Prior to the shocking trade which sent Taylor Hall from the Oilers to the Devils in exchange for Adam Larsson, there was plenty of talk suggesting the Oilers and the Blues might be working on a deal involving Kevin Shattenkirk. With the dust still settling on the Hall-Larsson swap, it sounds like the only reason a deal didn’t come to fruition with the Blues and Oilers is a result of Shattenkirk not wanting to sign an extension with Edmonton.
Elliotte Friedman reports that Shattenkirk had no intention of signing a new deal with the Oilers should he be traded, killing any trade talks between the two clubs. It’s implied that if Shattenkirk was open to an extension, it’s highly likely that Hall could’ve been on the Blues in 2016-17.
Friedman also notes the rumor that states Shattenkirk apparently only has a list of four teams he is willing to sign an extension with following a trade, but also mentions the list could be substantially longer. Shattenkirk’s list of teams he’s willing to sign a long-term deal with is critical for the Blues as it may severely limit their trading partners.
Should the Blues not be able to find a trading partner that Shattenkirk is willing to sign with, the team may elect to hold on to him and revisit a trade later in the year. It may not make sense to deal him now if the expectation is he’ll only skate for the receiving club for 2016-17. The Blues could enjoy Shattenkirk’s services for a chunk of the year while still receiving a similar return for him in a mid-year swap.
