St. Louis Blues Acquire Jacob de La Rose; Trade Robby Fabbri

The St. Louis Blues have traded left wing Robby Fabbri to the Detroit Red Wings for left wing/center Jacob de La Rose. da La Rose, 24, was a 2nd round pick (34th overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2013 NHL draft. The Red Wings claimed de La Rose off of waivers from the Canadiens on October 17, 2018. Last season, de La Rose played in a career high 60 games with 3 goals, 6 assists, 9 points, and was -13.

Overall, da La Rose has played 6 seasons in the NHL. De La Rose has played 195 games with 12 goals, 20 assists, 32 points, and a -26. In the playoffs, de La Rose has played 12 games. De La Rose's best season came in 2017-2018 with the Canadiens. In that season, de La Rose played 55 games with 4 goals, 8 assists, 12 points, and a -2. So far this season, de La Rose has played 16 games with 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points, and a plus 3.

Robbi Fabbri, 23, was a 1st round pick (21st overall) by the St. Louis Blues in the 2014 NHL draft. In Fabbri's rookie season, 2015-2016, he played in a career high 72 games with 18 goals, 19 assists, 37 points, and a -2. In his second season, Fabbri played in 55 games with 11 goals, 18 assists, 29 points, and a -16. Since then Fabbri hasn't done much due to battling injuries. Fabbri also wasn't going to take playing time from Sammy Blais or probably anyone else on the Blues current roster.

Overall, Fabbri has played 4 seasons in the NHL. Fabbri has played 164 games with 32 goals, 41 assists, 73 points, and a -26. In the playoffs, Fabbri has played 30 games with 5 goals, 11 assists, 16 points, and a -3.

What does the trade mean for both teams? For Robby Fabbri he gets a change of scenery, which he's needed. He was a healthy scratch a lot last season and so far this season. So far this season, Fabbri has played in 9 games with 1 goals, 1 point, and -4. As for de La Rose, he might fill in for Alexander Steen. The Blues lost Steen to an injury in tonight's 5-2 win against the Edmonton Oilers. He's 6'3 and is bigger than Fabbri who is 5'10. de La Rose is still young enough to reach his potential.

The trade for de La Rose reminds me a little of when the Blues traded for center Oskar Sundqvist. Sundqvist later found his potential last season playing in a career high 74 games with 14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points, and a -1. All were career highs for Sundqvist. The Blues now have three players on their roster who are from Sweeden: Carl Gunnarsson, Oskar Sundqvist, and de La Rose.

St. Louis Cardinals Extend Mike Shildt, John Mozeliak, Michael Girsch

On Tuesday afternoon, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that they have extended the contracts of manager Mike Shildt, along with President of baseball operations John Mozeliak, and general manager Michael Girsch. Shildt and Mozeliak both have three-year contract extensions. Girsch had his 2020 option picked up, and received a two-year contract extension. So counting the option it's three-years. Shildt, 51, just finished his fist full season as the Cardinals manager. In his first full season, Shildt's Cardinals won the NL Central going 91-71. They made the playoffs for the first time since 2015, and went to the NLCS for the first time since 2014. In defense the Cardinals went from worst to first, only making 66 errors. Shildt's entire coaching staff will return for 2020. Shildt is also one of three finalists in the running to win NL Manager of the Year.

Overall, Shildt has managed 2 seasons in the MLB. Shildt has a record of 132-99 with a .571 winning percentage. Shildt and his coaching staff will look to build off of the success they had in 2019.

St. Louis Blues Sign Brayden Schenn To Contract Extension

The St. Louis Blues have signed center Brayden Schenn to an eight-year contract extension worth $52 million. Schenn, 28, would have been an unrestricted free agent after the season. In Schenn's first season as a Blue in 2017-2018 after being traded from the Philadelphia Flyers, set career highs in goals, assists, and points. Schenn played in 82 games with 28 goals, 42 assists, 70 points, and a plus 10.

Last season, Schenn had 17 goals with 37 assists, 54 points, and a plus 3. In the Blues run to winning the Stanley Cup, Schenn played in all 26 games. Schenn had 5 goals with 7 assists, 12 points, and a -2.

Overall, Schenn is in his 11th season in the NHL. Schenn has played in 588 games with 154 goals, 218 assists, 372 points, and a -19. In the playoffs, Schenn has played 50 games with 8 goals, 18 assists, 26 points, and a -5.

For the Blues and Schenn it's a win-win. Schenn is part of the Blues core and loves St. Louis. I'm not sure though if I would have given him eight-years. Regardless of that it's nice to see Schenn staying beyond this season. After signing Schenn, what happens with captain Alex Pietrangelo? Are the Blues able to re-sign Pietrangelo or do they trade him?

St. Louis Blues Acquire Justin Faulk

Just when you probably thought the defending Stanley Cup champions St. Louis Blues couldn't upgrade their team because they have limited cap space they found a way to accomplish an upgrade. The Blues traded defenseman Joel Edmundson, prospect Dominik Bokk, and a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Carolina Hurricanes for All-Star defenseman Justin Faulk, and a 2020 fifth-round pick. Faulk, 27, then signed a seven-year contract extension with the Blues worth $45.5 million. Faulk had been in trade rumors recently because he was in the final year of a six-year contract. The rumors became bigger after the Hurricanes free agent signing of defenseman Jake Gardiner on September 6, 2019.

Last season, Faulk played in all 82 games with 11 goals, 24 assists, 35 points, and a plus 9. For defenseman on the Hurricanes the 35 points ranked second. Faulk helped play a big role in the Hurricanes going to the Eastern Conference Final. In the playoffs, Faulk played in 15 games with 1 goal, 7 assists, 8 points, and a plus 4. That was Faulk's first time ever in the playoffs.

Overall, Faulk has played 8 seasons in the NHL. Faulk has played in 559 games with 85 goals, 173 assists, 258 points, and a -100. Faulk has been a three-time NHL All-Star (2015, 2016, 2017). In the last 5 seasons among NHL defensemen Faulk ranks 7th in goals, 4th in powerplay goals, 4th in game winning goals, and 25th in points.

As for Joel Edmundson, he's a good return for the Hurricanes. Edmundson, 26, has shown some flashes that he can be good. Last season, Edmundson played in 64 games with 2 goals, 9 assists, 11 points, and a plus 8. Overall, Edmundson has played 4 seasons in the NHL. Edmundson has played in 269 games with 13 goals, 39 assists, 52 points, and a plus 18. In the playoffs, Edmundson has played in 49 games with 5 goals, 9 assists, 14 points, and a plus 6.

Dominik Bokk, 19, was drafted by the Blues in the first-round of the 2018 NHL draft (overall no.25). Bokk can play both right wing and left wing Bokk hasn't played in the NHL yet.


What played a role into the Blues traded Edmundson for Faulk? Edmundson will be an unrestricted free agent after the season. The Blues probably wouldn't have kept Edmundson. Alex Pietrangelo the Blues captain will be an unrestricted free agent too. The Blues will want to keep Pietrangelo over Edmundson. If for whatever reason the Blues aren't able to keep Pietrangelo then Faulk is serves as insurance if he were to leave the Blues. There's a possibility of other players being gone to try to clear space too.

In the end Faulk makes the Blues team a lot better. Will the Blues end up repeating as Stanley Cup champions? The Blues have a great chance to repeat if they can stay healthy and play well. If they do they would be the first NHL team to repeat since Pittsburgh Penguins did so in 2015-2016, and 2016-2017. Today was a nice birthday for Blues general manager Doug Armstrong.

St. Louis Blues Sign Ivan Barbashev

The St. Louis Blues have signed center Ivan Barbashev to a two-year contract worth $2.95 million. Barbashev, 23, had a career year in his 3rd NHL season in 2018-2019. Barbashev played in 80 games scoring 14 goals with 12 assists, 26 points, and -4. In the Blues run to the Stanley Cup, Barbashev scored 3 goals with 3 assists, and 6 points. He led all skaters with 87 hits in the playoffs. Barbashev is a key piece to the Blues penalty kill. Last season, Barbashev averaged 1:35 minutes shorthanded.

Overall, Barbashev has played 3 seasons in the NHL. Barbashev has played in 163 games with 26 goals, 25 assists, and 51 points. In the playoffs, Barbashev has played 31 games with 3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points, and a -1.

It's great that the Blues finally got Barbashev under contract. There had been rumors that Barbashev was considering going over to play in KHL over in Russia. It's good that the Blues 4th line will all be back for the up coming season. Barbashev was on a line most of the time with Oskar Sundqvist, and Alexander Steen. For a player like Barbashev the Blues got a nice steal.

St. Louis Blues Sign Oskar Sundqvist

The St. Louis Blues and center Oskar Sundqvist have avoided arbitration and signed a four-year contract worth $11 million. Sundqvist, 25, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 3rd round of the 2012 NHL draft (81st overall). Sundqvist didn't show much with the Penguins, when he made his NHL debut in 2015-2016. Sundqvist played in 18 games with 1 goal, 3 assists, and 4 points. The next season, Sundqvist only played in 10 games.

After the 2016-2017 season, the Penguins traded Sundqvist and their first-round pick to the St. Louis Blues for right wing Ryan Reaves and a second-round pick. Sundqvist saw a new career high 42 games in 2017-2018 with 1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points, and a -5. Fans kind of wondered why the Blues even traded for him. People seemed to want him traded. People forgot he was still young and had potential to be a good player if he got the chance. That's what happened finally in 2018-2019. Sundqvist played a career high 74 games with 14 goals, 17 assists, 31 points, and a -1. All of those were career highs for Sundqvist.

Sundqvist helped the Blues win their first ever Stanley Cup in franchise history. During the postseason run, Sundqvist played in 25 games with 4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points, and a plus 5. Sundqvist has become a great penalty killer for the Blues.

Overall, Sundqvist has played 4 seasons in the NHL. Sundqvist has played 144 games with 16 goals, 24 assists, 40 points, and a -10. In the playoffs, Sundqvist has played 27 games with 4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points, and a plus 5.

The Blues kept Sundqvist at a great price. Hopefully, Sundqvist can continue to have the success he had in the 2018-2019 season.

St. Louis Blues Sign Jordan Binnington

The St. Louis Blues and goalie Jordan Binnington have avoided arbitration and signed a two-year contract worth $8.8 million. Binnington and the Blues had been scheduled to go to arbitration on July 20, 2019. Binnington, 26, helped lead the Blues to their first Stanley Cup victory in franchise history. Binnington set a rookie record for the most wins in a single postseason with 16 win. The previous record was 15 set by Patrick Roy. Ron Hextall, Cam Ward, and Matt Murray all tied Roy with 15. Binnington for the playoffs had a .914 save percentage and a goals-against average of 2.46.

On the regular season, Binnington went 24-5-1 in 32 games with a save percentage of .927 and a goals-against average of 1.89. Binnington won Rookie of the Month in back-to-back months, February and March. Binnington ended up being named to the All-Rookie Team.

The 2019-2020 season will be Binnington's first full season starting in the NHL. Fans will wonder if Binnington is a one year wonder or if he's for real. It seems like right now that Binnington is for real and a late bloomer. To start last season, Binnington was the Blues third string goalie.