Why Blues Didn’t Trade or Protect Vince Dunn as Part of Expansion Draft

St. Louis Blues insider Jeremy Rutherford noted there were a few reasons the St. Louis Blues chose to make the moves they did ahead of the NHL Expansion Draft. Specifically, he discussed why the Blues chose to leave Vladimir Tarasenko exposed and why the team didn’t trade defenseman Vince Dunn before the trade freeze.

Dunn was left available, the Blues choosing instead to protect Colton Parayko, Justin Faulk, Torey Krug. The Blues could have gone four and four to ensure Dunn wasn’t a target for the Seattle Kraken, but instead, the team is making a bet that some other options might be more enticing to Ron Francis.

Related: Vladimir Tarasenko Requests Trade From Blues, Where He Might Wind Up

Dunn is young, an RFA, and has always been an interesting player for many teams. He has a tendency to make costly mistakes, which hasn’t always sat well with coaches but he’s a capable defenseman who can play at a very high level.

Rutherford suggests that a Dunn trade likely didn’t happen for a few reasons. First, the Blues couldn’t get what he wanted for him. There were plenty of rumors the team was working on a trade in the final hours prior to lists needing to be submitted. Rutherford wrote in the final moments, “With just a few minutes left before the NHL trade freeze, Vince Dunn’s camp isn’t aware of any move. That could change, but nothing at the moment.”

Pierre LeBrun had reported, “Dunn’s name is out there a bit, which makes sense as the Blues navigate their protection list. But doesn’t necessarily mean he will move. If you’re the Blues, do you protect 4 D, or leave Dunn exposed in a 7-3-1, or take best trade for him before 3 p.m. ET trade freeze…”

Clearly, there was talk and consideration to trade him.

Is There More Going on With the Blues?

Second, Rutherford believes the Blues ultimately may have decided they are OK with losing Dunn in the draft. When push comes to shove, the Blues aren’t happy about potential letting him leave for nothing, but the option to protect a different player was important.

Finally, Rutherford wondered if St. Louis has “something up his sleeve.”

Next: Kraken Hint Expansion Draft Strategy: Price, Trade Deals Being Looked At