Blues acquire Borgman from Leafs for Schmaltz in swap of defenseman

St. Louis saves $700,000 in cap savings with trade, deal 2012 

first-round pick that never could gain traction making it to the NHL 

By LOU KORAC
ST. LOUIS -- The made a move Thursday, one that gives two players a fresh start while alleviating some money off their salary cap when they shipped defenseman and former first-round pick Jordan Schmaltz to the Toronto Maple Leafs for fellow defenseman Andreas Borgman.

(St. Louis Blues photo)

The Blues acquired defenseman Andreas Borgman from Toronto in 

exchange for Jordan Schmaltz on THursday.

Schmaltz was the 24th pick in the 2012 NHL Draft but never could climb the depth chart with the Blues, who won their first Stanley Cup championship in franchise history in June.

Schmaltz was going into the second year of a two-year contract that turned into a one-way for 2019-20 at $700,000, and with little to no chance at cracking the Blues defensive unit this season, he would have been placed on waivers or clear and be making $700,000 with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League.

The cap savings currently leaves the Blues with just over $5 million with restricted free agents Joel Edmundson and Ivan Barbashev yet to sign.

Schmaltz, 25, had five assists in 42 regular-season games three seasons with the Blues, including 20 this past season; he had two assists but just wasn't going to be a fit in St. Louis and that was becoming increasingly evident.

In Borgman, 24, the Blues get a depth defenseman who signed a one-year, two-way contract in March for $700,000/$200,000. He spent all last season with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL and had 17 points (four goals, 13 assists). 

A left-handed d-man, Borgman was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Maple Leafs. He had 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 48 games with the Leafs during the 2017-18 season but like Schmaltz, could never move on up the depth chart in Toronto playing behind Morgan Rielly, Jake Muzzin, Martin Marincin and Ben Harpur on the parent club's roster. The Leafs recently acquired Tyson Barrie from Colorado.