Awkward trade moment as Brayden Schenn changes teams… while staying in the same hotel

Trade deadline day always produces strange moments around the NHL, but this one might be among the most awkward.

The St. Louis Blues pulled off a major move Friday, trading captain Brayden Schenn to the New York Islanders in a blockbuster deal.

Except there was one bizarre wrinkle to the transaction. Both teams are currently staying at the same hotel in San Jose.

So technically, Schenn didn’t even need to travel to join his new club. The veteran forward could practically walk down the hallway, or maybe run into his new teammates over the free continental breakfast…

The full trade is a significant one. The Islanders are sending Jonathan Drouin, a 2026 first-round pick originally belonging to the Colorado Avalanche, a 2026 third-round pick, and goaltending prospect Marcus Gidlof to St. Louis in exchange for Schenn.

It’s a hefty return for the Blues captain, who has been a key part of the organization’s leadership group for years and helped them on the road to the Stanley Cup back in 2019.

This season, Schenn has recorded 12 goals and 28 points in 61 games. He remains valued around the league for his leadership, physical play and playoff experience. Schenn also still has term left on his contract, with two years remaining after this season at a $6.5 million cap hit.

Still, the strangest part of the deal might not be the return or the timing. It’s the possibility that Schenn could bump into his former teammates in the hotel lobby… just hours after being traded.