Kevin Shattenkirk has a full year remaining on his contract. Yet he is constantly referred to as a "free agent to be". I don't recall such status being so consistently brought up as a negative in regard to other players being considered for trade in the last year of a contract.
It is known that if he cannot stay in St. Louis he would prefer to play for a team in New England.
It is also known that the Blues are willing to let potential suitors discuss contract business with Kevin's agent.
It is undisputed that Kevin is among the top 20 RHD in the league.
Anyone interested in trading for him understands that he is going to get paid accordingly--and the market is pretty well set .
The Blues needs, as has been previously discussed, are (in no particular order): speed, size, grit, leadership.
The Blues need a cost controlled top-6 center--which is nearly impossible to acquire.
LW depth is better than RW depth, but nearly all Blues players are utility forwards who can be moved throughout the lineup without missing a beat. Therefore, addressing the speed/size/grit/leadership factor with a top-6 quality forward is a more important consideration than what specific position they play--especially if that player has better finishing ability than whomever he might replace on the roster.
A secondary move would almost certainly happen, unless a forward (or two) gets packaged with Kevin Shattenkirk.
Best scenario for the Blues:
Kreider gets awarded around $5M/2 in arbitration, then gets packaged with Adam Tambellini, in a trade with St. Louis. Shattenkirk agrees to a $36M/6 yr deal and promptly gets shipped to New York.
Shattenkirk + Berglund + Jaskin
to NYR for
Kreider + Tambellini + Hayes
Subsequently, I would test the waters with CBJ to see if a deal could be made to bring Boone Jenner to STL as part of a deal for one of Sobotka or Lehtera.