Why a Shattenkirk for Fleury deal could work for Blues, Pens
They are two players the hockey world is just waiting on to be dealt.
Marc-Andre Fleury's days in Pittsburgh are numbered with Matt Murray clearly becoming the team's goalie of the future and - over the past couple months - their goalie of today.
On the flip side, Kevin Shattenkirk has seen his name included in trade rumors over the last couple years. This time around, things could finally be coming to an end in St. Louis as the 27-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end and if not traded could leave for nothing.
As it stands, neither team wants to lose its star for nothing. So, could they help each other out? Would a swap in stars in this case work?
Blues goaltending in shambles
Lately it's been hard to find a team that gives up goals quite like St. Louis.
Heading into the All-Star break, the Blues have given up 151 goals in 46 games, good enough for an average of 3.08 goals per game - the fourth worst in the league - this, while rocking a league-worst .889 team save percentage.
Aside from the team's startling 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, the team has given up at least five goals in each of its last four games. Simply put, Jake Allen and Carter Hutton have both played terribly and something needs to change.
Enter Fleury.
While the Penguins netminder has been far from perfect, he has managed slightly better numbers than both Blues netminders and gives the club something it's lacked for years - a goaltender with valuable playoff experience.
Fleury has now won two Stanley Cups - sure, last year Murray owned the net - and he can still give quality starts and knows what it takes to win in the postseason.
Penguins could use a defense upgrade
It's really hard to critique a team that's coming off a Stanley Cup Championship and sits poised for another deep run.
That being said, the club's defense core is thin. Though Kris Letang is an elite defender, his health is a question mark to put it lightly, while the rest of the back end - despite its Cup win last year - remains largely inexperienced.
Shattenkirk would provide some needed experience and an added offensive flair. The Blues pivot sits tied for fifth in points by defensemen and is tied for first in his position in power-play points.
He's an insurance piece that could really make a Cup repeat possible.
Where the expansion draft comes in
In this case the expansion draft actually wouldn't impact either player very much.
Shattenkrik is set to become a UFA and chances are that barring a re-up by the Penguins, he is headed to free agency regardless. He is, in essence, a rental wherever he goes.
As for Fleury, he could be essential in helping the Blues pick up the pieces - or at least help mend the damage left by the team's other starters - so they can get back to the playoffs.
If he is plucked by the Vegas Golden Knights it wouldn't hurt the Blues too much, as the team still appears set on Allen in the long term and it would have lost Shattenkirk for nothing in free agency anyway. So, really, nothing changes there.
It makes sense, but ...
However you slice it, the deal at least marginally makes sense. As for one side sweetening the deal, salary retention, and things of that sort, we'll leave that to the general managers.
TSN's Darren Dreger voiced his opinion on the potential swap, noting he didn't believe it would be done due to the Blues' continued commitment to Allen.
That may very well be the case and the thought of both teams losing their players to free agency or the expansion draft could prove to be an issue. But with both clubs desperate to move assets and make a change, this deal could be beneficial to both.