Yardbarker
x
St. Louis Blues Place Defenceman On Waivers
Main Photo: Jeff Curry- Imagn Images

On Tuesday, the St. Louis Blues placed defenceman Nick Leddy on waivers. The 15-year veteran has one year left on his contract.

Leddy Placed On Waivers

Leddy played in 31 games for the Blues last season, recording five points. The 2013 Stanley Cup Champion has been a Blue since being acquired during the 2021-22 season.

Defensive Depth Limits Leddy’s Playing Time in St. Louis

In addition to Leddy, the Blues entered the summer with a plethora of defenceman on their roster. Between Colton Parayko, Philip Broberg, Cam Fowler, Justin Faulk, Tyler Tucker, and Matthew Kessel, it was going to be hard to find consistent playing time for Leddy. Then on Monday, the Blues added another defenceman by trading for Logan Mailloux.

As a result, the Blues explored trade options for Leddy, but could not find a partner. The next step is placing Leddy on waivers to see if a team will claim him without having to give up anything aside from paying his $4 million cap hit for next season.

What Happens If No One Claims Leddy?

Leddy wants more playing time. The Blues want to clear the log jam in their defensive group. If no one claims Leddy, the next step could be terminating Leddy’s contract. The Blues did this earlier in the season with Brandon Saad after a trade could not be found.

The downside to contract termination for Leddy would be he would be forfeiting the $4 million he is owed for this season. However, it could be worth it for Leddy if it means he gets more playing time with his new team.

For Leddy, the best case scenario would be a team claims him on waivers, which would mean his current contract is still active as well as the possibility he gets more playing time.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!