Thin Center Market Could Have Too High-Priced Names
Anthony DiMarco of the Daily Faceoff joined TSN Radio in Montreal and was asked about the center market who could command more between Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues and Ryan O’Reilly of the Nashville Predators.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Host: “Hockey Heaven at 11 on Mondays with Anthony DiMarco. It’s a great partnership. I’m excited for it. But the partnership with (Brayden) Schenn and the Blues. How long will that last? With him getting a couple goals last night (Sunday night) and the Blues near the bottom of the standings?”
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Anthony DiMarco: “Hey, I mean, Brayden Schenn’s name has been on the trade block going back to last season. It feels like he just signed an extension and just became the captain in St Louis, and now all of a sudden, he’s on the trade block.
But hey, with there always being a scarce amount of centers available on the trade market, and teams always being in the hunt for centermen, if the Blues decide to make Brayden Schenn available, I have no doubt that there will be no shortage of suitors for him. I think the ball will be entirely in Doug Armstrong’s court on this one, and whether or not he can find the right package, which I imagine will be quite substantial if he is moving on from his captain.”
Host: How do you see it between Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn as far as teams looking for a center? Like, which guy would command more on the market?
DiMarco: “I mean, I think Brayden Schenn should command more, but based on how the Nashville Predators operate, and not in the most shrewd of ways, I feel like they’re going to be looking for more. Like Ryan O’Reilly, I believe it’s two years beyond this one, or one year at $4.5 million. I think he’s slowed down more than Brayden Schenn. I think Schenn has a bit more to offer at this stage of their respective careers.
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But I mean, I just think that the Nashville Predators are kind of in a situation right now where they’re going to have to, once again, pivot on their direction. And if they’re going to move off of Ryan O’Reilly, who doesn’t have trade protection, but they’ve been well documented in saying that they’ll treat him like he has trade protection. I feel like they’re going to be driving a harder bargain.
And that’s not to say that St Louis won’t be driving a hard bargain on their own, on Brayden Schenn. I just feel like Barry Trotz is really gonna have to try and make hay on Ryan O’Reilly if they do move them.”
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