We all know the robust working relationship between Detroit Red Wings general manager (GM) Steve Yzerman and St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong.
The two have made multiple trades over the past couple of seasons. Yzerman turned Jacob De La Rose into Robby Fabbri. Then Yzerman traded Nick Leddy and tough guy Luke Witkowski to the Blues for Oskar Sundqvist, Jake Walman, and a second-round draft selection in the upcoming 2023 NHL Entry Level Draft.
And the most recent deal between the two Yzerman landed starting goaltender Ville Husso for a third-round pick in the 2022 draft. With the pick, St. Louis selected center Aleksanteri Kaskimäki. Kaskimäki, 19, has recorded two goals and five points through 31 games this season with HIFK Helsinki of the SM-liiga league.
There could be potential for another deal between the two organizations following the recent dispute between Blues center Robert Thomas and head coach Craig Berube.
The Detroit Red Wings need to make a call to check in on the status of center Robert Thomas.
Recently, Berube criticized his team following a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
"“A lot of our best players are not doing the job.” When pressed to answer why, he responded, “I guess they don’t care about the team. I don’t know. I’m not sure why.”"
Thomas felt the need to respond to his head coach’s criticism on ESPN radio in St. Louis;
"“Obviously, it’s frustrating to hear that,” Thomas told Carey & Randy on Friday. “I’ve been a part of this team for a long time, and what he said couldn’t be further from the truth. I know everyone in that room cares, and it’s frustrating to hear.”"
It is doubtful that Armstrong will be willing to trade Thomas, 23, who recently signed an eight-year contract extension worth $ 65 million that is set to begin next season. Thomas has scored 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points in 55 games this season. Last year, in 72 games, he had 20 goals and 57 assists for 77 points. Armstrong isn’t afraid to make a move, and although trading Thomas is very unlikely, this is a situation the Detroit Red Wings need to monitor.
Leading up to the NHL trade deadline, the St. Louis Blues have remained very active. The Blues are currently fifth in the wild card race in the Western Conference trailing the Seattle Kraken for the final playoff spot by a whopping 13 points, with Calgary and Nashville between them.
The Blues sent long-time star winger Vladimir Tarasenko along with Niko Mikkola to the New York Rangers in exchange for Samuel Blais, Hunter Skinner, a first-round pick in 2023, plus a fourth-round selection in 2024.
Following that blockbuster deal, the Blues made yet another one, this time sending center Ryan O’Reilly to the Toronto Maple Leafs via the Minnesota Wild, who were needed to retain salary in exchange for a fourth-round pick from the Leafs. The Blues received a pair of AHLers in Adam Gaudette and Mikhail Abramov, a first and third-round pick in the 2023 draft, and a second-round selection in 2024.
Just when you thought perhaps Armstrong ran out of minutes on his phone plan, the active GM made yet another deal. This past Sunday, Armstrong sent forward Ivan Barbashev to the Vegas Golden Knights for 20-year-old prospect Zach Dean.