In a stunning turn of events, the St. Louis Blues have made headlines once again by acquiring defenseman Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Ducks. This bold move signals that the Blues are not finished shaking things up on the roster, particularly when it comes to veteran winger Brandon Saad.

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman on his recent 'Saturday Headlines' segment, the Blues are actively exploring the possibility of parting ways with Saad, especially after he was made a healthy scratch in last night’s game.

The road to trading Saad isn't straightforward, however. Currently, he carries a hefty salary of $4.5 million for both this season and next, which raises concerns among potential trade partners. To complicate matters, Saad is restricted by a full no-trade clause for this year, which will transition to a limited no-trade list next season, including only 12 teams.

Friedman indicated that Saad may be open to adjusting his no-trade protection if it would expedite a deal. Yet, the fact remains that teams looking to strengthen their lineup might be hesitant to take on an aging player whose scoring touch has waned.

This season, Saad has only managed to net four goals and a total of ten points over 27 games. These numbers reflect a drastic drop in performance and would mark his worst scoring pace since his second year in the league back in the 2012-13 season.

While Saad had a notable resurgence last year, posting 26 goals and 42 points throughout the season, his current slump likely contributes to the Blues' challenging circumstances in facilitating a trade.

Many playoff-contending teams might simply lack the salary cap space to absorb his contract, and they are probably more inclined to pursue younger, higher-scoring options.

As the NHL trade deadline approaches, eyes will be on the Blues to see if they can effectively move Saad and fulfill their ambitions for a more competitive lineup. Will they find a taker in time, or will Saad remain a perplexing puzzle for the team? Only time will tell! Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops!