• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
St Louis Blues

Why the Time is Right for the Blues to Move T.J. Oshie

By Dave Lipscomb June 17th, 2014

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp
Oshie's last goal was on March 27 (Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports)

T.J. Oshie’s value may never be higher than right now. (Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports)

It’s not show friends, it’s show business

The Olympic showcase displayed by Blues forward T.J. Oshie opened many eyes to his immense talent. By beating Vezina Trophy winner and Team Russia goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky four out of six times in the classic and much-publicized tilt, Oshie became a relative unknown playing in a mid-market city to a big-name star.

This is precisely why the Blues need to trade him now.

As the Blues have repeatedly shown in playoffs past, their failure to score the big goal and compensate for lineup holes was never more evident than in the 2013 playoffs versus the Chicago Blackhawks. If only the shootout was a factor in the postseason, Oshie might have had a bigger impact. However, there are teams (New Jersey Devils, I’m looking at you) that couldn’t crack the final eight due to shootout ineptitude, squandering valuable loser points. For them, the idea of gaining an asset like Oshie would help mitigate the PR and ticket sale backlash associated with missing the playoffs, while helping them potentially gain entry into a tournament where — especially in the East — almost anyone has a chance at a Finals run.

By now many Blues fans have already clicked off the page, enraged at the thought of selling off the youthful face of the franchise and breaking the hearts of South St. Louis girls everywhere. But consider this for a moment: would two solid forwards — picking on the Devils once again — Henrique and perhaps a veteran like Danius Zubrus — not help this team begin to overcome their postseason woes? Does anyone think Oshie’s stock and perception will ever be higher than it is now? What do you think the Devils would pay to make the playoffs and allow the chips to fall where they may? After coming within two wins of the Cup in 2012, they may think they’re on the precipice of being a real postseason threat in the East. Given the seemingly random nature of the teams that emerge from the East, they may be right.

Oshie's thrilling 4-for-6 shootout was a moment for the ages (Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports)

Oshie’s shootout ability means nothing in the playoffs. (Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports)

You have to pay to play

It’s easier for transactions like this to happen between Conferences, since the likelihood of one team trading an asset that comes back to bite them in the playoffs is relatively slim unless they meet in the Finals — and gamble most franchises will make. To fix real problems outside of picking in the top two or three or plucking a valuable free agent, teams need to give to get. A player such as Oshie that’s an almost-star in terms of production now has that most enviable trait that teams in need covet — an asset with a league-wide perception that he’s better than he really is. Call it the Ryan Miller syndrome. When a team can gain real help and roster depth for a long springtime battle without much impact to their regular-season standings, that’s a proposition that’s hard to ignore. And while fans might point to Oshie’s shootout production as a real reason to not move him, others might argue that a primary cause for showing up in the shootout is the inability for the team to close the deal in regular or overtime to begin with — a malady that translates into problems scoring goals when it counts in May and beyond.

Potential backlash

The casual Blues fan will have issues with trading Oshie, but like any trade what matters is the return. No movement of a player as popular as he will receive proper perspective until after the playoffs are over, with all forgotten should the Blues skate with the Cup in June. The team is in a financial position to acquire solid free agent help in the form of Paul Stastny, trade for Jason Spezza without sacrificing Oshie or simply have confidence that their current core is enough. Regardless of the path chosen by Armstrong and company, it’s responsible asset management to think about moving a player that’s still largely operating on the equity of potential.

  • Tags
  • Adam Henrique
  • Dainius Zubrus
  • Ryan Miller
  • T.J. Oshie
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 17th 4:25 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Maple Leafs Make Tough Decision in Waiving Spezza and Dell

Jan 17th 4:05 PM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Joe Thornton’s First Maple Leafs’ Goal: Just a Little Trickery Out There

Jan 17th 3:55 PM
St Louis Blues

Blues’ Winter 2021 Prospect Pyramid

Jan 17th 3:40 PM
Column

Senators News & Rumours: White, Batherson, Stützle & More

Jan 17th 3:30 PM
Boston Bruins

First-Year Islanders Shocked Big, Bad Bruins 48 Years Ago

Jan 17th 2:55 PM
Detroit Red Wings

NHL Rumors: Maple Leafs, Oilers, Canadiens, Flyers, Red Wings, More

Jan 17th 2:45 PM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins Need to Make a Jack Roslovic Trade Happen

Jan 17th 2:35 PM
Column

Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Matthews, Thornton, Marner & Robertson

Jan 17th 2:25 PM
New York Islanders

Islanders Host Special Drive-Through Merchandise Giveaway at UBS Arena

Jan 17th 1:42 PM
Archives

2013 NHL Entry Draft: Where Are They Now?

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information