Insider: Blues “Open for Ideas” on a Brayden Schenn Trade

The St. Louis Blues have not had the season they were hoping for, struggling along at a below .500 pace, with 53 points in 54 games, and sitting six points back of the last Wild Card spot with a couple of other teams ahead of them.

In a surprising development, the Blues are said to be "open for ideas" on a trade of their captain, Brayden Schenn. Insider Darren Dreger mused on his Ray & Dregs podcast about Schenn as a name that's "starting to percolate" in speculation.

St. Louis is dropping, game by game. (Blues GM) Doug Armstrong, man, he can get grouchy, and we know he's aggressive, and he's not going to stand pat for this...

Brayden Schenn... What I'm getting in the collection of my poking around, is, (that they are) open to ideas. So that would be a message from Army... Is it time for St. Louis to re-tool?

The Blues' five-time 20-goal man (eight times in his career) still has three years to run on his contract at his $6.5 cap hit, and he has a full no-trade clause.

Would the Blues consider moving their physical center?

Dreger's co-host Ray Ferraro agrees that a Schenn trade could be in the offing.

"I can see that happening... I think you might have to take a little bit of money back, but if you're looking at him as your third-line center, maybe a stretch as (2C), I think teams would be really interested in him."

Schenn, 33, is a strong competitor, and has a Stanley Cup on his resume, playing a big role for the Blues in their 2019 championship.

"For him to acclimatize to a new team, I think that's pretty easy," added Ferraro.

Schenn is having a down season, but picked it up in January with five goals in 13 games, giving him a season mark of 11 goals and 30 points in 54 games. He's also handed out 136 hits, and is on pace for his highest output in that category since his days with the Philadelphia Flyers eight years ago.

The Blues will be a team to keep an eye on as we approach the trade deadline in one month.