Trade Deadline... Blues Style

I'm so sick of the rumors about Chris Pronger, all year I hear this blow-hard "Blues" fans yell and scream at "ka-choke" and "Boo-er" (Keith Tkachuck and Eric Brewer).. It's been very disturbing to say the least..

A little background Eric Brewer and Jeff Woywitka plus a draft pick were acquired by the Blues and sent Chris Pronger away. And some still have a bad taste in their mouth's about it.. I wasn't here when it went down, but at the time the Blues weren't playoff contenders, and were wanting to lower their salary cap, so they sent their highest paid player away. (Makes sense to me)

Now the Blues have a stock pile of young talent available in return as I think they may become buyers before the deadline. The Blues need help on defense especially in the scoring column. (With Erik Johnson and Eric Brewer out their #1, and #3 defenseman respectively out for the year, but have contracts on the books for next year.)

Enter Anaheim because the Ducks appear to have a choice between trading Pronger or trading Scott Niedermayer. Anaheim has tons of questions as to what their team will look like next season because they have a flood of players are free agency bound.

I think the Blues are looking to add an impact player, whether it's a defenseman or a forward. They also are looking for a No. 2 or, more likely, a No. 1A goaltender. Manny Legace will get claimed off re-entry waivers by Ottawa or another team, so the Blues know they either have Holt, Bishop, or make a splash and pluck someone like Craig Anderson of the Florida Panthers? Maybe Curtis Sanford, who's in the Canucks' minor-league system, would be a good fit in a Blues sweater once again. (But again I'm opposed to dealing off players, and then keep bringing them back, if they were great for the team they wouldn't of been dealt..right?..)

If Ducks GM Bob Murray has an eye on the future, he could swap Pronger, an aging veteran with a high salary, for a similar defenseman with a lower salary. Word from Anaheim says Niedermayer likely will stick around, so Pronger is the odd man out. The first trade chip St. Louis could use to get Pronger is Alex Pietrangelo, the No. 4 overall pick last June. It would seem outrageous for the Blues to move Pietrangelo, who is expected to be a first-pair defenseman when he's ready for full-time NHL duties. But with the Blues needing to make the playoffs, and with other defense prospects believed to be closer to NHL duty.

They also could move David Perron, since the Coaches seem to keep him in the dog house almost like a colt they are trying to break. (For you fellow Equine enthusiasts out there.) Perron looks good at times but takes undisciplined penalties at others. Perron is totally out of place as a fourth-line player. He is best when playing with the Blues' top two young forwards Berglund and T.J. Oshie. That line made major contributions in Thursday's game, scoring on consecutive shifts and nearly scoring on their next shift. And on Saturday, Perron scored a great goal to help beat the Coyotes.

The Blues appear to believe collegian Aaron Palushaj rivals Perron, and Palushaj could jump from college hockey at Michigan to St. Louis. He's the Blues' best college forward prospect. They also have Brett Sonne of WHL Calgary, who had 41 goals and 43 assists in 52 games and is capable of replacing Perron's scoring. As for young defensemen, there's Ian Cole at Notre Dame, Cade Fairchild at Minnesota, Jonas Junland at AHL Peoria and Russian prospect Nikita Nikitin, who turns 23 this summer and is ready to make the NHL jump.

Also, Roman Polak is a lock to stay on the roster. Don't forget, the Blues also have Erik Johnson, who is making excellent progress from knee surgery. Pronger has a season left on his contract. Brewer will be back next season with time left on his contract. There's your top two. Johnson and Barret Jackman would be the No. 2 pair. So as good as Pietrangelo figures to be, he could be in play for Pronger.

Or could he be in play for, say, the Montreal Canadiens? The Blues could use a scoring left winger and might pitch a deal for Christopher Higgins, whom the Canadiens are shopping. We see Perron as the more logical fit.

The only way Walt (Tkachuck) leaves St Louis, is if some team goes Vito Corleone style on JD "an offer you can't refuse" which could be the Canadiens. It also could be the Pittsburgh Penguins. Here's a sure sign of interest by the Penguins: They've had a scout at seven of the Blues' past eight home games.

My Analysis:
I like the idea of adding a scoring Defenseman, but not Chris Pronger, I'm think Jay Bo. Also I don't think Higgins is a good fit for St Louis. Walt stays here, or IF the Bruins come calling I say he goes back to his collegiate turf. A goalie to help Mason would be great, how about Clemenson who just got sent down now that the big bad Marty is healthy in Jersey?

Whatever the moves, the Blues are a team on the rise. (Have you checked their stats since January?) They might not make deals at the deadline, but as desperate as they are to make the playoffs, I can see at least one big trade by them happening before Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.