bluesReport18
Registered User
- Jul 14, 2022
- 4
- 10
I know the blues have very little cap but I thought it would be fun to look at a few of the remaining free agents and how they could fit in on the blues.
Noah Dobson: High skill offensively and only 22 years old. Stands at 6'4 coming off an incredible year with 51 points in 80 games. He is a RFA but he could fit into the category of 4.2 million to 6.3 million which would cost a first and a third. Not a bad price for a future top pair defensemen. Only reason I see this as realistic is the islanders hate young players and their GM loves to make stupid moves so I could see him letting Dobson go if a high enough offer was made.
Jesse Puljujarvi: Big winger that every team needs to win in the playoffs. I don't see us signing him as a RFA but a trade could be a realistic scenario as Edmonton isn't high on him. We have a lot of players like him in our middle 6 but he has a lot of potential and if he came cheap I would take the risk on him. Also his extension is probably going to be under 3 million so if we make a few small moves we can fit him under the cap.
Nino Niederreiter: A solid goal scorer who if we end up trading Tarasenko could fill in a top 9 winger spot and put in around 25 goals for us. Also solid on the powerplay and shouldn't cost too much to get.
P.K. Subban: His prime is far behind him but for the third pair he wouldn't be bad. He can play dirty at times but that's a style you love to have on your own team and hate it on other teams. Also could slide up the lineup with injuries.
Sonny Milano: Has a ton of skill and plays a solid 2-way game. Could see him being a fun linemate for either Thomas or Kyrou and he should produce more with a bigger role. Has high awareness but just hasn't been able to put it together. Should cost less then 2 million though and I would love to see him as a blue.
Tyler Ennis: Should cost 750k and could easily slide up the lineup in most situations. Has more skill then the guys we signed recently but can never stick with a team for some reason. We could sign him and if he plays bad just send him to the AHL.
Robert Hagg: Big physical defensemen who can actually play the penalty kill. We need more players like that but I don't think Hagg would be good enough to stick in our lineup regularly with the players we already have.
Sam Gagner: Great defensive forward who would add a lot to our bottom 6 and penalty kill. Is a great player to trust and seems like a great leader I didn't even realize the red wings let him go until checking CapFriendly and seeing him as a free agent. Would be a great fit in Berube's system.
Martin Frk: Always been impressed with him I don't know how he doesn't have an NHL role his shot is an absolute cannon and he simply puts up goals at every level. Would be great for our third line or AHL.
Daniel Sprong: Another player that keeps bouncing around the league so there must be some problem. Seems like he does great for a stretch and then ends up on the 4rth line or benched. Still has a lot of skill and shooting ability and is only 25 years old. Would be a nice addition to our RW side because we just lost Perron.
I don't think the blues offseason is done at all. I could see a Tarasenko trade in the future I know I would start contract negotiations and see how much he wanted before moving him but I have a feeling he's going to want big money. We can't afford that for an aging player and if he doesn't want to be here then trade him you can't afford to lose him for nothing. My concern is what we could get for him because Vegas just got nothing for Pacioretty and that might hurt the value of Tarasenko a bit.
I would also look to move Krug he's a really solid player and I have no problems with his game but it's time to trust Perunivich and let him take over that role. That comes with a bit of risk as Perunivich is not proven yet but Perunivich is basically the same style player as Krug with a higher ceiling and costs 6 million less. I have to believe Krug would have value around the league because he could easily be a 3rd defensemen on most teams and slide into the top powerplay.
Lastly and I hate to say this because he's one of my favorite players but it's time to start contract negotiations with O'Reilly. Find out how much he wants and if he wants to stay long term. He's already 31 going on 32 and will probably want a 6 year deal. I don't see him lasting that long as he is already one of the slower players on the team. We can't lose him for nothing though like we lost Petro. His return would be massive and we could retool our farm system and possibly add some NHL ready players or get a great defensemen. I would hate to lose our captain as he is one of the most valuable players to this team but if he's looking for a 6 year deal at 8 million a year we just won't be able to afford that and if we do our team is going down hill in the future. I would love him on a 4 year 6.5 million a year but I doubt he will take that cheap of a contract.
Let me know if there's any free agent you think the blues should go after or just thoughts on free agency in general!
Also let me know what you think the blues will do with Tarasenko and Krug as those are the 2 I've seen the most trade rumors about.
Noah Dobson: High skill offensively and only 22 years old. Stands at 6'4 coming off an incredible year with 51 points in 80 games. He is a RFA but he could fit into the category of 4.2 million to 6.3 million which would cost a first and a third. Not a bad price for a future top pair defensemen. Only reason I see this as realistic is the islanders hate young players and their GM loves to make stupid moves so I could see him letting Dobson go if a high enough offer was made.
Jesse Puljujarvi: Big winger that every team needs to win in the playoffs. I don't see us signing him as a RFA but a trade could be a realistic scenario as Edmonton isn't high on him. We have a lot of players like him in our middle 6 but he has a lot of potential and if he came cheap I would take the risk on him. Also his extension is probably going to be under 3 million so if we make a few small moves we can fit him under the cap.
Nino Niederreiter: A solid goal scorer who if we end up trading Tarasenko could fill in a top 9 winger spot and put in around 25 goals for us. Also solid on the powerplay and shouldn't cost too much to get.
P.K. Subban: His prime is far behind him but for the third pair he wouldn't be bad. He can play dirty at times but that's a style you love to have on your own team and hate it on other teams. Also could slide up the lineup with injuries.
Sonny Milano: Has a ton of skill and plays a solid 2-way game. Could see him being a fun linemate for either Thomas or Kyrou and he should produce more with a bigger role. Has high awareness but just hasn't been able to put it together. Should cost less then 2 million though and I would love to see him as a blue.
Tyler Ennis: Should cost 750k and could easily slide up the lineup in most situations. Has more skill then the guys we signed recently but can never stick with a team for some reason. We could sign him and if he plays bad just send him to the AHL.
Robert Hagg: Big physical defensemen who can actually play the penalty kill. We need more players like that but I don't think Hagg would be good enough to stick in our lineup regularly with the players we already have.
Sam Gagner: Great defensive forward who would add a lot to our bottom 6 and penalty kill. Is a great player to trust and seems like a great leader I didn't even realize the red wings let him go until checking CapFriendly and seeing him as a free agent. Would be a great fit in Berube's system.
Martin Frk: Always been impressed with him I don't know how he doesn't have an NHL role his shot is an absolute cannon and he simply puts up goals at every level. Would be great for our third line or AHL.
Daniel Sprong: Another player that keeps bouncing around the league so there must be some problem. Seems like he does great for a stretch and then ends up on the 4rth line or benched. Still has a lot of skill and shooting ability and is only 25 years old. Would be a nice addition to our RW side because we just lost Perron.
I don't think the blues offseason is done at all. I could see a Tarasenko trade in the future I know I would start contract negotiations and see how much he wanted before moving him but I have a feeling he's going to want big money. We can't afford that for an aging player and if he doesn't want to be here then trade him you can't afford to lose him for nothing. My concern is what we could get for him because Vegas just got nothing for Pacioretty and that might hurt the value of Tarasenko a bit.
I would also look to move Krug he's a really solid player and I have no problems with his game but it's time to trust Perunivich and let him take over that role. That comes with a bit of risk as Perunivich is not proven yet but Perunivich is basically the same style player as Krug with a higher ceiling and costs 6 million less. I have to believe Krug would have value around the league because he could easily be a 3rd defensemen on most teams and slide into the top powerplay.
Lastly and I hate to say this because he's one of my favorite players but it's time to start contract negotiations with O'Reilly. Find out how much he wants and if he wants to stay long term. He's already 31 going on 32 and will probably want a 6 year deal. I don't see him lasting that long as he is already one of the slower players on the team. We can't lose him for nothing though like we lost Petro. His return would be massive and we could retool our farm system and possibly add some NHL ready players or get a great defensemen. I would hate to lose our captain as he is one of the most valuable players to this team but if he's looking for a 6 year deal at 8 million a year we just won't be able to afford that and if we do our team is going down hill in the future. I would love him on a 4 year 6.5 million a year but I doubt he will take that cheap of a contract.
Let me know if there's any free agent you think the blues should go after or just thoughts on free agency in general!
Also let me know what you think the blues will do with Tarasenko and Krug as those are the 2 I've seen the most trade rumors about.
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