The assets St. Louis is receiving from Edmonton are exempt from the expansion draft, and Tarasenko is such a valuable piece that the Blues should try pushing this trade ahead of the expansion draft. If Holland agreed then Armstrong would be able to protect a different player.

Edmonton would also have the space to protect Tarasenko. I think I'd have to agree that from a Blues perspective, they want it done pre-expansion, I think most teams might want to do it post extension. Could be interesting to see which it is.