Matt D'Agostini, the Canadiens' sixth round choice in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, has just 14 goals and 11 assists in 94 NHL games played. The winger is more associated with his feisty style of play, striking fear into opponents when they enter the corners of their defensive zone. The winger does have an offensive upside though; with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL, D'Agostini scored 128 points in 162 games played.
Aaron Palushaj, formally considered a top prospect in the Blues' organization, has tapered off since joining the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL. Palushaj was considered to be a large part of the Blues' future coming into this season.
“He’s a rink rat and I like that,” Blues President John Davidson said in September. “He’s skilled. He’s got a real upside.”
Palushaj, who scored 50 points for the University of Michigan in 2008-09, has just 22 points in 44 games this season in Peoria. It is no doubt that his lack of production is the reason for this move.
Montreal gets Palushaj at the tender age of 20, which is the reason that they get the nod in this deal. The 6'0” forward has played in just one half season in professional hockey. College players take a little longer to adapt to professional play than players that come through the ranks of junior programs. The Blues may have jumped the gun on moving the young forward. He still has a long time to develop before it can be determined if he is truly NHL talent or not.
While D'Agostini adds NHL experience to the Blues lineup, he adds what the Blues already have; checking line depth. This deal would have made sense if Brad Winchester or B.J. Crombeen would have been moved in a deal today, but now the Blues have solidified the fact that their team is filled with guys that may be healthy scratches elsewhere.
If the trade were judged on the amount of apostrophes in the players' last names, I might be more inclined to say the Blues stole this deal.
Keywords: aaron palushaj, b.j. crombeen, brad winchester, john davidson, matt d'agostini, st louis blues, university of michigan
