Insider Darren Dreger Reveals What the Maple Leafs Must Give Up for Brayden Schenn
NHL Hockey Insider Darren Dreger revealed the price the Maple Leafs must pay if they wish to acquire St. Louis Blues center Brayden Schenn.
With Brad Treliving looking to make a deal for a second or third line center, there are no shortage of options. Recently, the team was linked to long-time Blues center Brayden Schenn in what would be a massive pickup for the Maple Leafs.
He won't come cheap and NHL Hockey Insider Darren Dreger has now revealed what it'll take for a deal to get done.
Brayden Schenn's Hefty Trade Package Revealed By Darren Dreger
Speaking on TSN1050's FirstUp, Dreger revealed a potential package for Brayden Schenn that teams can expect, and it comes at a pretty big cost:
If I'm [GM Doug] Armstrong and you want to convince me to move my captain with a pretty good deal, you have to make it worth my while and that's essentially what it might take.
Asking Armstrong (the NHL's longest-tenured GM) to move such a vital piece of not only his current team, but the entire team's identity for nearly a decade, is no easy feat.
Schenn has averaged 20 goals and 31 assists over his eight seasons with the Blues. He's also not afraid to throw his weight around either, averaging 134 hits in that span as well, and has won nearly 49% of his faceoffs as well.
This season, Schenn has 11 goals and 19 assists in 55 games while adding 141 hits and winning faceoffs at a 50.1% clip.
He was also a big part of the team's Stanley Cup win in 2018-19 with current Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube; another reason the team has been so heavily attached to the name.
His contract is also a pretty solid bargain all things considered. Making $6.5M for the next three seasons, he'll be 36 when it's all said and done, but with the cap rising in the coming years it's going to come out to an absolute steal regardless of where he ends up.
You're also asking Armstrong to give up his captain, and while a big package is certainly enticing, losing the heart and soul of the team is a huge loss is a huge loss even if he wasn't producing offensively.
There are several other names that teams could look for to boost their lineup, but none offer the two-way winning experience and leadership that Schenn possess.
But if you're going to make a deal, make sure it's an offer that Armstrong can't refuse.
