St. Louis Blues Rumors: Asking Price For Barbashev Set

The St. Louis Blues have committed early to the re-tool and are sellers at the trade deadline this season. This started early as the team just couldn't find any sustained traction this season and almost all of their players are having worse years than 2021-22.

Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola are already shipped off, and there are still at least three more names that have garnered interest and will likely be on the move - Ivan Barbashev, Ryan O'Reilly, and Noel Acciari. Of the three, we now know what the asking price is for Barbashev, and that's a second round pick and a prospect, per David Pagnotta.

Seeing as someone like Tarasenko and Bo Horvat, the two stars to be moved early at the deadline, cost a first round pick and more, it is very unlikely Barbashev was also going to get the Blues another first round pick. He has been playing on the third line, and even though he has offensive abilities, plays very physical, and has an attractive cap hit for the remainder of the season, first rounders aren't easily given up, especially not in a strong draft like what is expected of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

The assumption is that the Blues want a second round pick in 2023 in return as well as a forward prospect that is on the cusp of the NHL. This way both will be able to help out the team that expects to come back strong next season. Why a forward prospect is more ideal is because the Blues' blue line looks to be full for a number of years and they are potentially trading away four forwards by the deadline.