could take the then-vacant spot on the bottom-six.
Possible Blues Forward Lineup With Trenin
Line 1:
Jake Neighbours, Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou
Line 2:
Brandon Saad, Pavel Buchnevich, Yakov Trenin/Brayden Schenn
Line 3:
Zachary Bolduc, Kevin Hayes, Yakov Trenin/Brayden Schenn
Line 4:
Nathan Walker, Oskar Sundqvist, Nikita Alexandrov
Extras:
Trenin Fits In More Than One Spot
Trenin would fit right into the Blues roster for this season. While the team will undoubtedly want to give their young prospects like Zach Dean and Zachary Bolduc opportunities to be in the lineup (or in Dean and Bolduc’s case, an opportunity to REMAIN) in the lineup, if a young player has trouble, Trenin could be someone who slides into that role to fill the void.
Furthermore, an injury to any forward would create the need for a player like Trenin to fill in.
Trenin Has A Low Risk With A Very High Reward
Trenin could become closer to the player he was in the QMJHL, He could just be the player he has been with the Predators and Avalanche. Regardless, this is the kind of player the Blues need to be bring in.
The Blues are not in a spot to contend for a Stanley Cup, but General Manager Doug Armstrong wants to keep the team competitive while building for the future. Bringing in Trenin checks both boxes.
Furthermore, the player Trenin has been is someone teams have had interest in. Trenin could end up serving as something Armstrong trades at the trade deadline for future assets. In the same way the Blues brought in Noel Acciari and ended up trading him, the same could happen with Trenin.
It is simple. Trenin would be a low risk, high reward signing. Therefore, why not, Doug Armstrong?
Main Photo: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
