Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The St. Louis Blues are a team that is firing on all cylinders right now, having won the last seven of 10 games currently making them third in the Western Conference. For a team that is playing so well, it may be a good idea to consider trading veteran defenseman Jay Bouwmeester in an early look towards the playoffs.
There is no denying that Bouwmeester is a solid defenseman who eats up minutes and can be relied on to play in almost every game, especially given that he had an iron man streak that lasted 737 straight games until his recent lower body injury put him on the injured reserve. Similarly, there is also no denying that the Blues have a great team. The trouble is that the Blues have had a great team for a few seasons now and have lacked success in the playoffs. The same thing happened last season after acquiring goalie superstar Ryan Miller in a move many thought would lead them to a Stanley Cup when they were knocked out early.
One of the many problems that seems to arise in the postseason for St. Louis is point production, which is why it may be in the best interest of the Blues to shop around and see what they could get in exchange for Bouwmeester.
Currently, the blue-liner has played 20 games and only has one goal and one assist with mediocre hits and blocks as well. For a team that struggles to find depth scoring, it may make sense to look elsewhere for a more versatile player. Bouwmeester could be a great addition to another team, perhaps one in a rebuilding phase, that lacks the experience of a veteran and could really benefit from the leadership.
Kayla Demint is an Anaheim Ducks writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow her on Twitter, Like her on Facebook or add her to your network on Google.
