Well this was all most unexpected.
Amid rumors of New York Islanders interest in Robert Thomas or Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues, who were reportedly requiring exorbitant prices for those locked-in prime-age centerpieces, the Isles instead sent a 1st-round pick for 34-year-old Blues captain Brayden Schenn — a center who has declined into a winger in his later age — and announced the re-signing of 33-year-old center J-G Pageau for three more seasons at a reported $4.85 million per season.
There’s
a little more to it, of course: the 1st going to St. Louis is likely a late one, as it’s the pick they acquired from the Avalanche, who are a favorite to go three or four rounds deep in the playoffs. The Blues also took back Jonathan Drouin, who has just not worked out since his offseason signing. And the Isles sent 6’7” goalie prospect Marcus Gidlof, their 5th-round pick (147th overall) from 2024.
Schenn had to waive his no-trade clause to accept the trade — so, yay! he likes us now, despite being on his no-trade list before — but he is signed for two more seasons at a $6.5 million AAV.
If I was nervous about what the Isles might send to the Blues for Kyrou, a 27-year-old winger signed for four more years at $8.125 million (I was), I am uninspired by this move.
Schenn is beloved, a heart-and-soul guy with fire in his belly. He can still snipe from the wing, he will fight anyone, and he’ll fit the group and be popular with fans on his good nights. You will see him get a LOUD ovation from Blues fans when the Isles visit St. Louis on Tuesday night. But he is experiencing the age decline that comes for all of us, and the Isles just took on that decline with a $6.5 million cap hit for the next two seasons.
Still, did the Islanders improve the current roster, by removing Drouin and adding Schenn? Yes, yes they did. This season’s ride continues.
The Lighter Side
As luck would have it, both the Isles and Blues are in San Jose, two ships passing in the night. Schenn had 90 minutes to run into people and make a decision.
