NHL Trade Rumors 2017: Kevin Shattenkirk Willing to Sign Long-term Deal With Maple Leafs, Canadiens
St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk's name has been all over the rumor mill this season and a number of teams are reportedly interested in acquiring him as a rental before he bolts in the offseason. Well, it seems Shattenkirk may have a wish list as well and he's willing to sign a long-term deal with one of these teams.
Sportsnet's Nick Kypreos has reported that the Blues defenseman has about a dozen teams he's interested in joining and two of them happens to be in Canada — the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. Kypreos noted that he could be traded anywhere, however, the teams on his wish list have the best chance of re-signing him to a long-term contract in the offseason.
"There's a belief out there that he would not be traded to a Canadian team because there was really no chance on a long-term deal moving forward. I don't hear that's the case. I think on his wish list of long-term deals, he's got about 12 teams. I'm told two of them are Canadian teams. I think it's safe to say that he doesn't envision himself being an Edmonton Oiler or a Calgary Flame, but the feeling is Toronto and Montreal."
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Shattenkirk can say all the right things about giving his all for the Blues, but the fact remains that he's on the trading block. Kypreos even pointed out that it is a "foregone conclusion" that he's going to get traded before the trade deadline. Blues general manager Doug Armstrong let pending unrestricted free agents David Backes and Troy Brouwer leave without getting anything in return last season, so he definitely wants to get something back this time.
A number of pundits believe Shattenkirk will fit right in with the Maple Leafs and Canadiens. Well, a puck-moving defenseman with his two-way abilities should make any team better.
Will Shattenkirk end up in Canada? Hockey enthusiasts will find out in the next couple of weeks.
