2024-2025 Blues Trade Proposals Thread.

[bleedblue1223]

Possibly big game hunting but “200 ft offensive player” is still pretty darn vague. Purposely vague in fact. He wants to leave himself some wiggle room as he has no idea as of today what all players will actually be available this summer or which might be willing to sign here.

Like most, I translate what he said as most likely going after a guy that should slot in as the 2C. But it could be more of a 3C. Could be a winger. Heck, maybe it’ll be a superstar that pushes Thommer to 2C. Logic would suggest a C as we’re short those and busting at the seams at wing but he just said offensive player with a good two-way game. Purposely vague.

I could see him kicking the tires on the upper echelon guys like Tavares, Bennett, Giroux etc or wingers like Marner (although I’m personally not a fan of spending the amount it would take to get Marner) but it might also mean going after someone like Granlund, Nelson or Gourde. Or other wingers like Ehlers, Marchand or Boeser.

Or he could go the trade route. But with 7-800 players in the league, I’m not ready to start scouring rosters for who the might be. But as others have noted, he went after Josh Norris recently so that caliber of player seems to be the likely target.

Yeah, I should clarify, I'd consider big game hunting as any top 6 forward. All the forwards in here would more or less fit what I'm thinking, someone that will push players down the lineup on some level, that's at least the goal. Could be a 50-60 point 2nd line guy. Also not a guy that would be a project or needs sheltering. A Buchnevich 2.0 would be another ideal type of a trade.

And yeah, he doesn't want to show all his cards for negotiation purposes.

 

[The Note]

I’d really want no part of the UFA contract Bennett is going to get, should he hit the market.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I wouldn't be shocked if Bennett is on our list, but I doubt he's near the top of it.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I’d really want no part of the UFA contract Bennett is going to get, should he hit the market.

Beyond the price tag, I just don’t know if I’d be able to root for the guy. I like tough, hard nosed players but just can’t root for scummy guys like Bennett, Kadri and Wilson.

 

[Majorityof1]

Possibly big game hunting but “200 ft offensive player” is still pretty darn vague. Purposely vague in fact. He wants to leave himself some wiggle room as he has no idea as of today what all players will actually be available this summer or which might be willing to sign here.

Like most, I translate what he said as most likely going after a guy that should slot in as the 2C. But it could be more of a 3C. Could be a winger. Heck, maybe it’ll be a superstar that pushes Thommer to 2C. Logic would suggest a C as we’re short those and busting at the seams at wing but he just said offensive player with a good two-way game. Purposely vague.

I could see him kicking the tires on the upper echelon guys like Tavares, Bennett, Giroux etc or wingers like Marner (although I’m personally not a fan of spending the amount it would take to get Marner) but it might also mean going after someone like Granlund, Nelson or Gourde. Or other wingers like Ehlers, Marchand or Boeser.

Or he could go the trade route. But with 7-800 players in the league, I’m not ready to start scouring rosters for who the might be. But as others have noted, he went after Josh Norris recently so that caliber of player seems to be the likely target.

I completely agree with the "intentionally vague" analysis. I don't think Army lies, but he is not above misdirection or obfuscation as well as using meaningless platitudes to "answer" questions when he doesn't want to give anything away.

I have pointed out that he could be referring to a forward or D. Anyone except a goalie should play a 200-ft game and participate in offense. Whoever he gets could retroactively fit that description.

I will also reiterate another point I made. We were in on Norris when we were also listening on moving Schenn. Army said he was looking at hockey trades during the trade deadline. Schenn to one team and Norris to us would effectively have been a hockey trade for us. I don't think it is conclusive evidence Army wants to add that type of player if we are keeping Schenn. It's obviosly possible and maybe even likely that is what he wants, but not conclusive.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

I will still advocate for a hockey trade for Kyrou. I will not sell for strictly futures, but if we can use him in a hockey trade to improve another weakness, im fully behind it.
1. He has a lot of value, value out --> value in
2. His NTC doesnt kick in till mid summer, all options/teams are possible.
3. He's going to struggle every year in the playoffs, his game doesnt translate. He showed zero willingness to board battle for 50/50 pucks, and got knocked off the puck every time someone got close to him on the open ice, zero Vladdy in him. Holloway doesnt fix these flaws for him. Things will get tighter like this every year in the playoffs.

Im ready to move on for the right price, while we have this short window of all options available. Dont hate the kid, just personally believe he'll never be a difference maker for us in the playoffs.

#TeamDizee

 

[Stealth JD]

Army could sign Marner for big dollars, then trade a package of Kyrou+ for a top-4 RHD (Dobson?), and upgrade two positions at once; though the Dobson & Marner contracts would require Leddy, Faulk and probably Texier/Faksa/Joseph salaries to disappear as well. Can't have $2-3M bottom-of-the-roster players if you're going to invest $20M over 2-players...in addition to signing Holloway/Broberg.

But Faulk at $6.5M, Leddy at $4M, Kyrou at $8M and Joseph at $3M would more or less offset Marner/Dobson.

 

[Brian39]

Army could sign Marner for big dollars, then trade a package of Kyrou+ for a top-4 RHD (Dobson?), and upgrade two positions at once; though the Dobson & Marner contracts would require Leddy, Faulk and probably Texier/Faksa/Joseph salaries to disappear as well. Can't have $2-3M bottom-of-the-roster players if you're going to invest $20M over 2-players...in addition to signing Holloway/Broberg.

But Faulk at $6.5M, Leddy at $4M, Kyrou at $8M and Joseph at $3M would more or less offset Marner/Dobson.

I don't think that $20M gets you remotely close to signing Marner and Dobson.

"Big dollars" for Marner to come here means making him (at minimum) the highest paid player in the league. And I don't think that $14.1M x 7 to just inch past Drai is enough. Tons of teams are going to make pitches, but Chicago is going to offer the moon to Marner. They have about $38M in cap space for next season and another $40M or so comes off the books next summer when Bedard is due his 2nd contract. They can't pitch him on being as good as the Blues (or most teams) in year 1 of the deal, but they have a massive quantity of prospects coming up and the cap flexibility to add more than just Marner to pull out of the basement and into contention. Realistically, I think you need to offer Marner $15Mx7 to get into the conversation to outbid Chicago (and Toronto).

Dobson is absolutely not signing for $5M. He'd beat that on a 1 year deal in arbitration and then just walk to UFA.

I'd be pretty shocked if Marner/Dobson don't come in at least a couple million more than the $21.5M Faulk, Leddy, Kyrou, and Joseph combine for. Not to say that it automatically wouldn't be a better investment than those contracts. But I think you need to be preparing for $24M+ to sign that pair (and then be prepared for that to inflate the Holloway/Broberg extensions unless you locked them in the minutes before you finalize the Marner contract.

 

[Xerloris]

McDavid is going to refuse to extend in Edmonton this summer, and Army will swoop in with an excellent trade package to land the most potent 2C avaialble!

Could you imagine McDavid as a 2c? lol better yet make him the 4c and give him Toro and walker as linemates and watch them both score 30 each. They honestly wouldn't be as bad as some of his top linemates in edmonton over the years.

 

[Stealth JD]

I don't think that $20M gets you remotely close to signing Marner and Dobson.

"Big dollars" for Marner to come here means making him (at minimum) the highest paid player in the league. And I don't think that $14.1M x 7 to just inch past Drai is enough. Tons of teams are going to make pitches, but Chicago is going to offer the moon to Marner. They have about $38M in cap space for next season and another $40M or so comes off the books next summer when Bedard is due his 2nd contract. They can't pitch him on being as good as the Blues (or most teams) in year 1 of the deal, but they have a massive quantity of prospects coming up and the cap flexibility to add more than just Marner to pull out of the basement and into contention. Realistically, I think you need to offer Marner $15Mx7 to get into the conversation to outbid Chicago (and Toronto).

Dobson is absolutely not signing for $5M. He'd beat that on a 1 year deal in arbitration and then just walk to UFA.

I'd be pretty shocked if Marner/Dobson don't come in at least a couple million more than the $21.5M Faulk, Leddy, Kyrou, and Joseph combine for. Not to say that it automatically wouldn't be a better investment than those contracts. But I think you need to be preparing for $24M+ to sign that pair (and then be prepared for that to inflate the Holloway/Broberg extensions unless you locked them in the minutes before you finalize the Marner contract.

$12.5 for Marner would be a huge raise from what he takes home in Toronto due to taxes alone. And would the guy really want to break the bank, seeing what commanding top-dollar did to the team around him...or would he rather take an attractive, but not budget-breaking salary, to leave money around him to try to build a Cup-contending club? He's already got more money than he could spend in one lifetime; you think he'd want to WIN. Even if it's $13M for Marner, and $8.5M for Dobson, that's doable. I don't think i'd offer $14M + $10M...that's just asking for trouble. But spending some of the cap increase to upgrade from Kryou to Marner and Faulk to Dobson seems like a reasonable investment. And if you have to trim the bottom of the roster to improve the top, so be it. Dom at the Athletic just published an article about the importance of star power and the Blues could use a couple of more high-impact pieces at the top.

 

[BleedBlue14]

$12.5 for Marner would be a huge raise from what he takes home in Toronto due to taxes alone. And would the guy really want to break the bank, seeing what commanding top-dollar did to the team around him...or would he rather take an attractive, but not budget-breaking salary, to leave money around him to try to build a Cup-contending club? He's already got more money than he could spend in one lifetime; you think he'd want to WIN. Even if it's $13M for Marner, and $8.5M for Dobson, that's doable. I don't think i'd offer $14M + $10M...that's just asking for trouble. But spending some of the cap increase to upgrade from Kryou to Marner and Faulk to Dobson seems like a reasonable investment. And if you have to trim the bottom of the roster to improve the top, so be it. Dom at the Athletic just published an article about the importance of star power and the Blues could use a couple of more high-impact pieces at the top.

That's a question only he really knows. Hard to fault a guy for wanting to make around $16m over the length of his career more if he's able to. The earning years are extremely short for professional athletes it's hard to tell what they would prefer and i'm sure it's different for each.

I also just don't see a world that isn't a fantasy where we could sign a massive UFA like a Marner and then turn around and fit a specific need by trading Kyrou for a Dobson like that. It would be a fantastic move, but it feels like 99.99% fantasy as that's way too many moving parts. I'm also not sure it would be good for our salary structure going forward when we are going to need to pay Holloway and Broberg next year and then eventually fill out the rest of the defense once the older regime starts to fade out.

 

[Brian39]

$12.5 for Marner would be a huge raise from what he takes home in Toronto due to taxes alone. And would the guy really want to break the bank, seeing what commanding top-dollar did to the team around him...or would he rather take an attractive, but not budget-breaking salary, to leave money around him to try to build a Cup-contending club? He's already got more money than he could spend in one lifetime; you think he'd want to WIN. Even if it's $13M for Marner, and $8.5M for Dobson, that's doable. I don't think i'd offer $14M + $10M...that's just asking for trouble. But spending some of the cap increase to upgrade from Kryou to Marner and Faulk to Dobson seems like a reasonable investment. And if you have to trim the bottom of the roster to improve the top, so be it. Dom at the Athletic just published an article about the importance of star power and the Blues could use a couple of more high-impact pieces at the top.

Marner would need to continue paying Canadian taxes while working abroad in the US unless he seeks and is granted dual citizenship. If he does that, then he has to pay a departure tax on his current assets, which would be a pretty sizeable tax bill on the front end of getting the more favorable annual tax rate while here. Tanev recently declined an extension in no-state-tax Dallas specifically because of the departure tax. I think it is far from a given that a contract with the Blues would be a huge raise vs signing in Toronto. And we have a higher tax rate than many other US markets that will likely be making offers to him.

If Marner wants to prioritize winning over money, then he has better options than St. Louis. All of Vegas, LA, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Carolina, and Florida could fit him under the cap if he's willing to leave a few million dollars on the table and all of them could do it without moving a player as good as Kyrou in order to accomplish that goal.

The best thing the Blues have to offer Marner is money. If he's interested in a discount to win, he'll have more attractive options. To land him, we need to win a cash bidding war.

And worth noting that Kyrou's full NTC kicks in before we can officially sign Marner. We'd need to trade Kyrou before having an approved contract with Marner. Or we'd have to sign Marner and then be at Kyrou's mercy to move him.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

When was the last time the Blues signed a big ticket free agent? Krug? What about at forward? Stastny in 2014? I guess it depends on if you consider Brandon Saad to be "big ticket" (I don't).

Whether it's a deliberate choice to stick with a homegrown core, or just an inability to attract premier free agents, it seems unwise to expect that this -- of all years -- will be the one where we finally go out and convince somebody like Marner to sign here.

Even in the Backes-led days, our free agent signings were to insulate a young group with veteran talent, e.g. bringing in a 32-year-old Paul Kariya. We aren't in that scenario right now; we have plenty of veteran leadership on the team already. If we're looking to supplement the current core, you aren't going to find them in free agency anyways. Guys don't typically go UFA until they're like 27-28, our "core group age" is 23-25. We're looking for RFAs, or at the very least Group 6ers.

I just kinda think if you're hinging your hopes for a successful offseason on our ability to sign Marner, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

 

[TheDizee]

When was the last time the Blues signed a big ticket free agent? Krug? What about at forward? Stastny in 2014? I guess it depends on if you consider Brandon Saad to be "big ticket" (I don't).

Whether it's a deliberate choice to stick with a homegrown core, or just an inability to attract premier free agents, it seems unwise to expect that this -- of all years -- will be the one where we finally go out and convince somebody like Marner to sign here.

Even in the Backes-led days, our free agent signings were to insulate a young group with veteran talent, e.g. bringing in a 32-year-old Paul Kariya. We aren't in that scenario right now; we have plenty of veteran leadership on the team already. If we're looking to supplement the current core, you aren't going to find them in free agency anyways. Guys don't typically go UFA until they're like 27-28, our "core group age" is 23-25. We're looking for RFAs, or at the very least Group 6ers.

I just kinda think if you're hinging your hopes for a successful offseason on our ability to sign Marner, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

I don't think Marner is a realistic possibility at all.

But I do think John Tavares is.

 

[WeWentBlues]

FA class looks pretty good this season but a lot of teams will have money to burn.

 

[bleedblue1223]

When was the last time the Blues signed a big ticket free agent? Krug? What about at forward? Stastny in 2014? I guess it depends on if you consider Brandon Saad to be "big ticket" (I don't).

Whether it's a deliberate choice to stick with a homegrown core, or just an inability to attract premier free agents, it seems unwise to expect that this -- of all years -- will be the one where we finally go out and convince somebody like Marner to sign here.

Even in the Backes-led days, our free agent signings were to insulate a young group with veteran talent, e.g. bringing in a 32-year-old Paul Kariya. We aren't in that scenario right now; we have plenty of veteran leadership on the team already. If we're looking to supplement the current core, you aren't going to find them in free agency anyways. Guys don't typically go UFA until they're like 27-28, our "core group age" is 23-25. We're looking for RFAs, or at the very least Group 6ers.

I just kinda think if you're hinging your hopes for a successful offseason on our ability to sign Marner, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Perron after his season in Vegas was probably major. If we are getting a higher end player, I'd expect a trade to be more likely. Free Agency tends to be for depth just because there usually aren't many higher end UFAs.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Perron after his season in Vegas was probably major. If we are getting a higher end player, I'd expect a trade to be more likely. Free Agency tends to be for depth just because there usually aren't many higher end UFAs.

We still only paid him $4x4. Both he and Stastny signed here as a sort of "homecoming," same with Maroon. DP57 and Pat both took discounts to come here.

But yes, trades and development are the ways we tend to do things. Free agency mostly just fills in the gaps. Signing Marner would just be completely out of the ordinary for anything we've done in the last like 20 years.

 

[SirPaste]

When was the last time the Blues signed a big ticket free agent? Krug? What about at forward? Stastny in 2014? I guess it depends on if you consider Brandon Saad to be "big ticket" (I don't).

Whether it's a deliberate choice to stick with a homegrown core, or just an inability to attract premier free agents, it seems unwise to expect that this -- of all years -- will be the one where we finally go out and convince somebody like Marner to sign here.

Even in the Backes-led days, our free agent signings were to insulate a young group with veteran talent, e.g. bringing in a 32-year-old Paul Kariya. We aren't in that scenario right now; we have plenty of veteran leadership on the team already. If we're looking to supplement the current core, you aren't going to find them in free agency anyways. Guys don't typically go UFA until they're like 27-28, our "core group age" is 23-25. We're looking for RFAs, or at the very least Group 6ers.

I just kinda think if you're hinging your hopes for a successful offseason on our ability to sign Marner, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Yea I would say Stastny is the last big ticket, Bozak was one of the top C available that year but also falls into the Saad territory for me. Army has never really been a big UFA spender, however we did try to attract a few under his reign albeit unsuccessfully, Tavares, Kovalchuk, come to mind. I also agree Marner is a pipe dream, he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would want to sign in St Louis, we would definitely have to offer top dollar for his services but he will definitely have better options available to him.

 

[SirPaste]

I don't think Marner is a realistic possibility at all.

But I do think John Tavares is.

I disagree about Tavares, he wouldn't even take our meeting last time we tried. Granted, times have changed but I would imagine Tavares who has already made a ton of money at this point is going to be looking for the best situation for himself to finally get a Stanley Cup in the next couple years, there will be other suitors out there that will have a better chance than us in the near future.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I 100% expect Tavares to stay in Toronto.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

I can't believe you guys still let Dizee rile you up so much. By taking him seriously it kind of ruins the whole discussion.

The Dizzee for Prezzidon’t

 

[TheDizee]

I can't believe you guys still let Dizee rile you up so much. By taking him seriously it kind of ruins the whole discussion.

You have been accused of being my alt account. Can you confirm or deny these accusations? They do not believe me.

Also why would people not take me seriously? Because I want a clubhouse cancer like Kyrou sent packing? Because I wanted Brian Elliott gone? It is actually kind of ironic how getting rid of Elliott led directly to a even worse plague (Kyrou) being here.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Army could sign Marner for big dollars, then trade a package of Kyrou+ for a top-4 RHD (Dobson?), and upgrade two positions at once; though the Dobson & Marner contracts would require Leddy, Faulk and probably Texier/Faksa/Joseph salaries to disappear as well. Can't have $2-3M bottom-of-the-roster players if you're going to invest $20M over 2-players...in addition to signing Holloway/Broberg.

But Faulk at $6.5M, Leddy at $4M, Kyrou at $8M and Joseph at $3M would more or less offset Marner/Dobson.

Dobson and Marner are my targets. Whatever needs to happen, make it happen.

 

[STL fan in MN]

I’ve always liked Marner’s hockey sense and two-way ability but he’s always had compete issues in the playoffs, is undersized, a winger and will command huge money. Just not the guy I would go after.

Is Claude Giroux too far gone to help us in the middle-6? 50 pts this season but he’s clearly slowing down. 61% on draws though which is pretty phenomenal.

I’d kick the tires on Tavares but he’s also very slow. Would love to have Matt Duchene but as of now, I expect he’ll end up back in Dallas. Granlund is in Dallas too but plays more LW these days. I feel like Brock Nelson is the sort that’s going to command too much term and start to go downhill fast. But I l’d at least kick the tires on him. Pius Suter is a C but more of a 3rd liner and he’s bad on the draw.

Trade route may be the way to go for this “200 foot scoring player.”

 

[Beninnola]

It is still unlikely we land Marner imo but I think it’s possible so until that changes I’ll keep on it.

I feel a lot of his reputation comes from his output as a growing player in top minutes. He’s grown now - imo will be among or the best winger in the league for multiple years. His flaws can be evaluated all day: what matters to me is that everybody else has worse flaws and they all have to deal with the problems we would create nightly. I care about the moments in hockey where it’s our 5 best versus theirs - and if we aren’t going to draft in the top 3 then…if we can low key nab a top winger then we can move from being a little weak in the area to being one of the strongest in the league.

We likely wont ever know what motivations cause marners future. Maybe he explains his priorities when the dust settles, maybe not. Wherever he signs I’m sure there’s some real good reasons and good for him. Over a lifetime of being a blues fan I guess I’ve learned the following: it isn’t your turn until it is. You don’t usually get a heads up. Gretzky played here - weirder stuff has happened. Marner probably isn’t even interested in our market but until I’ve heard it from a good source then it is what it is.

There are a lot of guys who have their name on the cup who are as physical as Marner - but he obviously doesn’t thrive in that area. IMO he more than makes up for it with his ability to disrupt plays with his stick and to constantly make great choices - he’s good enough to play a step faster than the best in the league and that’s the measuring stick that counts to me. Hes better at most of what Kyrou does while also being a guy you’d put on defense for a game if you had injuries and didn’t want to risk a call up. He’s reliable so far: despite an elevated role hes been able to skate in 70 or more games more than half the time. 4 times at 80 games or more. That’s the toughness meter that counts to me.

I’d be all in on an effort to lure him if I were in the ownership group and I’d be willing to make a deal with Toronto involving Kyrou to jump the gun on the deadline and get a sign and trade. But I think I’d always be like this if a guy of his caliber came due. I’d say more or less the same stuff if Rantanen were the one with question marks.