Lyle Richardson of Spector’s Hockey quotes Elliotte Friedman saying that there are teams talking about uniting St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn with his brother Luke, who is currently with the Nashville Predators, in separate trades.
Brayden, the 33-year-old captain of the St. Louis Blues, has three years remaining on his contract with an annual cap hit of $6.5 million. Luke, a 35-year-old defenseman for the Nashville Predators, has one year left at $2.75 million. While such acquisitions would be financially challenging for many teams, the Montreal Canadiens might find strategic value in pursuing the Schenn brothers.
Addressing Center Depth Concerns
The Canadiens face potential vacancies at the center position, with pending free agents Jake Evans reportedly attracting significant trade interest and Christian Dvorak also possibly on his last leg in Montreal. Additionally, top center prospects Owen Beck and Oliver Kapanen are right-handed, creating a potential imbalance in faceoff dynamics on the roster, since both Nick Suzuki and Dach are also shooting right. Also, the experiment of deploying Kirby Dach as a center has not yielded the desired results, further emphasizing the need for a reliable second-line center.
Brayden Schenn, a left-hand shot, could seamlessly fill this role, bringing leadership and experience to a forward group potentially losing key players like Evans and Dvorak. His presence would also provide mentorship to emerging talents and maintain competitive performance levels.
Bolstering Defensive Stability
On defense, the anticipated departure of veteran David Savard leaves a gap for a seasoned right-shot defenseman. Luke Schenn’s arrival could offer a stabilizing presence, allowing young defensemen like David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux to develop in more sheltered roles. With one year remaining on his contract, Luke’s tenure would provide immediate support without long-term financial commitment.
Financial and Logistical Considerations
Acquiring both Schenn brothers would add a combined cap hit of $9.25 million, a significant but potentially manageable figure given the Canadiens’ current cap space and the projected rise in the salary cap. Considering that Brayden would be replacing Dvorak and his $4.45 million salary, and Luke taking over David Savard’s $3.5M cap hit, the difference is only $1.3M more for next season.
Brayden Schenn possesses a full no-trade clause; could the opportunity to play alongside his brother and contribute to a storied franchise like Montreal could incentivize him to waive this clause?
The brothers previously played together with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2013 to 2016, demonstrating effective on-ice chemistry. Reuniting them in Montreal could rekindle this synergy, benefiting the team’s overall performance.
Conclusion
While the financial implications require careful navigation, the strategic advantages of acquiring Brayden and Luke Schenn align with the Montreal Canadiens’ immediate needs. Their combined experience, leadership, and positional fit present a compelling case for such a move, potentially enhancing the team’s competitiveness in the upcoming seasons.
