2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[Reality Czech]

If you get a center upgrade on Sunny you could bench Toro and upgrade the 4th line.



Not opposed to that.

I don't really see the point. Sunny has been good lately and so has the 4th line. If a youngish guy with term is available I'd change my mind, but considering how well the team has been playing I don't wanna disrupt the chemistry too much.

And I know some like to say he's a cancer based on whatever happened in Minny and Dallas, personally I don't care about that, and it seems that he's fit in well with our group, there hasn't been any issues, and it's been a good relationship. I definitely wouldn't be opposed to bringing him back again. I don't think any of the young defenders are ready for NHL time next year, so he wouldn't be blocking anyone. If we make any upgrades to the defense, I think it would have to come at the expense of Faulk or Leddy, where Suter can be that cheap 3rd pair vet.

Clearly Schenn was the only right choice for captain. Holloway also said something similar in the post game interview the other day.

 

[WeWentBlues]

One game before the deadline. I don't envy the position this team has put Armstrong into. Pretty abysmal season so far but better underlying metrics under Monty and starting to see results in the win column. Too little too late?

20 games in 42 days to close out the season is going to be brutal. I'd prefer to see the Blues make a push for the playoffs than start selling off assets.

 

[Reality Czech]

One game before the deadline. I don't envy the position this team has put Armstrong into. Pretty abysmal season so far but better underlying metrics under Monty and starting to see results in the win column. Too little too late?

20 games in 42 days to close out the season is going to be brutal. I'd prefer to see the Blues make a push for the playoffs than start selling off assets.

It's so frustrating to think that just 2-3 wins earlier in the season would have put us in a great position to make the playoffs, but I guess that's how it goes. I can think of a few games that we just gave away.

As you said, Army is in a tough spot because it's hard to trade away players when everything is coming together and the team is all on the same page. Seems to be a really close group that plays for each other. It took too long to get there but this actually looks like a pretty good team when everything is clicking.

 

[Beauterham]

It's so frustrating to think that just 2-3 wins earlier in the season would have put us in a great position to make the playoffs, but I guess that's how it goes. I can think of a few games that we just gave away.

As you said, Army is in a tough spot because it's hard to trade away players when everything is coming together and the team is all on the same page. Seems to be a really close group that plays for each other. It took too long to get there but this actually looks like a pretty good team when everything is clicking.

This might be a weird take, but I don't think the current situation is that bad to be honest. I mean, we don't HAVE to move any players right now: if we really want to move players, we could also do that in the offseason, before the draft. I don't even think the players would lose a lot of value compared to if we move them now. It might also stop GM's to throw out low-ball offers for players as they know Army isn't going to accept anyway because he needs them to make the playoffs. If a GM REALLY wants a specific player they will have to convince Army with an offer he can't refuse. Basicly, the massive haul refered to earlier.

However, the downside to our current situation is that if we barely miss out on the playoffs again, which -lets be honest- is quite possible, we will have a lower pick.

 

[Reality Czech]

This might be a weird take, but I don't think the current situation is that bad to be honest. I mean, we don't HAVE to move any players right now: if we really want to move players, we could also do that in the offseason, before the draft. I don't even think the players would lose a lot of value compared to if we move them now. It might also stop GM's to throw out low-ball offers for players as they know Army isn't going to accept anyway because he needs them to make the playoffs. If a GM REALLY wants a specific player they will have to convince Army with an offer he can't refuse. Basicly, the massive haul refered to earlier.

However, the downside to our current situation is that if we barely miss out on the playoffs again, which -lets be honest- is quite possible, we will have a lower pick.

Totally agree. It wouldn't surprise me if some rumors were floated as a wake up call to the team. If someone wants to overpay then Army has to consider it, but he also doesn't need to make any big moves right now.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

We don’t have any pending UFA in players who move the needle enough to command the kind of return we’d really miss. Standing pat, we won’t lose any first round compensation.

I think the already committed to trying to optimize this season when he made the move to Montgomery when he did.

I’m pretty optimistic about them overtaking the 8th spot. Does Vancouver look poised to buy together a winning streak? Not to me.

 

[Brian39]

I'm fully content giving another 1 year (preferably bonus laden) deal to Suter if he really is interested in staying here to finish out his career. I have zero heartburn about how that impacts younger D.

Tucker turned 25 this weekend and has played 20+ NHL games in each of the last 3 seasons for a blue line that was objectively not good on the left side. He has had ample opportunity to demonstrate that he belongs in a healthy 6 man D group and hasn't done so. His ceiling is limited and I think there is about a 0.1% chance that this organization is ever a contender if he is the 2LD. Maybe he develops into a contender-caliber 3rd pair D man, but he will be due a UFA-market-value contract by the time that ever becomes the case. He is also going to be a UFA this summer unless he plays 8 more NHL games this year, which is only going to happen if someone gets hurt because he is very clearly not one of the best 6 D men on the roster right now, but if not he can very much be the #7 or a waivers risk through his 2 year extension. I'm more than content to move on from him in order to build/keep a blue line that is tangibly better without him for 2025/26. Loof is waivers exempt next year and I haven't seen anything to suggest that he deserves to be penciled onto our bottom pair next season. Burns and Lindstein should clearly not be penciled into the NHL lineup next year.

We have top 5-10 defensive metrics since Montgomery took over and that is now a 40 game sample. All of these numbers are per 60 at 5 on 5: 3rd in expected goals against, 6th in scoring chances against, 1st in scoring chances against, 7th in corsi against, 8th in fenwick against, and 17th in shots against. Suter has legitimately contributed to that group's success and I'm in zero rush to intentionally make the group worse to develop low-ceiling, non-foundational guys.

I was weary of Suter's reported locker room concerns, but it very much appears that he fits in with our group. And as I said at the time of the signing, if he becomes a problem it is an easy contract to move out. I assume that the same would be true of any extension.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I'm fully content giving another 1 year (preferably bonus laden) deal to Suter if he really is interested in staying here to finish out his career. I have zero heartburn about how that impacts younger D.

Tucker turned 25 this weekend and has played 20+ NHL games in each of the last 3 seasons for a blue line that was objectively not good on the left side. He has had ample opportunity to demonstrate that he belongs in a healthy 6 man D group and hasn't done so. His ceiling is limited and I think there is about a 0.1% chance that this organization is ever a contender if he is the 2LD. Maybe he develops into a contender-caliber 3rd pair D man, but he will be due a UFA-market-value contract by the time that ever becomes the case. He is also going to be a UFA this summer unless he plays 8 more NHL games this year, which is only going to happen if someone gets hurt because he is very clearly not one of the best 6 D men on the roster right now. I'm more than content to move on from him in order to build/keep a blue line that is tangibly better without him for 2025/26. Loof is waivers exempt next year and I haven't seen anything to suggest that he deserves to be penciled onto our bottom pair next season. Burns and Lindstein should clearly not be penciled into the NHL lineup next year.

We have top 5-10 defensive metrics since Montgomery took over and that is now a 40 game sample. All of these numbers are per 60 at 5 on 5: 3rd in expected goals against, 6th in scoring chances against, 1st in scoring chances against, 7th in corsi against, 8th in fenwick against, and 17th in shots against. Suter has legitimately contributed to that group's success and I'm in zero rush to intentionally make the group worse to develop low-ceiling, non-foundational guys.

I was weary of Suter's reported locker room concerns, but it very much appears that he fits in with our group. And as I said at the time of the signing, if he becomes a problem it is an easy contract to move out. I assume that the same would be true of any extension.

We extended Tucker for 2 years last week, but otherwise agree.

 

[Oberyn]

I'm fully content giving another 1 year (preferably bonus laden) deal to Suter if he really is interested in staying here to finish out his career. I have zero heartburn about how that impacts younger D.

Tucker turned 25 this weekend and has played 20+ NHL games in each of the last 3 seasons for a blue line that was objectively not good on the left side. He has had ample opportunity to demonstrate that he belongs in a healthy 6 man D group and hasn't done so. His ceiling is limited and I think there is about a 0.1% chance that this organization is ever a contender if he is the 2LD. Maybe he develops into a contender-caliber 3rd pair D man, but he will be due a UFA-market-value contract by the time that ever becomes the case. He is also going to be a UFA this summer unless he plays 8 more NHL games this year, which is only going to happen if someone gets hurt because he is very clearly not one of the best 6 D men on the roster right now. I'm more than content to move on from him in order to build/keep a blue line that is tangibly better without him for 2025/26. Loof is waivers exempt next year and I haven't seen anything to suggest that he deserves to be penciled onto our bottom pair next season. Burns and Lindstein should clearly not be penciled into the NHL lineup next year.

We have top 5-10 defensive metrics since Montgomery took over and that is now a 40 game sample. All of these numbers are per 60 at 5 on 5: 3rd in expected goals against, 6th in scoring chances against, 1st in scoring chances against, 7th in corsi against, 8th in fenwick against, and 17th in shots against. Suter has legitimately contributed to that group's success and I'm in zero rush to intentionally make the group worse to develop low-ceiling, non-foundational guys.

I was weary of Suter's reported locker room concerns, but it very much appears that he fits in with our group. And as I said at the time of the signing, if he becomes a problem it is an easy contract to move out. I assume that the same would be true of any extension.

Tucker signed a two-year extension two days ago. I would say he has been serviceable as a bottom pairing defenseman and gives the Blues some edge on the back end. If the Blues do re-sign Suter then I don't have an issue with alternating between the two depending on the opponent and who's playing well.

 

[bleedblue1223]

We signed MacEachern to a 2-year 1-way contract too, so just because we signed Tucker, I don't think it means his role of NHL/AHL tweener really changes. Same with Kessel. We've shown a willingness to pay our tweeners a NHL salary.

 

[Brian39]

I know people like to harp on Army here, but he’s done a really impressive job of revamping this defense since the summer. Krug’s injury helped, but our entire current left side wasn’t on this roster a year ago. All of the Broberg, Fowler, and Suter acquisitions have been very savvy moves.

This is the 2nd time that Army has completely overhauled a position of organizational weakness in a relatively short timeline. He converted Stastny/Berglund/Lehtera into ROR/Schenn/Bozak in 53 weeks. Don't get me wrong, the current LHD group isn't nearly the long-term solution that the above center group was, but he also did it while giving up a hell of a lot fewer assets.

The reason I bring it up is because there is a prevailing assumption around here that 2025/26 is pretty much a wash of a season and I think we need to start considering that Army is capable of changing that assumption.

While the LHD overhaul is short term, that term includes 2025/26. There is every reason to believe that Broberg can continue trending positively. There is good reason to believe that Parayko, Fowler, and Faulk can combine to round out a top 4 group roughly on par with what they have been this year (especially if Broberg takes a half or full step forward). When projecting for 2025/26, there are a lot of reasons to think that the D group could be top 10.

I think there is reason to believe that Binner and Hofer can provide similar-to-better goaltending as this year. Top 10? That is far from a lock, but they did it in 2023/24 and Binner's been (just barely) top 10 since the New Year. I think the large majority of people here believe that Binner is a Cup-caliber playoff goalie if you can get in.

I think there is absolutely every reason to believe that Thomas, Kyrou, Buch, Holloway, Neighbours, and Bolduc can give as much or more in 2025/26 than they have given this season. I think there is strong reason to believe that Dvorsky and/or Snuggy can contribute in a support role. I think there is reason to believe that Schenn can contribute slightly less or similar to what he's contributed this year. I don't think it is reasonable to expect the offense to take a big jump if Army does nothing and solely relies on development, but I also think it is fairly reasonable to believe that Army can acquire a legit middle-6 center upgrade before September of next year. Given the age, pedigree, and post-draft development of the prospect pool, I think it is reasonable to believe that we could have an average-to-above average offense next season with the addition of the right center.

I don't think it is outside the realm of possibility that this team has a top 10 goalie, D, and offense in 2025/26. Possible/likely by just developing? Nope. The most likely outcome assuming an acquisition? Probably not. But remember what you thought the 2018/19 team would look like heading into the deadline in March of 2018. Remember what you expected the blue line to look like for 2024/25 heading into the deadline last season.

A lot can change in a year and Army has twice shown the ability to quickly fix an organizational weakness. I'm not discounting his ability to fix the hole at center over the next 12 months and I think that the rest of the roster (and organizational depth) can be good enough if you fix that hole.

Edit: I'm not going to get into the weeds in this comment of trying to guess the answer to who would be that acquisition, but I do want to note that next year's cap structure is pretty damn solid. We have $9.8M of space with 12 forwards, 7 D, and 1 goalie currently showing for the 2025/26 roster. That includes Krug on the NHL roster. Up to $16.3M if Krug is LTIRetried. Faksa, Hofer, and Suter are the only guys currently on the roster who aren't signed for 2025/26, so no one is due big money. July 1st is when all of our vets see their trade protection decrease too. There is plenty of flexibility to move out some money in the right deal if we need to maneuver around Krug trying for a comeback. Given the incoming ELCs over the next couple years, we very much have the cap structure to cast a wide net for potential center fixes.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

I'm very glad that we didn't jump the gun and sign Hofer to an extension after his great rookie year. He's been pretty putrid this season overall, ranking 4th last according to moneypuck in GSAx/60 of all goalies with at 10 games played. He's given up the 11th most GSAx of all goalies according to Evolving Hockey, and there are three goalies with 10 or more games ahead of him. He's been bad.

I'd really like to see if we can bring up Colten Ellis for a couple of games once rosters expand. I think we should ride Binny until we're pretty sure we can't make the playoffs, but he's still going to need some nights off as we play something crazy like 20 games in 42 days or something over this final stretch.

 

[BadgersandBlues]

This is the 2nd time that Army has completely overhauled a position of organizational weakness in a relatively short timeline. He converted Stastny/Berglund/Lehtera into ROR/Schenn/Bozak in 53 weeks. Don't get me wrong, the current LHD group isn't nearly the long-term solution that the above center group was, but he also did it while giving up a hell of a lot fewer assets.

The reason I bring it up is because there is a prevailing assumption around here that 2025/26 is pretty much a wash of a season and I think we need to start considering that Army is capable of changing that assumption.

While the LHD overhaul is short term, that term includes 2025/26. There is every reason to believe that Broberg can continue trending positively. There is good reason to believe that Parayko, Fowler, and Faulk can combine to round out a top 4 group roughly on par with what they have been this year (especially if Broberg takes a half or full step forward). When projecting for 2025/26, there are a lot of reasons to think that the D group could be top 10.

I think there is reason to believe that Binner and Hofer can provide similar-to-better goaltending as this year. Top 10? That is far from a lock, but they did it in 2023/24 and Binner's been (just barely) top 10 since the New Year. I think the large majority of people here believe that Binner is a Cup-caliber playoff goalie if you can get in.

I think there is absolutely every reason to believe that Thomas, Kyrou, Buch, Holloway, Neighbours, and Bolduc can give as much or more in 2025/26 than they have given this season. I think there is strong reason to believe that Dvorsky and/or Snuggy can contribute in a support role. I think there is reason to believe that Schenn can contribute slightly less or similar to what he's contributed this year. I don't think it is reasonable to expect the offense to take a big jump if Army does nothing and solely relies on development, but I also think it is fairly reasonable to believe that Army can acquire a legit middle-6 center upgrade before September of next year. Given the age, pedigree, and post-draft development of the prospect pool, I think it is reasonable to believe that we could have an average-to-above average offense next season with the addition of the right center.

I don't think it is outside the realm of possibility that this team has a top 10 goalie, D, and offense in 2025/26. Possible/likely by just developing? Nope. The most likely outcome assuming an acquisition? Probably not. But remember what you thought the 2018/19 team would look like heading into the deadline in March of 2018. Remember what you expected the blue line to look like for 2024/25 heading into the deadline last season.

A lot can change in a year and Army has twice shown the ability to quickly fix an organizational weakness. I'm not discounting his ability to fix the hole at center over the next 12 months and I think that the rest of the roster (and organizational depth) can be good enough if you fix that hole.

Edit: I'm not going to get into the weeds in this comment of trying to guess the answer to who would be that acquisition, but I do want to note that next year's cap structure is pretty damn solid. We have $9.8M of space with 12 forwards, 7 D, and 1 goalie currently showing for the 2025/26 roster. That includes Krug on the NHL roster. Up to $16.3M if Krug is LTIRetried. Faksa, Hofer, and Suter are the only guys currently on the roster who aren't signed for 2025/26, so no one is due big money. July 1st is when all of our vets see their trade protection decrease too. There is plenty of flexibility to move out some money in the right deal if we need to maneuver around Krug trying for a comeback. Given the incoming ELCs over the next couple years, we very much have the cap structure to cast a wide net for potential center fixes.

I would be extraordinarily frustrated if we didn't make the playoffs next year. We have two very obvious holes - middle 6 (Preferably top 6) Center and top 6 Winger. We have one less obvious hole - Top 4 RHD, which is less obvious since Faulk -can- fill it if he's healthy and playing well, but we could also upgrade and push him down the roster/replace him with someone cheaper.

For the forward positions, Dvo and Snuggy are wild cards, but slot in at the right spots. Bolduc/Neighbors could develop/grow, but really only solve one of the two problems, while opening up another, which is top 9 winger (Could be filled by Snuggy, but again, wildcard).

However, there are a fair amount of UFA Centers that could be appealing as 1-2 year stopgaps. Giroux is 37, Duchene and Tavares are 34, Nelson is 33. Assuming Krug is LTIRetired, we could offer Tavares a 2 year 10M AAV - which I know is eye popping as a number, but it really doesn't matter - we have the space and he could slide to wing (Or Schenn could) if Dvo arrives ahead of schedule. We still have 4M cap dollars to fill the backup goalie, last two forward positions, and final D position. Then in 2026 we have around 48M in cap space, but will need to resign Holloway, Broberg, and Bolduc, as well as figure out who's playing on the left side behind Broberg. It's crazy to think that we could drop 10M on a single player this offseason and it wouldn't really handcuff us.

 

[Brian39]

I would be extraordinarily frustrated if we didn't make the playoffs next year. We have two very obvious holes - middle 6 (Preferably top 6) Center and top 6 Winger. We have one less obvious hole - Top 4 RHD, which is less obvious since Faulk -can- fill it if he's healthy and playing well, but we could also upgrade and push him down the roster/replace him with someone cheaper.

For the forward positions, Dvo and Snuggy are wild cards, but slot in at the right spots. Bolduc/Neighbors could develop/grow, but really only solve one of the two problems, while opening up another, which is top 9 winger (Could be filled by Snuggy, but again, wildcard).

However, there are a fair amount of UFA Centers that could be appealing as 1-2 year stopgaps. Giroux is 37, Duchene and Tavares are 34, Nelson is 33. Assuming Krug is LTIRetired, we could offer Tavares a 2 year 10M AAV - which I know is eye popping as a number, but it really doesn't matter - we have the space and he could slide to wing (Or Schenn could) if Dvo arrives ahead of schedule. We still have 4M cap dollars to fill the backup goalie, last two forward positions, and final D position. Then in 2026 we have around 48M in cap space, but will need to resign Holloway, Broberg, and Bolduc, as well as figure out who's playing on the left side behind Broberg. It's crazy to think that we could drop 10M on a single player this offseason and it wouldn't really handcuff us.

A 2 year term with a big 'overpay' on AAV is definitely an interesting thought if Krug isn't coming back. But we are also pretty well positioned to give out a preferably-non-$10M AAV for 3 or 4 years that we know will look rough at the end.

We currently have $76M in cap space for 2027/28 (year 3). Barring a surprise call up where these guys play 10+ NHL games this year, all of Dvorsky, Stenberg, Pekarcik, and Lindstein will be in the final year of their ELCs in 2027/28. Neighbours, Bolduc, Holloway, Broberg, and Snuggy will all be due a new contract before 2027/28, but the money coming off the books should more than make those possible. Obviously you want to limit 'bad' money on these future years, but we are in great shape for 2027/28 and beyond.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I would be extraordinarily frustrated if we didn't make the playoffs next year. We have two very obvious holes - middle 6 (Preferably top 6) Center and top 6 Winger. We have one less obvious hole - Top 4 RHD, which is less obvious since Faulk -can- fill it if he's healthy and playing well, but we could also upgrade and push him down the roster/replace him with someone cheaper.

For the forward positions, Dvo and Snuggy are wild cards, but slot in at the right spots. Bolduc/Neighbors could develop/grow, but really only solve one of the two problems, while opening up another, which is top 9 winger (Could be filled by Snuggy, but again, wildcard).

However, there are a fair amount of UFA Centers that could be appealing as 1-2 year stopgaps. Giroux is 37, Duchene and Tavares are 34, Nelson is 33. Assuming Krug is LTIRetired, we could offer Tavares a 2 year 10M AAV - which I know is eye popping as a number, but it really doesn't matter - we have the space and he could slide to wing (Or Schenn could) if Dvo arrives ahead of schedule. We still have 4M cap dollars to fill the backup goalie, last two forward positions, and final D position. Then in 2026 we have around 48M in cap space, but will need to resign Holloway, Broberg, and Bolduc, as well as figure out who's playing on the left side behind Broberg. It's crazy to think that we could drop 10M on a single player this offseason and it wouldn't really handcuff us.

A 2 year term with a big 'overpay' on AAV is definitely an interesting thought if Krug isn't coming back. But we are also pretty well positioned to give out a preferably-non-$10M AAV for 3 or 4 years that we know will look rough at the end.

We currently have $76M in cap space for 2027/28 (year 3). Barring a surprise call up where these guys play 10+ NHL games this year, all of Dvorsky, Stenberg, Pekarcik, and Lindstein will be in the final year of their ELCs in 2027/28. Neighbours, Bolduc, Holloway, Broberg, and Snuggy will all be due a new contract before 2027/28, but the money coming off the books should more than make those possible. Obviously you want to limit 'bad' money on these future years, but we are in great shape for 2027/28 and beyond.

I even had this thought with Ekblad, in case Florida decides to walk away from him. They do have the space to keep him if they want, but just another option where they could overpay on a short-term deal.

On the other hand, I imagine a lot of other teams are probably thinking they can do the same thing. Free agency will be intriguing now that a lot more teams have a lot more cap space.