Kevin Shattenkirk doesn't have to wait; it's free-agent season right now.
The St. Louis Blues defenseman is willing to entertain a "trade and extend" scenario, TSN's Darren Dreger reported Thursday, meaning he isn't married to the opportunity to experience summer courtship and could potentially commit long-term in the coming weeks.
What freedom he surrenders down the line, however, he gains in immediate control. His signature is required on any agreement that would allow the Blues to maximize their return on the power-play specialist, so it's in general manager Doug Armstrong's best interest to meet his demands while he can still recoup value on the puck mover.
Dreger noted that it "sounds like" the right-shot defender is willing to consider quite a few options, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, or a potential reunion with the Colorado Avalanche.
Here are three destinations we think could work:
Toronto
In the short term, Shattenkirk to Toronto almost makes too much sense.
First, there's the obvious need. Toronto is dangerously thin on the back end for a team carrying sudden postseason expectation. Its defense isn't one that can withstand a key injury; Morgan Rielly's absence versus the Rangers stretched an entire unit.
There's a surplus of prospects to choose from when building the framework of the deal. But what really gives the Leafs an inside track in a potential pursuit of Shattenkirk is the cap space they're coming into. Upward of $20 million will be at Toronto's disposal in 2017-18 when many of the unwanted contracts they took on in the process of pressing reset come off the books.
In theory, they could tempt Shattenkirk with a wildly inflated annual salary on a short-term deal. It would protect the Leafs when Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner need new contracts down the line, and allow Shattenkirk the chance to hit the jackpot twice. This way, his earnings could potentially land above value for the next nine seasons.
New York
With a lot of money tied up in assets and Mika Zibanejad in line for a hefty raise, the Rangers would have to find a way to unload one of the anchors on their payroll to make Shattenkirk anything more than a short-term rental.
But regardless of whether he sticks around for long, it's a scenario worth pursuing for New York. Few teams will have a harder route to the Stanley Cup Final than the Rangers, who cannot afford not to be proactive in the ultra-competitive Metropolitan Division.
Adding a defender whose skills cater to the fast-paced, four-line, blow-the-zone transition style the Rangers employ, Shattenkirk could put this team over the top.
Anaheim
Given the manner in which the season is shaking down, and the inevitably of losing a quality player in expansion, is there any other option for the first-place Ducks besides taking a run at it?
Anaheim is loaded with defenders at all levels of the organization. But because it has signed a few bad NHL contracts at the top of the chain, this isn't entirely reflected on the payroll, or by its top six night in and out.
If they can get out from underneath one of the anchors they have signed with their own depth at the position, the Ducks would have the cap space to add another transition defender in Shattenkirk, and could feature a ridiculously efficient top four in a wide-open Western Conference.
Taking on an unwanted contract in addition to a coveted prospect or pick would be the best way for St. Louis to maximize its return without Shattenkirk committing long term.
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