-Brandon Saad (4.5M x 2Y)
-Joel Hofer (775k x 1Y - Arbitration Eligible RFA)
-David Perron (4M x 2Y)
-Anton Forsberg (2.75M x 1Y - UFA)
-Mads Sogaard (775k x 2Y - Injured)
This trade assumes Forsberg isn't out long term because the Blues will need a backup goalie to replace Hofer. It also assumes David Perron isn't read to return for a while and would welcome the idea of getting traded back to his home state.
Why the Blues do it?
This trade would be more about gaining cap flexibility next year without hurting their roster this year. They move out a player who isn't working for one they are more familiar with in a change of scenery move. They shed 500k from the cap next year. Also, Hofer will be eligible for arbitration, so he will certainly make more than Sogaard's 775k salary. Sogaard clearly is on his way out in Ottawa, and might be an intriguing gamble given his ceiling. I doubt he has much trade value, but I also doubt that Hofer does either. The Blues get Forsberg as a stop-gap to back them up. When you consider that Saad makes an extra 1M in cap over the lifetime of this trade, it's very close to cap for cap (9.75M over 2 years from the Blues for 10.75M over 2 years for Ottawa). You could argue that Ottawa should have to retain a small amount on Forsberg.
Why Ottawa does it?
If Perron is not working out here and would welcome a trade back to St.Louis for family reasons, there is nothing to lose since his contract becomes a sunk cost. Is Saad going to come here and be a great player? Probably not. But due to the unfortunate situation with Perron, he's missed almost the entire season so far, and it might help Ottawa to get someone who is already in mid-season form and ready to go, even if it is Brandon Saad. Sogaard is clearly done and has very little trade value, so swapping him for Hofner is of minimal concern. It gets Ottawa an additional change of scenery in the backup goalie position, and if Sogaard puts it all together and meets his immense potential, he is out west.