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Would the Blues deal Patrik Berglund?

Is Bergie the sleeper trade deadline deal waiting to happen?

By hildymac
NHL: St. Louis Blues at Montreal Canadiens Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

According to The Hockey News, Patrik Berglund is the tenth best available player on trade deadline day, which is February 28th.

10. PATRIK BERGLUND, C, BLUES

Ridiculous goal-scoring binge reminds us why he was a first-round pick in 2006. Would add a dangerous element his new team’s third line.

Contract: unrestricted free agent in 2017

Fair enough - he has gone on a holy tear recently, beginning before Hitchcock’s firing. Bergie’s 10th on the team in scoring (17G, 7A) and second on the team in goals just ahead of Paul Stastny’s 15. He has nine goals in the past month, including his first ever career hat trick on Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens and a two goal effort against the Anaheim Ducks. He’s easily on pace to set a career best for goals (currently at 22 in 2010-2011).

It makes sense that people are talking about the pending UFA who has nearly a 51% face off winning percentage, at least from the perspective of how Berglund can benefit other teams. However, him leaving would be a detriment to the Blues. First off, the Blues appear to be picking up speed (hopefully) and solidifying a playoff spot. They’ll need Bergie’s goal scoring to continue, and it’s hard for that to happen if he’s not on the team. His current price tag of $3,700,000 earned some raised eyebrows the last time Berglund was extended; his improved play suggests a pending raise that - if the Blues lose Kevin Shattenkirk in February or after the playoffs - will be affordable for the team.

But why would the team pay it? Have you seen their depth at center right now? Another year or two of Berglund while waiting for Tage Thompson seems like more of a Blues move right now than a cap-busting trade for Matt Duchene. They’ve been hamstrung by the cap for a few seasons now. It’d be surprising to see them hamstring themselves again.

Bergie would be a great pick-up for another team making a playoff push. The Blues, however, are a team who find themselves in that exact position right now. Losing Berglund and Shattenkirk both at the trade deadline would put a kibosh on those plans, especially with Robby Fabbri missing the rest of the season and the playoffs.