THE WATERCOOLER
QUESTION: Given their current spot in the standings, do you think it makes sense for the Blues to try to make a trade deadline move to strengthen the team this season or would they be better off doing some free agent shopping this summer when some dollars come off their payroll?
JEREMY RUTHERFORD
The Blues shouldn’t do anything to help themselves this season. If there is interest in Keith Tkachuk or Paul Kariya, they should trade them. The most they will probably get in return are draft picks, probably third-rounders at best. Before everyone gets upset and says, “Quit trading for draft picks. You won’t see those players for four years” … keep in mind that the Blues can package a number of draft picks (and/or prospects already in the system) and trade for an established player in the offseason.
The Blues should save their money for the offseason. By showing interest in Ilya Kovalchuk, the Blues essentially said they are prepared to offer a big contract to a premier player. If they weren’t prepared to do that, they never would have entertained the idea of trading for him. So that tells me the Blues could be ready to make a splash on a goal-scorer this season. It’ll take some patience on the part of fans, but it should be worth the wait.
DAN O’NEILL
The Blues should not be thinking in terms of this season. They are not a threat to go deep into the playoffs, even if — unlikely as it seems — they were able to mount a postseason charge. This team is not good enough — bottom line. Management needs to evaluate why and try to push things forward.
Most of the veterans on this team have under-produced this season. It is hard to imagine there is much of a market for most of those who would be available, but if there is, the Blues should take the draft pick and run.
To put it another way, hand-held computing devices in Jennings might have more value than a Blues veteran player right now.
JEFF GORDON
The Blues have little chance of making the playoffs this spring, thanks to this recent turn of events. So the front office needs to focus on shedding unproductive veterans and freeing up budget space for big off-season additions. In the meantime, play more kids and speed the player development process. Bigger things will come if the front office maintains a long view.
KEVIN WHEELER (Host of “Sports Open Line” on KMOX)
As long as any player added continues to strengthen the roster into next season then making a deal would be a great idea. A “rental trade” would be a bad idea, unless as a part of that deal they free up significant cap space to use toward adding a top-end scorer.
The Blues have had 14 one-goal losses this year and that doesn’t even count the games where empty netters made it a two-goal differential. If they had a premier scorer on the roster they certainly would have won at least a few of those games and that difference would have them in a playoff position right now. Whether that kind of player is out there to be had at the moment is debatable, but if the team can land a proven frontline scorer, either now or in the offseason, that would be what takes them to the next level.
They have most of what it takes to be a regular participant in the NHL playoffs but what they lack compared to the teams that are there year-in and year-out is that frontline, All-Star caliber scorer.
ANDY STRICKLAND (Hockeybuzz.com, KFNS)
The Blues need more than just one or two players to make a realistic run at a playoff spot. They have played themselves nearly out of playoff contention with their inability to put any stretch of consistent hockey together. Whether the Blues win or lose, the club needs to seriously address their roster this summer and find some winning components.
Identifying experienced leaders with a track record of winning at the NHL level is what this club needs. They have very little tucked away in the leadership department, which has been evident for quite some time now. Bringing in veterans to demonstrate what it takes on and off the ice to compete at a high level needs to be a priority. If the Blues are looking to move a prospect here or there at the deadline, they should focus on getting a player or two with time remaining on their contract that can help this franchise moving forward.
The club desperately wants back into the playoffs, if nothing else for financial reasons. Any deadline move made by the Blues must help this team beyond the last few months of this season. The organization will be taking a step in the wrong direction if they fail to make the playoffs and any moves made need to help this team recover as quickly as possible. When evaluating the club’s unrestricted free agents after this year, the team lacks any real prizes that fans can expect to return significant value. Being active in the trade market at the draft will also be an option.

