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Blues team captain Eric Brewer goes to the Tampa Bay Lighting ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, in exchange for Brock Beukeboom and a 2011 third-rounder.
The St. Louis Blues made another big trade ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline Friday night, trading former top draft pick Erik Johnson and Jay McClement to the Colorado Avalanche for Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk. Johnson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft; Jay McClement, a Game Time favorite, was a 2001 second-rounder who’d played for the Blues since 2005.
Chris Stewart gives the Blues a much-needed scoring threat. He’s got 30 points in 36 games a year after scoring 28 goals and putting in 36 assists, and at 23 he’s still got some time to develop. Shattenkirk, a rookie defenseman, has shown some scoring ability as well.
For all his talents Johnson’s slow development made him frustrating for Blues fans, and Alex Pietrangelo’s sudden emergence as a No. 1 defender at 21 years old made him expendable. Joe Barker of Game Time sums this move up like so: “The Blues were idling and needed a shakeup.” Over the last two days it’s clear they’ve gotten just that.
The NHL Trade Deadline falls on Feb. 28, 2011, at 2 p.m. CST. The Blues haven’t been shy so far about using it.
St. Louis Blues team captain and defenseman Eric Brewer was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline Friday, exchanged for the rights to Lightning draft pick Brock Beukeboom and a third-rounder in next year's NHL draft.
Brewer has been a member of the Blues for six seasons, and had eight goals and six assists in 54 games in 2010-2011. He was the Blues' captain this season, but with the team falling out of playoff contention there was no room for the 31-year-old in the team's future plans.
Beukeboom, 18, is currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League, where he has a goal and seven assists in 44 games. The Lightning, tops in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division with a 34-18-6 record, drafted him with the 63rd pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, so the Blues find themselves with what amounts to two third-rounders in exchange for Brewer.
The NHL Trade Deadline is February 28, 2011, at 2 PM CST. The Blues, last in the Central Division, could be active right to the deadline.
Chris Stewart Scores Twice, Leads St. Louis Blues To Blowout Win
Chris Stewart, acquired by the St. Louis Blues ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline, knows just how to ingratiate himself with with his new fanbase—he had two goals in his first game after leaving the Colorado Avalanche, a 9-3 thrashing of the Anaheim Ducks at Scottrade Center. Andy McDonald and T.J. Oshie each added two goals of their own, and David Backes, Alex Steen, and Carlo Colaiacovo each scored once. Kevin Shattenkirk, also included in the trade, which sent Erik Johnson and Jay McClement to the Avalanche, even got the assist on Stewart’s second goal.
The Ducks actually jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Blues went off. McDonald and Oshie scored early, and McDonald’s second goal of the evening put the Blues up for good at 4-3.
With Jaroslav Halak still sidelined, Ben Bishop got much of the action in the net, replacing Ty Conklin after the Ducks’ early goals. He made 20 saves. The Blues, 27-21-9 on the season, have won three straight, and will play next on Monday, against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Feb 20 1:08a by Dan Moore - 0 comments