Both games . But Buchnevich is gone, swapped for Sammy Blais and a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL draft. NEW YORK When Pavel Buchnevich was traded to St. Louis from New York in July, his former coach with the Rangers, David Quinn, said the Blues "got him right in the sweet spot." Quinn went on. Already, he has 14 points on the man advantage, primarily from the second unit. "We had kind of narrowed it down to three or four players at that pick and youre crossing your fingers as it goes on," he said. ET. Analysis relies on shot-based metrics; here are primers (Part 1, Part 2) on these numbers. The Russian winger hit career highs last season with 48 points in 56 games. But as a restricted free agent, the Rangers. It wont be that way under this administration or under incoming head coach Gerard Gallant. Originally a third-round pick (75th overall) in the 2013 Draft, Buchnevich has established himself as a standout top-six winger over the past few years. The Blues have gotten a lot out of Buchnevich and their offense would not have been as high level without him in 2021-22. Quinn went on to say that Buchnevich, 26, had turned himself into a legit NHL player and was poised to do great things at this point in his career. The deal sent Sammy Blais and a 2022 second-round pick to the Rangers. Inside the Pavel Buchnevich trade and a busy day for the NY Rangers If they fell out of the playoff picture, they could always flip him at the deadline. Now Drury may find himself in the trade market looking for the type of top-nine skill he shipped out with Buchnevich. The deal came with a four-year contract extension at $5.8 million average annual value in St. Louis for the 6-foot-3, 196-pound forward, which hes made look like a bargain. With Eichel off the table at least for now Drury couldn't find another trade partner in his quest for a top-six center. This is worse than Hall for Larsson. So thank you (to Blues fans) for that. Buchnevichs departure creates a vacancy that the Rangers can likely fill internally. The Russian guys have helped me a lot, like Vova (Vladimir Tarasenko) and Ivan (Barbashev), Buchnevich said. The Rangers decision to trade Buchnevich was never about getting an equal player in return. He was brought in to be a valuable top-six forward; hes been all that and more through one season. He recorded 28 points (14-14) in 76 games over the past two seasons while getting an average of 12:20 of ice time a night playing a fair amount on a line with Ryan OReilly. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. As the 2022-23 season is about to begin for the St. Louis Blues, its time to look back on the Pavel Buchnevich trade that general manager Doug Armstrong pulled off prior to the 2021-22 season. It makes it easier for me, like Vladi, we have a good connection right now.. In 36 games last season, Blais had eight goals and seven assists. And Buchnevich wasnt the only rising cost to consider. Its tough to argue otherwise. Blais comes with a cap hit of a mere $1.5 million, which is much cheaper than what Buchnevich will get, and will become an arbitration eligible RFA next summer. That was happening. The Pavel Puchnevich trade is going to be one that is discussed ad nauseum for a while. Give what we know now, with or without Buchnevich, the Vitali Kravtsov debacle would have happened, so thats irrelevant now. The New York Rangers have traded re-signed restricted free agent forward Pavel Buchnevich to the St. Louis Blues for Sammy Blais and a 2022 2nd round pick. Buchnevich, on the other hand, had 48 points in 54 games last season. 8.80. Why not! In theory, his departure was going to open up ice time for young forwards Kaapo Kakko, Vitali Kravtsov and Alexis Lafrenire. Hes building on that with a role on the Blues short-handed units this season. Without Blais in the lineup, it is incredibly difficult to do a true retrospective on the trade and how it worked out. But that plan was tenuous, at best, relying on assumptions about Kakkos progress, Kravtsovs buy-in and Lafrenires ability to shift to his off wing. "I'm excited to have Pavel join our group," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. In the final season of a bridge deal signed in 2018, he. Its just not, regardless of the mitigating factors surrounding it. Theres only so much cap space to go around and theres only so much ice time to go around, Drury said Friday night. It was an awful trade that Drury should be rightly criticized for. Multiple people close to the situation indicated he had been trying to shop Buchnevich for one all summer to no avail. Blais scored 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 36 regular-season games this season and one goal in four playoff games. 89 was about to say hello to fame and fortune, it became time to say good-bye, and through no fault of his own. Pavel Buchnevich Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Salary, Title After being drafted in the third round (75th overall) by the Rangers in 2013, Buchnevich posted 79 goals and 116 assists in 301 games over five seasons, and had a career-high 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) in 54 games last season. The second-round pick became defenseman Elias Salomonsson after the pick was traded from the Rangers to the Winnipeg Jets for Andrew Copp during the trade deadline last season. Pavel Buchnevich is on his way to St. Louis, Tony DeAngelo is on his way out the door and a first-round pick that most assumed would be traded stayed put. When Drury failed to find a deal for a center, he pivoted to his other top priority: Bottom-six grit. Still, there now is Stanley Cup pedigree in the room that had been missing. Pavel Buchnevich isn't a stranger to trade rumors. As an arbitration-eligible restricted free agent, Buchnevich will look for a big payday with . To be honest, I know the trade was going to happen, Buchnevich said. And with the start of free agency on Wednesday, the Rangers may have more renovations in store. Pavel Buchnevich is headed to St. Louis. I feel really good about our depth at winger.. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano. The Rangers also now have eight picks in the 2022 entry draft, including three picks in the first two rounds and six in the first four. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Pavel Buchnevich for Charlie McAvoy Trade values and analysis involving Pavel Buchnevich & Charlie McAvoy. Beyond cap space, the other argument was that the Rangers needed top-six space for Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko. None of those especially since management had already soured on Kravtsov was a given. A player that obviously we control for a year and would like to sign long term. His value and versatility in both even strength and special teams situations were major factors for his success. Its abundantly obvious this is Gallants vision. 9. for. New York previously acquired Goodrow and defenseman Nick DeSimone in separate trades July 17. They also decided to keep Chris Kreider around long-term, which definitely put Buchnevich in an odd spot. Among players with 70 or more games the last two years, Blais is fourth in hits per 60 minutes. However, the Rangers are still fine, and will be fine for the foreseeable future. But it appears the return of a 2022 second-rounder and Blais, a north-south physical winger, is what Drury was looking for. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Five quick thoughts on a lost #NYR weekend, including trouble on the second line, via @TheAthletic https://t.co/xrrNs2ncHv, Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) February 28, 2022. The Zamboni word mark and configuration of the Zamboni ice resurfacing machine are registered trademarks of Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. Frank J. Zamboni & Co., Inc. 2023. But perhaps equally important in the equation is that the Rangers were simply too unbalanced, too homogeneous, too top-heavy without the necessary bottom-six ingredients to win battles, to grind down the opposition, to emerge with two points when the top six was smothered. Not that that wasnt the case in New York, where he was well-liked in the locker room and adored by fans. Exchanging Buchnevich for Blais opens a top-six spot on the right side. 'inactive' : 'active'}} players. Beyond this season, Chris Drury could have just traded him this offseason, or waited it out. Its momentum. The Blues power play finished second in the league last season, and Buchnevich was a big part of that. Trading Buchnevich was necessary for the Rangers financially, because key players such as goalie Igor Shesterkin, Norris Trophy-winner Adam Fox and top-line center Mika Zibanejad are due for substantial raises over the next two seasons. That is the genesis of the acquisition and long-term signing of Barclay Goodrow. The New York Rangers began their offseason by trading Pavel Buchnevich to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Sammy . From general manager Chris Drurys perspective, was this a mistake? My goal is to make the playoffs and show something there.. The 2021-22 season was a lost cause for Blais after he tore his ACL just 14 games into the season. Updated hourly, with analysis, commentary and features from hundreds writers worldwide, our articles are read over 5 million times every month. We know that objectively the value is bad. Contact Support, {{searchActivePlayers ? So lets set some ground rules: Buchnevich on the top line, but not PP1, would basically give us the same top-six as last year, just with Kakko on the second line. Drafted from Cherepovets (Rus Jr.) Acquired Acquired in a trade with NY Rangers in 2021. Buchnevich is far and away the best player in this trade and its not close, but that doesnt make it a failure for the loser of the deal. When he was with the New York Rangers, the potential to score 30 goals and tally nearly a point per game was there, but it didnt come to fruition until he was in St. Louis. Buchnevich, the 15th pick and other assets, an average annual value between $5 million and $6 million, Othmann was the top player on their board, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. They don't have a second-rounder, but have five picks between the third and fourth rounds. Remember, Chytil was dealing with a nagging injury, and Lafreniere would still be on the third line. He won the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019. He was a sixth-round pick for St. Louis in 2014. ST LOUIS, MO - NOVEMBER 14: Pavel Buchnevich #89 of the St. Louis Blues skates against the Edmonton Oilers at Enterprise Center on November 14, 2021 in St Louis, Missouri. He will not be easy to replace. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. NHL 2023. Blais, 25, has one year left on his deal at $1.5 million against the cap before he reaches restricted free agency, also with arbitration rights. We wont know until we know. Samsonov vs. Bobrovsky goalie matchup in Eastern 2nd Round The first is the return of a healthy Vladimir Tarasenko and his re-emergence as a top-line star. It is fair to say that Buchnevich last season became the player the Rangers had been waiting for since he first arrived in New York in September 2016. He plays on both special teams, and he has been placed up and down the St. Louis lineup. When the Blues acquired Buchnevich, the expectations werent for him to have the enormous season he did in 2021-22. The necessary transformation is under way. (18) were close. Primarily a defensive forward, Blais has 35 points in 119 games in four seasons with the Blues. Facing an. Long Range Potential: (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images). He has played his best hockey this season when he is among his compatriots. (Which I haven't heard of any team offering.). Obviously, I want to score, but if I see my partner have a better opportunity to score, I give it to him.. Yes, of course there is a place for that. However in execution, the Rangers found a top line by moving Chris Kreider to RW, and bumping Lafreniere to the top line. The 25-year old Blais was drafted 176th overall in the 6th round of the 2014 . Selected by the Blues in the sixth round (No. https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/03/01212019/Buch-PP-points.mp4, https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/03/01212045/Buch-Thomas-Tarasenko.mp4, https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/03/01212133/Buch-Thomas.mp4, https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/03/01212115/Buch-Tarasenko.mp4, https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2022/03/01212235/Buchnevich-OK.mp4. The previous regime collected a collection of talents. Rangers Nervously Watching Buchnevich's Blues Rise There is still much work to be done. Are The St. Louis Blues Among The NHLs Elite Teams, St. Louis Blues Pros/Cons From 2021-22 Game 53 At NY Rangers, Druw Jones Hits Home Run as High School Crowd Chants 'Overrated', St. Louis Blues Pros/Cons From 2021-22 Game 52 At Chicago, St. Louis Blues Pros/Cons From 2021-22 Game 50 At Philadelphia, St. Louis Blues Pros/Cons From 2021-22 Game 49 At Toronto. Revisiting the ill fated Pavel Buchnevich trade - The Rangers are still Right now, we are in a playoff spot, so probably good season for me. NHL Scores: Pavel Buchnevich has been steal for St. Louis Blues The Othmann pick was notable, but the biggest news of the day was the deal that sent one of their most productive players packing in exchange for bottom-six forward Sammy Blais and a 2022 second-round pick. Maybe this is the first domino to fall in a series of moves for the Rangers that brings in another key piece for the top-six that could effectively replace Buchnevich. So, yes, the trade looked like a misstep at the time and continues to, despite the teams record. He has 35 points (17 goals, 18 assists) over 119 career NHL games. So the Rangers Chris Drury will take heat for his first player-for-player trade as an NHL general manager, in which he sent Pavel Buchnevich to the Blues for Sammy Blais and a 2022 second-round pick on Friday in the hours before the opening round of the draft. July 23, 2021. Good for both sides. Sign up for our regular 'Rangers Newsletter' for all the latest. You laugh, but its close. Sometimes I go on the left. "I want to thank Sammy Blais for his contributions to our organization over the last number of years," Armstrong said. So I was right about Kyrou, Buchnevich and . Beyond this season, Chris Drury could have just traded him this offseason, or waited it out. As I suggested in this space Friday, the construction of the third line as a checking unit means that the Blueshirts wont stack Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and Alexis Lafreniere on the left. Type part of a player's name, or hover over a team at left. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. Blais fits the front offices mission of being a team that is harder to play against he takes the body and has a high motor but his overall impact is completely overshadowed by the skill and production of Buchnevich. Blues' Pavel Buchnevich: Unavailable Saturday. Sports Forecaster is a product of XML Team Solutions, LLC 2023 All Rights Reserved. However the impact, in my opinion, is way overblown.