2024-2025 Blues Multi-Purpose Thread.

[Brian39]

That would be fantastic. Seattle was able to do just that last offseason in free agency at 13.5M with Stephenson and Montour, albeit at max term.

Going exclusively the UFA route, there are options for both.
Duchene, Tavares, Nelson, Bennett for 2C
Ekblad, Fabbro, Perbix for 2RD

Looking at hockey trades,
Pavel Zacha, Ryan McLeod, Sean Monahan, William Karlsson for 2C
Erik Karlsson, Rasmus Andersson, MacKenzie Weegar, Brandt Clarke, Noah Dobson, Braden Schneider for 2RD

I can see Army wanting to push some chips in this offseason. Perhaps a UFA signing and then trading some futures to fill the other spot. The 2019 team was built in the same way. Draft and develop core, add through UFA (Perron, Bozak, Maroon), add pieces via trade (Bouw, Bortz, Sunny, O'Reilly, Schenn, Sanford, Steen)

I think that the ship has likely sailed on William Karlsson potentially getting dealt by Vegas. Their only real incentive to trade him this past summer would have been that he was a luxury that they couldn't fit under the cap. Instead, they elected not to extend Marchessault and made the cap work with him this year. They have more breathing room with the cap for next season, with about $9.5M in space with 18 guys under contract. Olofsson, Reilly Smith, and Hague need to be extended/replaced, but all of them play lesser roles than Karlsson so I'd be surprised if the moved on from Karlsson in order to free up money for them. Schmid will be a cheap backup and they don't strike me as a front office that will be interested in giving a 34 year old Reilly Smith a contract. They clearly prefer Karlsson over Roy as the 3C when everyone is healthy and they really don't need to move his contract.

I feel the same way about Monahan. Columbus just barely missed the playoffs and Monahan was incredible for them. He was their very clear 1C, he's on a fantastic contract, they have tons of cap space, and he has a full NMC. Given he and the organization's ties to Johnny Gaudrea, I'd be very, very surprised if he or the team was interested in him not being a Blue Jacket next year. I don't really see a 'hockey trade' that will make them better in the short-to-medium term and I don't see that organization having any desire to sell for more futures after the year they had.

I think everyone else you listed could be up for grabs to varying degrees.

 

[WeWentBlues]

I think that the ship has likely sailed on William Karlsson potentially getting dealt by Vegas. Their only real incentive to trade him this past summer would have been that he was a luxury that they couldn't fit under the cap. Instead, they elected not to extend Marchessault and made the cap work with him this year. They have more breathing room with the cap for next season, with about $9.5M in space with 18 guys under contract. Olofsson, Reilly Smith, and Hague need to be extended/replaced, but all of them play lesser roles than Karlsson so I'd be surprised if the moved on from Karlsson in order to free up money for them. Schmid will be a cheap backup and they don't strike me as a front office that will be interested in giving a 34 year old Reilly Smith a contract. They clearly prefer Karlsson over Roy as the 3C when everyone is healthy and they really don't need to move his contract.

I feel the same way about Monahan. Columbus just barely missed the playoffs and Monahan was incredible for them. He was their very clear 1C, he's on a fantastic contract, they have tons of cap space, and he has a full NMC. Given he and the organization's ties to Johnny Gaudrea, I'd be very, very surprised if he or the team was interested in him not being a Blue Jacket next year. I don't really see a 'hockey trade' that will make them better in the short-to-medium term and I don't see that organization having any desire to sell for more futures after the year they had.

I think everyone else you listed could be up for grabs to varying degrees.

Adding Dylan Larkin to the list of trade targets.
For context: So Larkin Made Some Interesting Comments.

 

[Xerloris]

Adding Dylan Larkin to the list of trade targets.
For context: So Larkin Made Some Interesting Comments.

is he a center? I always assumed winger

 

[bleedblue1223]

is he a center? I always assumed winger

He's a center, pretty much always has been.

 

[TruBlueFan1970]

I want to bring Faksa and Suter back and move Leddy. My biggest question is if they circle back to Schenn. And what why are asking for in regards to him.

Leddy needs to go….end of story. Tucker and Kessel can fill the 3rd pair RD cheaper and better.

 

[Xerloris]

Leddy needs to go….end of story. Tucker and Kessel can fill the 3rd pair RD cheaper and better.

What's your hate about Leddy?

 

[TruBlueFan1970]

What's your hate about Leddy?

Oh sorry, it’s not a hate. I’m just not a fan of his game anymore. I thought he played well last year with Parayko. He started this season slow and then got hurt. Hasn’t looked effective since he’s been back. Other than the occasional burst of skating out of his zone, he makes a lot of bad plays in his own end. He’s 34 and will be making $4.0 million next season. We could use that money better elsewhere. While Tucker and Kessel certainly aren’t perfect, I prefer their games at this point, Tucker over Kessel. Just time for Leddy to go IMHO. No hate at all. Consummate pro.

 

[STL fan in MN]

Leddy needs to go….end of story. Tucker and Kessel can fill the 3rd pair RD cheaper and better.

Strong disagree. And no offense to Suter as he’s been good for a 40 year old but I’m still taking Leddy over him as the 3LD next season. And I’d take him at 3RD over Tucker and Kessel too. Kessel is at least right handed but is just basically replacement level. Tucker too but I like Tucker a bit more. I view him as the new Borts - slotted in at #7 but can and will play important minutes as injuries will happen.

Leddy hasn’t had a great year but he’s dealt with an injury and he was pretty darn good last season. His game revolves around his damn near elite skating and that’s clearly been hampered this season. I’m willing to continue to bet on him. His $4M AAV is far from an albatross or something that needs to be jettisoned asap.

 

[Xerloris]

Oh sorry, it’s not a hate. I’m just not a fan of his game anymore. I thought he played well last year with Parayko. He started this season slow and then got hurt. Hasn’t looked effective since he’s been back. Other than the occasional burst of skating out of his zone, he makes a lot of bad plays in his own end. He’s 34 and will be making $4.0 million next season. We could use that money better elsewhere. While Tucker and Kessel certainly aren’t perfect, I prefer their games at this point, Tucker over Kessel. Just time for Leddy to go IMHO. No hate at all. Consummate pro.

I honestly didn't expect a well thought out response that had actual legitimate concerns. I can't disagree with anything really.

Strong disagree. And no offense to Suter as he’s been good for a 40 year old but I’m still taking Leddy over him as the 3LD next season. And I’d take him at 3RD over Tucker and Kessel too. Kessel is at least right handed but is just basically replacement level. Tucker too but I like Tucker a bit more. I view him as the new Borts - slotted in at #7 but can and will play important minutes as injuries will happen.

Leddy hasn’t had a great year but he’s dealt with an injury and he was pretty darn good last season. His game revolves around his damn near elite skating and that’s clearly been hampered this season. I’m willing to continue to bet on him. His $4M AAV is far from an albatross or something that needs to be jettisoned asap.

My concern about Leddy is his injury that kept him out for most of the season. That's not something that just goes away.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I honestly didn't expect a well thought out response that had actual legitimate concerns. I can't disagree with anything really.


My concern about Leddy is his injury that kept him out for most of the season. That's not something that just goes away.

Well it could. Do you know what the exact injury was? Might be something that hampers him for the rest of his career or could be something that some rest this offseason or a relatively minor procedure could remedy, we don’t know.

The Blues will know though. So I’ll trust whatever direction they go with Leddy. But from the info I have, I’m good with him returning.

 

[stl76]

How many times as a fanbase must we see a defenseman struggle with injuries and excel once back healthy again before we recognize this pattern?

For the record, I’m totally down for trading Leddy this offseason if we can get decent value for him…but I’d be surprised if he doesn’t bounce back next year given he stays healthy. Certainly not in a rush to push him out of the lineup after 1 playoff game.

Adding Dylan Larkin to the list of trade targets.
For context: So Larkin Made Some Interesting Comments.

Big ROR “lost love of the game at times” vibes. Larkin is a phenomenal player, if he becomes available then I hope the Blues are in talks to acquire him.

 

[Xerloris]

Well it could. Do you know what the exact injury was? Might be something that hampers him for the rest of his career or could be something that some rest this offseason or a relatively minor procedure could remedy, we don’t know.

The Blues will know though. So I’ll trust whatever direction they go with Leddy. But from the info I have, I’m good with him returning.

All I know is they said his leg had gone numb. I don't know if it was knee down or hip down or what but to me that says nerve problem or maybe even a blood clot issue. At any rate it seems pretty concerning to me.

 

[STL fan in MN]

All I know is they said his leg had gone numb. I don't know if it was knee down or hip down or what but to me that says nerve problem or maybe even a blood clot issue. At any rate it seems pretty concerning to me.

Hadn’t heard that but that suggests sciatica to me and thus a disc issue but who knows.

 

[TruBlueFan1970]

I honestly didn't expect a well thought out response that had actual legitimate concerns. I can't disagree with anything really.

Thanks for your reply, appreciate it. While an uber passionate fan, I try not to be spiteful toward our players or the other fans on the forum. We all have our opinions and will sometimes disagree. LGB!!!

 

[AyeBah]

Down 1 with 1:15 to go in a playoff game, your coach sends out Faksa and Sundquist. This is not a serious team. This team is going to get swept. Game on the line and plugs with 10 goals combined on the season are playing. So comical. Glad a rookie with 10 games experience was the only one who could actually score. There are so many players on this team who literally just do nothing. Schenn, Neighbours, Buch, Faulk, Leddy, Sundquist. The 4th line is called the WTF line because that is what I am saying every time I have to watch them putz around the ice. Until this team gets actual depth and more than one top 9 center, this is the ceiling: 1 5 on 5 goal in two games. How many good scoring chances did we have maybe 3? Another pick in the 16-20 range incoming and 0 moves made to the actual roster over the summer incoming

 

[Xerloris]

Down 1 with 1:15 to go in a playoff game, your coach sends out Faksa and Sundquist. This is not a serious team. This team is going to get swept. Game on the line and plugs with 10 goals combined on the season are playing. So comical. Glad a rookie with 10 games experience was the only one who could actually score. There are so many players on this team who literally just do nothing. Schenn, Neighbours, Buch, Faulk, Leddy, Sundquist. The 4th line is called the WTF line because that is what I am saying every time I have to watch them putz around the ice. Until this team gets actual depth and more than one top 9 center, this is the ceiling: 1 5 on 5 goal in two games. How many good scoring chances did we have maybe 3? Another pick in the 16-20 range incoming and 0 moves made to the actual roster over the summer incoming

You have to give the top line a rest at some point. We did pull the goalie with 2+ minutes left. Also saying Sunny does nothing is a bold move when he's the only one to score an even strength goal this series for us. Crying about draft # and summer moves shows signs of impatience. We have to be careful of moves because we have to have roster spots open for the kids that we use those draft picks on. I do agree about depth though, we need a better 4th line and an actual 2C. Schenn should be our 3C and Sunny on the 4th line with Faksa would be a good start for a good 4th line.

 

[AyeBah]

Lol thanks for the laugh. You sound like a kid crying because his parents won't give him a second serving of ice cream. We've played almost even with the President's Trophy winning team over two games, what more do you expect? Man some Blues fans will turn on the team pretty damn fast, don't they?

You have to give the top line a rest at some point. We did pull the goalie with 2+ minutes left. Also saying Sunny does nothing is a bold move when he's the only one to score an even strength goal this series for us. Crying about draft # and summer moves shows signs of impatience. We have to be careful of moves because we have to have roster spots open for the kids that we use those draft picks on. I do agree about depth though, we need a better 4th line and an actual 2C. Schenn should be our 3C and Sunny on the 4th line with Faksa would be a good start for a good 4th line.

It was meant to be an ironic post and bait I'll admit it

 

[MissouriMook]

John Buccigross just said in an interview this afternoon on 101.1 that he sees Snuggerud as a potential 30-40-70 guy, perhaps even as soon as next season. My more tempered expectation is that both he and Bolduc can be 25-30-55 guys next season with Top 6 deployment and > 15 minutes per night with PP time.

Add in a 40-40-80 Kyrou, a 30-40-70 Holloway and a 25-65-90 Thomas and you have the makings of a really potent Top 6 if we can upgrade the 2C position and push Neighbours and Schenn down to the 3rd line.

 

[Beninnola]

I think the jets are sus

We’re playing a guy 20 min a night who’s closing in on his 10th nhl game

Our only top 6 center can’t walk appearently

Our best defensemen can’t skate

Ehlers and Holloway cancel each other out.

The jets have -no- excuse for fighting through 1 goal home games, games tied in the third period. We’ve controlled way too much.

They’re sus. Hellebyuck has been beat clean on all 4 of our goals meanwhile the jets are relying on pinball to score. Sus af.

I’ll wait until we’ve lost the 4th game to believe it’s possible. The first two games were winnable and against quite hefty odds the results are not bad. All it’ll take is one good ass whipping to reset the state of things.

I can’t wait til next season; I wanna see a game with Snuggerud and Holloway in the same lineup.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I think the jets are sus

We’re playing a guy 20 min a night who’s closing in on his 10th nhl game

Our only top 6 center can’t walk appearently

Our best defensemen can’t skate

Ehlers and Holloway cancel each other out.

The jets have -no- excuse for fighting through 1 goal home games, games tied in the third period. We’ve controlled way too much.

They’re sus. Hellebyuck has been beat clean on all 4 of our goals meanwhile the jets are relying on pinball to score. Sus af.

I’ll wait until we’ve lost the 4th game to believe it’s possible. The first two games were winnable and against quite hefty odds the results are not bad. All it’ll take is one good ass whipping to reset the state of things.

I can’t wait til next season; I wanna see a game with Snuggerud and Holloway in the same lineup.

Winnipeg is certainly vulnerable, especially with Ehlers and Vilardi out. IMO, there are valid reasons why 4-5 other teams were given better odds of winning the Cup than the team that won the Presidents Trophy. That said, they’ve pretty clearly carried the play the most the first 2 games and Binner has been up to the task. Hellebuyck has been fine. Hasn’t needed to be excellent yet. We need to change that.

Snuggy and Holloway were both in the lineup together Snuggy’s first 2 NHL games April 1st and 3rd…although not for long on the 3rd as that’s the game Holloway was knocked out of. The Blues have gone 2-4-1 since Holloway was knocked out of the lineup…3 of those 5 losses to the Jets.

 

[Beninnola]

Winnipeg is certainly vulnerable, especially with Ehlers and Vilardi out. IMO, there are valid reasons why 4-5 other teams were given better odds of winning the Cup than the team that won the Presidents Trophy. That said, they’ve pretty clearly carried the play the most the first 2 games and Binner has been up to the task. Hellebuyck has been fine. Hasn’t needed to be excellent yet. We need to change that.

Snuggy and Holloway were both in the lineup together Snuggy’s first 2 NHL games April 1st and 3rd…although not for long on the 3rd as that’s the game Holloway was knocked out of. The Blues have gone 2-4-1 since Holloway was knocked out of the lineup…3 of those 5 losses to the Jets.

I’m going to need to see how the jets play without last change.

We should be getting stomped. On any given night the pinball goals could be going into the other net.

 

[Mike Liut]

Thomas is hurting, Parayko is hurting, Holloway is out, Kyrou turned invisible after the hit, Schenn and Neighbors disappeared, Faulk and Leddy suck.

What else is there to say?

 

[Drubilly]

Thomas is hurting, Parayko is hurting, Holloway is out, Kyrou turned invisible after the hit, Schenn and Neighbors disappeared, Faulk and Leddy suck.

What else is there to say?

Alexa Datt is very pretty?

 

[TheDizee]

I think the jets are sus

We’re playing a guy 20 min a night who’s closing in on his 10th nhl game

Our only top 6 center can’t walk appearently

Our best defensemen can’t skate

Ehlers and Holloway cancel each other out.

The jets have -no- excuse for fighting through 1 goal home games, games tied in the third period. We’ve controlled way too much.

They’re sus. Hellebyuck has been beat clean on all 4 of our goals meanwhile the jets are relying on pinball to score. Sus af.

I’ll wait until we’ve lost the 4th game to believe it’s possible. The first two games were winnable and against quite hefty odds the results are not bad. All it’ll take is one good ass whipping to reset the state of things.

I can’t wait til next season; I wanna see a game with Snuggerud and Holloway in the same lineup.

The Jets are not going to win the cup, most likely won't even reach the conference finals. I agree somewhat that they are overrated and ripe for the picking. But we are not the team to do that. They are going to beat us, likely in a sweep or 5 games max and deserve to be up on us 2-0. Game 1 was ours to have and if Kyrou doesn't miss on that breakaway and they don't turtle for the last 30 minutes of the game, they probably win it cleanly. But that did not happen so oh well.

But our 5on5 play is trash and has been neutered by the Jets along with our injuries. We have NO CHANCE IN HELL of beating them now. It is what it is, hopefully its a big time learning experience for people who need it and helps us down the road.

 

[ScratchCatFever]