St Louis Sends Johnson and McClement to Colorado for Stewart and Shattenkirk

[Smerri1029]

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Blues Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Armstrong announced Saturday the club has acquired former first round draft choices Chris Stewart and Kevin Shattenkirk along with a conditional 2011 or 2012 second round draft choice from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Erik Johnson, Jay McClement and a conditional 2011 or 2012 first round draft choice.

“We’re very excited to acquire a young emerging power forward in Chris Stewart and a top young NHL defenseman in Kevin Shattenkirk,” said Armstrong. “These are two solid young players which will help us now and continue to grow and improve our team. I would like to thank Erik and Jay for their service to the St. Louis Blues and wish them nothing but the best of luck.”

Stewart, 23, has dressed in 36 games for the Avalanche this season, recording 30 points including 13 goals and 17 assists to go along with 38 penalty minutes.

The 6'2”, 228-pound forward has spent three seasons in the NHL, appearing in 166 games, registering 113 points (52 goals, 61 assists) and 165 penalty minutes. Last season, Stewart led Colorado with 28 goals and finished second on the team in scoring with 64 points in 77 games.

The Toronto, Ontario native was originally drafted by Colorado in the first round, 18th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Shattenkirk, 22, currently playing in his first National Hockey League (NHL) season, has appeared in 46 games this season with Colorado and ranks second among league rookie defenseman with 26 points (seven goals, 19 assists).

He compiled a nine-game point streak this season from Nov. 17-Dec. 4 (four goals, 10 assists), becoming just the second rookie defenseman in NHL history to register a point streak of nine-or-more games, joining Barry Beck, who had a pair of 10-game streaks with the Colorado Rockies in 1977-78.

The 5’11”, 193-pound defenseman was one of the 12 rookies chosen to participate in the 2011 NHL SuperSkills Competition during All-Star Weekend last month.

The Greenwich, Connecticut native was originally drafted by Colorado in the first round, 14th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

[BROKEN*ORBITAL]

Why the f*ck would the Avs move Chris Stewart?

[flyersrule]

holy **** what a big trade

[Fatt Patt]

Big trade at 2 in the morning.

[duda.radek]

Wow !

[JKidd]

Wow. Great talent going both ways in this one. Not sure what the hell the Blues are doing with their blue line... they've completely blown it up in one night. They must feel they've got something ready for the draft or something, because they have got rid of a lot.

Stewart and Backes together is a VERY formidable power forward tandem. One that should put a lot of fear into blue liners they play against.

Crazy **** happening in St. Louis...

[The Dougler]

Wow. If you had of told me a couple of months ago any of these guys, save for McClement, would have been moved I'd have laughed. Unreal.

I wish more deals like this happened. F*ck the salary cap

[bengino]

surprised to say the least, Stewart and Shattenkirk were some of the players i thought i wouldn't see the Avs trade... WOW.

[NJDevils17]

Wha???!!

I guess I'd have to give the win to St. Louis in this trade. Chris Stewart is good power forward who can get you 30 goals a season and Kevin Shattenkirk has had a solid rookie season.

Erik Johnson is of course a pretty good defensemen too, but Jay McClement seems to be just some random piece Davidson threw in here.

I'm liking this deal for the Blues, but man, I never would have thought any of these people would be traded (at least this year too).

Also, why are there trades being announced so late? Are GM's really on their phones at 1 or 2 in the morning with GM's?

[The_Sheriff]

Holy ****.....

Shatty has been bad since a little before the break up to now, as has Stewart since returning to the linup following the broken hand, he was even a healthy scratch a couple days ago. He was also my favorite player...so I'm sad to see him go. This is a really interesting trade that could really help both teams.

[devils29]

Definitely wouldn't have expected Johnson or Stewart to be traded, was very shocked by this trade.

I'm also curious about the Blue's d-corp because it feels to me like this makes a big hole there. Has Pietrangelo played that well that he could be classed as their #1? He's the only one I could think could be that, but I haven't really seen much of the Blues this year.
I know Shattenkirk (now) and Beaukeboom improve their prospects greatly however.

I guess having Stewart does improve the Blues goalscoring which doesn't seem to be too crash hot.

[Perrott26]

Most interesting deal I've seen in a long time.

With all the big deals yesterday the Kaberle deal is just another deal.

I think this deal helps both teams equally, the Avs get a franchise defenseman while the Blues get a franchise forward.

[Anthony19]

Great Job here by the Blues. Shattenkirk I see developing into a good offensive dman, and Stewart already is a great power forward. Johnson hasn't really lived up to his capabilities yet offensively. Been mostly a shut down dman. Jay McClement is just an extra body in this trade. Even though the Blues trade a first rounder, they at least get a second rounder in return.


Definitely a win for St. Louis.

[thepolishkid88]

Alot of reports from St. Louis were saying Johnson was available. Dosent come as a total shocker and I suppose the Blues selloff has come as Perron, Oshie, and Backes will all hit the market as well.

Puzzled as to why the Avs traded 2 guys that look to have promising careers.

[rondo]

Schocking from both sides...I guess. Why the blues are giving up on Johnson is a big surprise. He has' nt lived up to being a number one pick just yet but he is only 22-23 years old...6'4 230lb dman that have skill don't come around all that much and to ship him off for another chance to get a first round pick is like pissing into the wind if you ask me.....Stewart and Shattenkirk are both good players so this makes it all the more interesting...We are' nt in the lockerooms and don' t see these guys and don't know what they are like but obviously the GM's and coaches found all four expendable...Sure shakes up the deadline a bit...