Blues Discussion Thread 2018-2019

[Xanadude]

I really don't see how O'Reilly leaves Buffalo after winning the Dahlin sweepstakes. Sure, Mittelstadt hopefully outpaces his production, but they've got 2 years of Mittelstadt and Dahlin both on entry-level contracts. They don't need to move O'Reilly, and he provides insurance down the middle if Mittelstadt struggles.

O'Reilly would be fantastic, but the Sabres are going to ask for the moon for him. Unless we can minimize our return, I don't know if O'Reilly is the person on which we should mortgage our future.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

I really don't see how O'Reilly leaves Buffalo after winning the Dahlin sweepstakes. Sure, Mittelstadt hopefully outpaces his production, but they've got 2 years of Mittelstadt and Dahlin both on entry-level contracts. They don't need to move O'Reilly, and he provides insurance down the middle if Mittelstadt struggles.

O'Reilly would be fantastic, but the Sabres are going to ask for the moon for him. Unless we can minimize our return, I don't know if O'Reilly is the person on which we should mortgage our future.

Colorado made the playoffs this year after dumping Duchene. Sometimes it really is about fit and chemistry. If they don’t think ROR is “the guy,” I’m sure they’d rather pay somebody else

 

[BlueDream]

It is my personal take on the situation, once they won the 1st OA, that changes things. Beyond that though, argument devolved into "you wouldn't even make an underpayment" for him. I take a firm stance in not digging a hole to fill a hole. I have said that I dont think hes really available but not to the annoying level some have with other targets. I've tried to keep it to arguing removing Dunn isnt a step in the right direction for ROR.

Yeah but until a reporter comes out and actually says Dahlin has changed their plans, we don't need to assume that's the case. As the other 2 posters have mentioned, there's still lots of reasons the Sabres could want to move him.

Just because a team has cap space doesn't mean they want to pay a certain player his salary. If Buffalo wants to re-tool again with their young core, then maybe O'Reilly is an odd man out. Who knows.

 

[Dbrownss]

Yeah but until a reporter comes out and actually says Dahlin has changed their plans, we don't need to assume that's the case. As the other 2 posters have mentioned, there's still lots of reasons the Sabres could want to move him.

Just because a team has cap space doesn't mean they want to pay a certain player his salary. If Buffalo wants to re-tool again with their young core, then maybe O'Reilly is an odd man out. Who knows.

I guess, but for what Saber fans are asking for, ROR isnt on my radar. Blues need to add, not subtract

 

[BlueDream]

I guess, but for what Saber fans are asking for, ROR isnt on my radar. Blues need to add, not subtract

I agree but we are going to have to subtract something decent even if it's just futures. I want a good player, not some low-hanging fruit scrub.

 

[wannabebluesplayer]

I guess, but for what Saber fans are asking for, ROR isnt on my radar. Blues need to add, not subtract

What they are asking for, even what was posted in the main trade boards from another site or article, think it was 2018 1st, Dunn, and Thomas for O'Reilly is an insane ask to me, mainly because O'Reilly is a 7.5 million cap hit per season to produce less than Schenn. Yes, he's better defensively and on the dot, but that doesn't justify 2.875 million more. It also doesn't justify the Blues giving up two very good players and a first. I could see one of Thomas or Dunn, but not both for O'Reilly. The next prospect would have to be a tier down, maybe Thompson or Kostin. Dunn is still viewed as a prospect to some, even writers I suppose, but I don't see how he can be. He basically finished the year as a top 4 defensemen, and to me, at least, the makings of a top 2. If the Blues are giving up a 1st, Dunn, and Thomas, I would want O'Reilly and Ristolainen.

Buffalo doesn't need to move O'Reilly unless he's requested a trade. However, they aren't going to get an over-payment package for him. Not at his current cap hit at least.

I really like O'Reilly, but if Botterill is insisting on Dunn and Thomas, then I'd walk away.

 

[Dbrownss]

I agree but we are going to have to subtract something decent even if it's just futures. I want a good player, not some low-hanging fruit scrub.

I'm good with moving prospects, just not "core" roster players

 

[EastonBlues22]

What they are asking for, even what was posted in the main trade boards from another site or article, think it was 2018 1st, Dunn, and Thomas for O'Reilly is an insane ask to me, mainly because O'Reilly is a 7.5 million cap hit per season to produce less than Schenn. Yes, he's better defensively and on the dot, but that doesn't justify 2.875 million more. It also doesn't justify the Blues giving up two very good players and a first. I could see one of Thomas or Dunn, but not both for O'Reilly. The next prospect would have to be a tier down, maybe Thompson or Kostin. Dunn is still viewed as a prospect to some, even writers I suppose, but I don't see how he can be. He basically finished the year as a top 4 defensemen, and to me, at least, the makings of a top 2. If the Blues are giving up a 1st, Dunn, and Thomas, I would want O'Reilly and Ristolainen.

Buffalo doesn't need to move O'Reilly unless he's requested a trade. However, they aren't going to get an over-payment package for him. Not at his current cap hit at least.

I really like O'Reilly, but if Botterill is insisting on Dunn and Thomas, then I'd walk away.

That wasn't a rumor of what they were asking for. It was just a hypothetical trade thrown out there that some journalist thought could make sense.

 

[Xerloris]

I really think Dunn is going to explode this year and show everyone just how good he is. I would hate for it to happen for another team.

 

[Stealth JD]

Rutherford mentions Ilya Kovulchuk and the Blues in his latest Athletic article.
There are a ton of reasons why Ilya Kovalchuk makes sense...

 

[Xanadude]

Rutherford mentions Ilya Kovulchuk and the Blues in his latest Athletic article.
There are a ton of reasons why Ilya Kovalchuk makes sense...

ugh. I mean, he'd probably help our powerplay, but Rutherford speculates 6 million for three years. That's a lot for a question mark winger when our biggest problem is no 2C...

 

[The Note in MI]

I’m ok if Kovalchuk signs here for 5x3 or 6x2 maybe even. He looked good in the olympics and I think he would improve our top 6.

The biggest thing to me that this could give us is a chance to save assets for a center if we don’t get JT. he’s not my first choice but if there’s no one reasonable to be had at the draft it’s worth a flyer to me.

 

[EastonBlues22]

Rutherford mentions Ilya Kovulchuk and the Blues in his latest Athletic article.
There are a ton of reasons why Ilya Kovalchuk makes sense...

Even if I thought the Blues would be willing to tie themselves to that sort of financial commitment with Kovalchuk on a 35+ contract, which I don't, I would still doubt that he has any real desire to come to STL.

 

[Stealth JD]

Even if I thought the Blues would be willing to tie themselves to that sort of financial commitment with Kovalchuk on a 35+ contract, which I don't, I would still doubt that he has any real desire to come to STL.

But say the Blues sign Tavares on July 1...not great odds, but certainly greater than 0%.
Is there a team out there that would be a better fit for the RH-shooting, power-play specialist who's got Cup-aspirations?
He's already played with Tarasenko, and would form what could be considered the league's most dangerous top-6 with Schenn, Schwartz, Tarasenko & Tavares...playing in front of a top-5 defensive unit. Why wouldn't he consider that, if we're to believe that he's returning for a Cup?

 

[Xanadude]

But say the Blues sign Tavares on July 1...not great odds, but certainly greater than 0%.
Is there a team out there that would be a better fit for the RH-shooting, power-play specialist who's got Cup-aspirations?
He's already played with Tarasenko, and would form what could be considered the league's most dangerous top-6 with Schenn, Schwartz, Tarasenko & Tavares...playing in front of a top-5 defensive unit. Why wouldn't he consider that, if we're to believe that he's returning for a Cup?

Agreed. If we are in on Tavares or O'Reilly or some other 1/2c, then I think Kovy makes more sense organizationally as a 2-3 year stopgap before Kyrou or Kostin hit the show/Fabbri insurance, and we would make sense to Kovy if he's cup hunting. It might create cap problems, esp. if we get Tavares, but DA can work around that. Besides, if we sign Kovy, we have more assets to 'spend' on an O'Reilly or Johnson or Draisaitl. It'd be a decent secondary move.

 

[wannabebluesplayer]

That wasn't a rumor of what they were asking for. It was just a hypothetical trade thrown out there that some journalist thought could make sense.

I know it was a hypothetical trade, but I wouldn't doubt that's what Botterill is seeking. Still a steep price to me.

 

[Dbrownss]

I know it was a hypothetical trade, but I wouldn't doubt that's what Botterill is seeking. Still a steep price to me.

I know it's not a direct comparison value wise but he had a high price for Kane and the GMs laughed at him. I've been tuning into NHL radio more since they focus more on the offseason stuff now. I dont remember what show it was but they were discussing ROR. Fully admit he's a fantastic player but his 7.5/yr isn't viewed as a bargain. It may be a knock on his return.

 

[Itsnotatrap]

I get the point of it being an option that lets you hold prospects a little longer in a retool period, and has the right handed shot with a ton of PP juice. A lot of his points aren’t incorrect. He made a decent argument, but I’m still not buying what he is selling.

The whole house of cards seems built on a bad assumption. He threw around 6M and hinted at shorter term. I can’t remember where I saw or heard it, but I believe he’s hunting around for 3 years. It isn’t likely to be St. Louis that wins a bid at 2 years. 3 years at 35 isn’t really short term, even if it is less term than other younger RHS options. He’s likely to be at his best in the retool year, and then be a problem when you’re past the retool. The range of possibilities on a 35 year old asset are really sketchy 3 years out, so you really need to be committing to making a push year one, in my view, to take on those risks for years 2 & 3.

 

[Brian39]

I know it's not a direct comparison value wise but he had a high price for Kane and the GMs laughed at him. I've been tuning into NHL radio more since they focus more on the offseason stuff now. I dont remember what show it was but they were discussing ROR. Fully admit he's a fantastic player but his 7.5/yr isn't viewed as a bargain. It may be a knock on his return.

I think the Sabres will likely be willing to retain a mil or so of that in order to maximize return. They have zero cap concerns right now and Pominville/Moulson come off the books next summer, which frees up another $10.6 mil. Eating $1 mil or so for the next 5 years shouldn't be an issue for them. By the time they will owe big raises to their prospects (assuming they pan out), the cap will have increased another $5+ mil. There is little downside to them retaining enough to make his contract easy to swallow. $7.5 mil might be high for ROR, but $6.5 is completely and totally fair with an $80+ mil cap.

 

[Chojin]

I like Kovalchuk. I don't like him on a multi-year 35+ contract when he hasn't played in the NHL for 5 years. Let someone else gamble on him.

 

[Evocable Manager]

Anyone critiquing Vladdy's defense can stop now lol

 

[Dbrownss]

Anyone critiquing Vladdy's defense can stop now lol

Tarasenko > Schwartz confirmed

 

[Celtic Note]

Troll vote

 

[DoubleK81]

Whoever voted 91 over 17 should have their privilege revoked starting last year.

 

[i aint Dunn yet]

What they are asking for, even what was posted in the main trade boards from another site or article, think it was 2018 1st, Dunn, and Thomas for O'Reilly is an insane ask to me, mainly because O'Reilly is a 7.5 million cap hit per season to produce less than Schenn. Yes, he's better defensively and on the dot, but that doesn't justify 2.875 million more. It also doesn't justify the Blues giving up two very good players and a first. I could see one of Thomas or Dunn, but not both for O'Reilly. The next prospect would have to be a tier down, maybe Thompson or Kostin. Dunn is still viewed as a prospect to some, even writers I suppose, but I don't see how he can be. He basically finished the year as a top 4 defensemen, and to me, at least, the makings of a top 2. If the Blues are giving up a 1st, Dunn, and Thomas, I would want O'Reilly and Ristolainen.

Buffalo doesn't need to move O'Reilly unless he's requested a trade. However, they aren't going to get an over-payment package for him. Not at his current cap hit at least.

I really like O'Reilly, but if Botterill is insisting on Dunn and Thomas, then I'd walk away.