Brayden Schenn is the second tallest St. Louis Blues player on this roster. With the Blues, he was an All-Star, a 2019 Stanley Cup champion, and is currently in his third season as team captain. From dropping the gloves to clutching goals, he is a strong two-way player.
Due to his experience and two-way skills, Schenn could be traded by the Blues before the deadline. Several teams are interested, including the Vegas Golden Knights. What might a Schenn transaction look like?
The need of golden knights
The Golden Knights need to upgrade their center. William Karlsson, the team’s reliable two-way center, has not played since early November and is on long-term injury reserve (LTIR). There is no timetable yet for his return. He may even not return at all.
The Golden Knights are missing a player who can score 20 goals a season and win defensive battles. Schenn fits this profile. His production is down, but he still brings leadership and depth to center.
The asking price of Blues
To assess the Blues’ asking price, we need to look at a blocked trade from last season’s trade deadline with the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Blues were reportedly willing to send Schenn to the Maple Leafs for a package that would have included Easton Cowan, Ben Danford and a draft pick. Cowan was one of the Maple Leafs’ top players at the time, and so is Danford currently the organization’s top defensive prospect. Clearly, the Maple Leafs were willing to pay a high price for Schenn.
However, Schenn’s production has dropped by only 19 points this season, making a return of two top players unlikely. Still, the Blues can expect value in return.
The Blues should start by asking for Vegas’ second-round pick in the upcoming draft. That’s the highest pick the organization has available, but it’s a price they may be willing to pay to add a two-way player. The Blues also need to look for young talent. As Schenn’s numbers dwindle, they likely won’t get someone like Cowan and/or Danford. The Blues should ask for Mateo Nobert, a striker who has consistently scored more than 20 goals in his career. He has a great hockey IQ and is always looking for lanes and open ice.
The Golden Knights side of the trade
The Golden Knights will acquire Schenn in this trade. With just over $3.1 million in cap space, they need help fitting his $6.5 million cap hit. Vegas only pays a prorated amount based on the remaining games. Additionally, when Brayden McNabb returns from LTIR, his $3.65 million cap hit will also count toward the cap. Unlike previous seasons, the Golden Knights will not have the option to hold McNabb until the playoffs begin to prevent his cap from counting against the team. This means they will have to trade some cap space to acquire Schenn’s contract.
Related: Mateo Nobert – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile
Vegas needs to trade a $2-3 million salary to get Schenn under the cap. They will ask the Blues to acquire Keegan Kolesar, who has a $2.5 million cap hit through 2027-2028. Kolesar would add an experienced presence to the Blues and could be turned elsewhere in the offseason if they don’t see him as part of their long-term plan.
The trade
In summary, here is the proposed trade between the Blues and Golden Knights:
- Golden Knights received:
- Receive blues:
- Keegan cyclist
- Vegas’s 2026 second-round pick
- Matthew Nobert
Both teams benefit from this trade. The Golden Knights got a two-way prospect with Stanley Cup experience to temporarily replace the injured Karlsson. The Blues, in turn, receive draft capital and a prospect to aid their ongoing reshuffling efforts.
If the Blues trade Schenn, they will have to consider their next captain. But that decision is for another day.
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