Have you ever had something so delicious that you had to go back for seconds? God forbid your stomach bursts like the Hoover Dam after being struck by a meteorite. You need that second helping of cheesecake to satisfy your hunger. Your taste buds demand it!
It seems the Vegas Golden Knights are looking for more helpings of midwestern cuisine. How? They aren't done with getting players from the St. Louis Blues. They signed Brandon Saad to a one-year deal worth $1.5 million on Jan. 31. So far, the winger hasn't had any trouble fitting in, scoring a goal and an assist in four games. Pretty appetizing, right?
However, it seems Kelly McCrimmon could want another serving of that St. Louis toasted ravioli. In fact, he might fetch more marinara sauce for dipping after seeing this player available. The mystery forward has 11 goals and 21 assists in 2024-25. Two goals and three assists came on the man advantage, adding more depth for the second-best unit in the NHL (28%). Plus, he knows how to create rebounds (13). Now that's delicious.
But there's a catch that could make the salary cap stomach burst. The 33-year-old does carry a cap hit of $6.5 million, which would require some retention and maneuvering to make it work. Who's the mysterious guy that could satisfy the appetites of Las Vegas citizens everywhere?
Brayden Schenn is the St. Louis Blues star who might join Brandon Saad in Las Vegas
The man in question is none other than Brayden Schenn. On his 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman mentioned the Vegas Golden Knights as a potential destination. The St. Louis Blues captain and Brandon Saad would happily be reunited again. It'd be a happy moment like munching on another slice of St. Louis pizza.
The #stlblues have a steep price on Brayden Schenn, per @FriedgeHNIC (as they should imo). Some teams were already told you don't even have what we would want or need. Vegas was mentioned by name as a destination due to his junior connection with Kelly McCrimmon, their GM.
— The Chirp (@STLBluesChirp) February 10, 2025
So what makes him special? Well, the 33-year-old isn't just a solid goal-scorer. He's also a physical player with 142 hits this season. In fact, he's gone 14 straight seasons with 100 or more hits, making him a tenured tough guy. That could be what Bruce Cassidy needs in the middle of the lineup, given that the team doesn't have Paul Cotter.
While all that sounds nice, there is a catch. According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Blues have a sky-high price for their captain. Considering he's under contract until 2028, he could have a stay in Las Vegas where he's sitting comfortably in the middle of the lineup. But is McCrimmon willing to part with multiple draft picks and prospects to get him? That's the big question.
Being on the wrong side of 30 doesn't help matters, either. As mentioned in the Brad Marchand rumors, McCrimmon isn't fond of holding onto older players unless they're the right fit. Granted, the former first-round pick stands at 6'1" and weighs 199 lbs. However, that point still stands when his skills start deteriorating due to father time. In short, it quickly becomes stale like month-old frozen custard.
If Saad's former teammate reunites with him in Las Vegas, everyone should start coining the term, "Vegas Blues." First, it was Alex Pietrangelo, followed by Ivan Barbashev. With two more players from the Arch City, McCrimmon will start collecting Blues players like infinity stones. After all, he is inevitable like another helping of gooey butter cake.