2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[Linkens Mastery]

Well, all three of our top line forwards are signed for the next 7 years together.

 

[tfriede2]

So far we have gotten Tex, Faska, Joseph, and a 3rd for Hayes and a 2nd

Now that’s vintage DA, just on a lesser scale.

 

[Drubilly]

TECHNICALLY he can still be traded until next season. I’m ok with this deal though. I still think Kyrou is traded soon. Saad maybe this upcoming TDL.

 

[BuLLeT1291]

I’m shocked Army have a NMC. Not even a sarcastic reaction either. That’s genuine surprise.

Its a NTC. Not a NMC.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I’m shocked Army have a NMC. Not even a sarcastic reaction either. That’s genuine surprise.

Correction, it's a NTC, Strickland had original tweet wrong.

 

[BuLLeT1291]

Correction, it's a NTC, Strickland had original tweet wrong

Leave it to Strick to f something up.

Well, all three of our top line forwards are signed for the next 7 years together.

If Tommer and Kyrou continue to grow over the next 3 years a top line of them and Buch could destroy some dreams.

 

[Brian39]

I'd have preferred a touch less (either 1 fewer year or an AAV in the mid-to-high 7s on a 6 year deal), but I have no problem with the finances of the deal. I'd absolutely, unambiguously prefer this deal to a ton of other deals given out yesterday. I see the argument for trading him instead if the return was massive, but without knowing a potential 'this haul was on the table' detail I can't say that was automatically the best move. A likely-late 1st and a B-tier prospect don't move the needle for me much compared to this extension.

He makes everyone he plays with better and even if he starts to decline before we've truly re-opened a window, I think that trait is a massive, tangible benefit to developing the young players who will be the next core. Years 1 and 2 of this deal are the years I think all of us expect Dvorsky, Snuggy, and Bolduc to really bully their ways into the middle and top 6. That's a lot of guys learning to defend and drive play at the NHL level at one time and Kyrou is not a guy who will help cover them defensively. Neither is Schenn. Saad may or may not be able to do it in 2025/26 and will almost certainly not be back after that. Without Buch, Thomas would have been the only top 6 caliber producer that could also help cover rookie mistakes.

I don't think I can overstate the value of having a guy like Buch to help cover for those rookies on whatever line Thomas isn't on as our wave of young forwards ease into the NHL. I think there is a real argument that Buch earns this money (and future tough cap considerations) simply by what he does to help the next wave of forwards in the first 2 years of the deal.

I'm not jumping up and down since trading him was a path to accumulate assets, but I'm pretty pumped that I can pull the trigger on the #89 I've been wanting to throw on the blank jersey sitting in my closet.

 

[STL fan in MN]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1808223895675142404

I bet someone from the Blues saw the original tweet, called up Strick and told him to change it right effing now. Army doesn’t do NMCs!

 

[bleedblue1223]

And I'm not huge on him playing center, so we'll see how that goes, if it actually happens, but having him and Thomas with guys like Bolduc, Dvorsky, and Snuggerud coming up will be huge. I think they helped Neighbours blossom as opposed to Neighbours being glued to decling or just bad linemates.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Just realized Tex is still gonna be a RFA at the end of his deal. Forgot how young he was.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Just realized Tex is still gonna be a RFA at the end of his deal. Forgot how young he was.

Yep, that's the nice part with him, he could continue to be a solid depth player in that younger core.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Well, Army did reference a deal where both sides would have to be comfortably uncomfortable. This is it IMO. I would’ve preferred fewer years or less AAV or to have traded him but it’s unlikely to be a disaster contract.

Just not sure how well a 34-36 year old Buch making $8M/year fits into the new core in a few years.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Yep, that's the nice part with him, he could continue to be a solid depth player in that younger core.

Wouldn't surprise me if he ends up a little bit better than just solid depth either. Before he had to step away from the NHL he was looking pretty good.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Well, Army did reference a deal where both sides would have to be comfortably uncomfortable. This is it IMO. I would’ve preferred fewer years or less AAV or to have traded him but it’s unlikely to be a disaster contract.

Just not sure how well a 34-36 year old Buch making $8M/year fits into the new core in a few years.

Enough ELCs to balance it out, if all goes well. Just age better than Schenn.

 

[BlueDream]

Yeah I’m not mad about this. That’s a fair contract for both sides.

The term is pretty ideal because I think the chances of Buch accepting 5 years or less was slim, unless we way overpaid.

6 years really isn’t bad because Buch is a late birthday, so he’s still only going to be 35 years old for the entirety of the last regular season on this deal. That’s not super old, and he should be an effective player until at least age 33-34. This is different than signing someone until they’re 37-38 like a lot of teams did in free agency yesterday.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Dom at Athletic actually thinks it's a perfect extension for both sides, and he hates us.

 

[Mike Liut]

Why would Buch want to be a part of this rebuild at his age?

 

[bleedblue1223]

Why would Buch want to be a part of this rebuild at his age?

Likes a low spotlight city or likes Steen's plan. Not everyone has to be a Cup chaser.

 

[SirPaste]

Why would Buch want to be a part of this rebuild at his age?

Could be any reason, maybe he is just comfortable in STL and likes it here, maybe he likes his teammates and thinks they can be better sooner than later

 

[shpongle falls]

Nice to see they got Buch resigned 6 years is perfect.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Why would Buch want to be a part of this rebuild at his age?

Maybe he likes it here?

 

[BuLLeT1291]

Apparently we signed the other Joseph brother that PIT didn't QO.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Why would Buch want to be a part of this rebuild at his age?

Maybe he sees it as a re-tool and not a rebuild.

 

[joe galiba]

Well, Army did reference a deal where both sides would have to be comfortably uncomfortable. This is it IMO. I would’ve preferred fewer years or less AAV or to have traded him but it’s unlikely to be a disaster contract.

Just not sure how well a 34-36 year old Buch making $8M/year fits into the new core in a few years.

Think Steen, 4th line, Cup winning team

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Apparently we signed the other Joseph brother that PIT didn't QO.

Interesting! I had just messaged a Penguins fan friend of mine to ask him if he'd be worth adding as defensive depth.