Blues Discussion Thread 2018-2019

[ManyIdeas]

Lehner+Husso future obviously

 

[Itsnotatrap]

Bernier might give a little AAV for the potential opportunity teed up for him here. If we don’t want to sell low on Allen, that’s understandable, but we better find a plausible tandem type option for the “break in case of emergency” scenario.

I’d like a realistic tandem option that will take short term, so that we keep the runway open for Husso. It seems like things are breaking in a favorable way. Bernier and Lehner may qualify but I guess the market will speak soon. NYI and CAR are still searching.

 

[Evocable Manager]

So something might happen today?

 

[The Note in MI]

Most certainly DA will be trying to make something happen. He has been for weeks have to think.

 

[Stealth JD]

Jesus...these forums.

Make like Madagascar and
shut. down. everything.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

Honestly, I don’t want another Shatty on our hands. No slight against Shatty, he just had his focus on playing somewhere near his hometown. Some of these high dollar players want big cities, good weather, beaches, whatever. You need big dollars to divert them from these desires. Just find me some over achievers who thank their lucky stars that they are playing in the big leagues and would love to play for a team like the Blues.

 

[Ranksu]

Wow...just typed up something and poof....went to nowhere. The servers must be melting down.

last night I post something like 50-60 times and half of them get throught. After 1.5hours I understand to copy my post before posting it, but yeah I almost break my computer, 'cus of this.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

I’d say the best bet at this point is to try and get Skinner or Patches, and trade for Tyler Johnson.

Skinner/Patches-Johnson-Tarasenko
Schwartz-Schenn-Kyrou
Steen/Fabbri-Thomas-Berglund
Jaskin-Barbashev-Soshnikov

 

[Stealth JD]

Tyler Johnson, Matt Duchene, ROR, RHN, Vincent Trochek, Jonathan Huberdeau, Ryan Donato, JT Miller, Kadri, Henrique...

start working the phones Army

 

[The Note in MI]

Rather just sign Stastny than trade for any of these guys who fall in the same tier.

 

[Spektre]

You won't have to hope.

If they can't acquire a top center or 2 Top 6 wingers, this team is going to suck.

One problem is we have no idea if Army has tried to clear any of the dead weight from the roster. Berglund, Steen, Sobotka, and Gunnarsson make up$16 million dollars. That's enough in cap for 2 outstanding top 6 players.

We all know Ottawa is a shit storm right now. All of us also know how rare teams offer sheet a RFA. What do the Blues have to lose in offering Mark Stone 7 million for 7 years? The worst that can happen is Ottawa matches that offer. The Blues would lose two 1st's, one 2nd, and one 3rd round pick for 7 years of Mark Stone. Sign me up. Why does Ottawa want to even match that offer? They should be in absolute rebuild mode from the ground up and wanting all the picks they can get. Especially since they're going to be a lottery team in 2019 and could see their 1st overall pick go to Colorado. Nice dealing there dumb f*** Dorion.

Yup a picture is worth a 1000 words.



Trading Parayko for ROR and paying Stone 7m per year would put the Blues cap around 73 million (if Kyrou & Thomas are on the roster). They have to sign Fabbri and Edmundson. It's doable but they need to move out another dead weight salary. Any one of Berglund, Steen, Sobotka, or Gunnarsson leaving clears enough space, most likely, to sign a RHD to plug the hole. They could move all 4 of those players and get pennies in return and it would be worth it just to clear cap space.

Steen is slowing down but he's probably worth more to the Blues than the other 3. It would solve a lot of problems if we knew Fabbri could play an 82 game schedule. The Blues can't take that risk and really need another top 6 LW.

But at least the top 6 have some bite:

Steen ROR Tarasenko
Schwartz Schenn Stone --- that's right I made the dreaded SSS line
Fabbri Thomas Kyrou
Sanford Barbashev Soshnikov

Edmundson Pietrangelo
Dunn X
Bouwmeester Bortuzzo/Schmaltz


What's the alternative? Tankathon 18 for Hughes? Honestly what is the plan if a big splash isn't made this year? This team as is should not make the playoffs. If they manage to squeak in it's just a false hope that will end quickly in the playoffs. What does that gain other than a few dollars in revenue? If Fabbri actually returned to his old form the top 6 should be deadly. With that top 6 putting all kinds of pressure on the defense the 3rd line would benefit greatly.


All I know is it's time for a push. The draft was a huge let down for me. It was 10 times worse than not getting a deal done for Shattenkirk at the draft.


If I'm stuck watching this same Blues roster trudge into next year it'll be as much fun as pulling my ball sack hair out 1 by 1.

 

[Dbrownss]

One problem is we have no idea if Army has tried to clear any of the dead weight from the roster. Berglund, Steen, Sobotka, and Gunnarsson make up$16 million dollars. That's enough in cap for 2 outstanding top 6 players.

We all know Ottawa is a **** storm right now. All of us also know how rare teams offer sheet a RFA. What do the Blues have to lose in offering Mark Stone 7 million for 7 years? The worst that can happen is Ottawa matches that offer. The Blues would lose two 1st's, one 2nd, and one 3rd round pick for 7 years of Mark Stone. Sign me up. Why does Ottawa want to even match that offer? They should be in absolute rebuild mode from the ground up and wanting all the picks they can get. Especially since they're going to be a lottery team in 2019 and could see their 1st overall pick go to Colorado. Nice dealing there dumb **** Dorion.

Yup a picture is worth a 1000 words.



Trading Parayko for ROR and paying Stone 7m per year would put the Blues cap around 73 million (if Kyrou & Thomas are on the roster). They have to sign Fabbri and Edmundson. It's doable but they need to move out another dead weight salary. Any one of Berglund, Steen, Sobotka, or Gunnarsson leaving clears enough space, most likely, to sign a RHD to plug the hole. They could move all 4 of those players and get pennies in return and it would be worth it just to clear cap space.

Steen is slowing down but he's probably worth more to the Blues than the other 3. It would solve a lot of problems if we knew Fabbri could play an 82 game schedule. The Blues can't take that risk and really need another top 6 LW.

But at least the top 6 have some bite:

Steen ROR Tarasenko
Schwartz Schenn Stone --- that's right I made the dreaded SSS line
Fabbri Thomas Kyrou
Sanford Barbashev Soshnikov

Edmundson Pietrangelo
Dunn X
Bouwmeester Bortuzzo/Schmaltz


What's the alternative? Tankathon 18 for Hughes? Honestly what is the plan if a big splash isn't made this year? This team as is should not make the playoffs. If they manage to squeak in it's just a false hope that will end quickly in the playoffs. What does that gain other than a few dollars in revenue? If Fabbri actually returned to his old form the top 6 should be deadly. With that top 6 putting all kinds of pressure on the defense the 3rd line would benefit greatly.


All I know is it's time for a push. The draft was a huge let down for me. It was 10 times worse than not getting a deal done for Shattenkirk at the draft.


If I'm stuck watching this same Blues roster trudge into next year it'll be as much fun as pulling my ball sack hair out 1 by 1.

Parayko for ROR........ someone needs to get some recreational time in.

 

[Spektre]

Parayko for ROR........ someone needs to get some recreational time in.

I’d rather keep Parayko and I think you already know that. I’m just trying to be realistic.

I guess Buffalo would be tempted if you start adding Thomas + something.

Barring a big shakeup trade what are your expectations in the next 3 years? Do you expect Thomas to be good as Point in TB? Is that the best case scenario for Thomas’s ceiling? Thomas will turn 19 next month. Point turned 22 in March. If Thomas hits the same trajectory with his development we have 3 years until he’s a 60+ point player.

In 3 years Tarasenko and Schenn will be 29 and Schwartz will be 28 going into the offseason when Thomas hits 22. I don’t think most fans understand the urgency the Blues franchise should be in.

The Blues either make some major upgrades to the top 6 or we will watch this team be a borderline playoff team for the next 3-5 years until it’s time for the next rebuild.

 

[Dbrownss]

I’d rather keep Parayko and I think you already know that. I’m just trying to be realistic.

I guess Buffalo would be tempted if you start adding Thomas + something.

Barring a big shakeup trade what are your expectations in the next 3 years? Do you expect Thomas to be good as Point in TB? Is that the best case scenario for Thomas’s ceiling? Thomas will turn 19 next month. Point turned 22 in March. If Thomas hits the same trajectory with his development we have 3 years until he’s a 60+ point player.

In 3 years Tarasenko and Schenn will be 29 and Schwartz will be 28 going into the offseason when Thomas hits 22. I don’t think most fans understand the urgency the Blues franchise should be in.

The Blues either make some major upgrades to the top 6 or we will watch this team be a borderline playoff team for the next 3-5 years until it’s time for the next rebuild.

ROR is not going to catapult this team to greatness. Especially if you remove Parayko. Botterill woul be hysterically laughing into next season if Army panic'd like that.

As for Thomas, I wont pretend to be an expert on The two but I'd wager there's a reason why Thomas will be in the NHL next season and Point took a bit longer.

There are moves that thrust a franchise forward and moves that allow you to tread water. RoR for Parayko is a water treading move.

I have zero "plans" moving forward, it's not all shot to hell with no Tavares but I'm deeply concerned with both Panarin and Tavares have ZERO want to play in Stl.

I'm not against ROR, but Army has to hold his ground, he cant get desperate. I'd put guys like Thompson and Kostin up IF they are actually sought after, which I doubt. If we can add ROR and Skinner, Blues may put something together next year.

Skinner brings me to my next concern. We know Armstrong spoke with Skinner's agent, and nothing. Its very possible neither side is in a hurry since the draft is over but what if Armstrong got the same response from Skinner that he got from Tavares and Panarin......No thanks on long term?

 

[Xanadude]

I do not envy Army at all. Everyone knows we have two of the best forward prospects in hockey. Everyone knows we have a hole on our second line the size of a golf course. Everyone knows that we are desperate to compete in a stacked central division because we have two more years of Petro and Schenn.

I'm thinking that we overpay for ROR or Skinner-not both-and sign Bozak or something. Tread water and pray a rookie has a mercurial rise, living the bubble team life.

 

[Thallis]

I do not envy Army at all. Everyone knows we have two of the best forward prospects in hockey. Everyone knows we have a hole on our second line the size of a golf course. Everyone knows that we are desperate to compete in a stacked central division because we have two more years of Petro and Schenn.

I'm thinking that we overpay for ROR or Skinner-not both-and sign Bozak or something. Tread water and pray a rookie has a mercurial rise, living the bubble team life.

Armstrong only has himself to blame for that. Had he not obscenely overpaid for Miller or insisted on a hockey trade for Oshie, we could have 2 second liners that naturally slot into that position in the lineup by now. Instead he's handcuffed himself and left the franchise in an awkward position. We've had assets and talent, we've just been hemorrhaging them with bad deal and roster management for year now.

 

[Spektre]

ROR is not going to catapult this team to greatness. Especially if you remove Parayko. Botterill woul be hysterically laughing into next season if Army panic'd like that.

As for Thomas, I wont pretend to be an expert on The two but I'd wager there's a reason why Thomas will be in the NHL next season and Point took a bit longer.

There are moves that thrust a franchise forward and moves that allow you to tread water. RoR for Parayko is a water treading move.

I have zero "plans" moving forward, it's not all shot to hell with no Tavares but I'm deeply concerned with both Panarin and Tavares have ZERO want to play in Stl.

I'm not against ROR, but Army has to hold his ground, he cant get desperate. I'd put guys like Thompson and Kostin up IF they are actually sought after, which I doubt. If we can add ROR and Skinner, Blues may put something together next year.

Skinner brings me to my next concern. We know Armstrong spoke with Skinner's agent, and nothing. Its very possible neither side is in a hurry since the draft is over but what if Armstrong got the same response from Skinner that he got from Tavares and Panarin......No thanks on long term?

The fact that free agents won’t come to St. Louis forces Army that much more to build the team somewhat through trading.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

I don’t know why everybody is itching to offload Parayko. We loved the guy in 16-17, he had a so-so 17-18, but I like the guy, he’s a workhorse, and I think he will have a couple more really good years. He’s just going to get better with age.

So he’s not nasty like Pronger and his slapper is not as lethal as it used to be. I don’t think he will ever be as physical as Pronger since the league doesn’t accept the stuff Pronger used to get away with. Plus is not of that mindset. The slipper, however, he can fix that.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

I do not envy Army at all. Everyone knows we have two of the best forward prospects in hockey. Everyone knows we have a hole on our second line the size of a golf course. Everyone knows that we are desperate to compete in a stacked central division because we have two more years of Petro and Schenn.

I'm thinking that we overpay for ROR or Skinner-not both-and sign Bozak or something. Tread water and pray a rookie has a mercurial rise, living the bubble team life.

Amen

 

[TruBlu]

The one thing I've grown to accept is that st. Louis is not a sought after location. Even more reason to hold on to our prospects. I've come to accept we probably aren't going to get our top 6 forwards unless they are drafted. They cost too much in a trade to be worth it.

 

[Dbrownss]

The fact that free agents won’t come to St. Louis forces Army that much more to build the team somewhat through trading.

Cant deny that but wouldn't change my thoughts on trading Parayko for O'Reilly. That would be such a gut punch. We'll be solid up the middle and weak on the wings unless the prospects explode. Tarasenko while still being a top end guy needs to bounce back, Schwartz had a career year but is proving to not be able to stay healthy, though he has freak injuried. Our top 6 is still just good, but not great.


No matter how you slice its, ROR for Parayko leaves a bad taste in my mouth. He may never be the Norris 50pt dman we fawned over, but what he does will be very hard to replace.


Idk maybe I'm just extra down now. I'd hate to be in Armstrongs shoes. 2 elite players said no thanks and now were left with good but not great options. Everything just seemed like it was lining up so perfectly and as usually....we got Charlie Brown'd

 

[Dbrownss]

Boy this forum is all sorts of f***ed up. ....

 

[Mike Liut]

I don’t know why everybody is itching to offload Parayko. We loved the guy in 16-17, he had a so-so 17-18, but I like the guy, he’s a workhorse, and I think he will have a couple more really good years. He’s just going to get better with age.

So he’s not nasty like Pronger and his slapper is not as lethal as it used to be. I don’t think he will ever be as physical as Pronger since the league doesn’t accept the stuff Pronger used to get away with. Plus is not of that mindset. The slipper, however, he can fix that.

When Petro walks in 2 years, we’ll be wishing we kept Parayko

 

[AjaxManifesto]

I have zero "plans" moving forward, it's not all shot to hell with no Tavares but I'm deeply concerned with both Panarin and Tavares have ZERO want to play in Stl.

I don’t know why there is all this angst about some elite players not wanting to come here. Let’s face it, the two guys you mentioned are in HIGH demand, so they can not only demand big money, but can be selective about location (big market, big city, good weather, mountains, beaches, whatever floats their boat), and they can be selective about playing for organizations that they think best fit their play style.

We have a quality organization here and I love STL. I used to live in LA and Seattle, so it’s not like I haven’t lived elsewhere. However, we are a smaller city in the Midwest that has been railroaded with bad press about crime, race, poverty, etc. That may factor in to how some elite players view coming here.

As a manager I’ve tried to recruit people for excellent positions in STL that align perfectly with a candidate’s career plans and needed work experiences; however, often folks (East Coasters sometimes, but mostly West Coaster) decline the job offers because they simply don’t want to live in the Midwest or don’t like what they’ve seen on TV about STL. These same folks would rather work lesser jobs not doing what they love and often not being able to afford to buy houses simply because they desire to live in some hip and cool West Coast city. I’ve stopped worrying about this and focus my energies on finding just as good candidates who are local or value the work more than the location.

 

[Spektre]

I don’t know why everybody is itching to offload Parayko. We loved the guy in 16-17, he had a so-so 17-18, but I like the guy, he’s a workhorse, and I think he will have a couple more really good years. He’s just going to get better with age.

So he’s not nasty like Pronger and his slapper is not as lethal as it used to be. I don’t think he will ever be as physical as Pronger since the league doesn’t accept the stuff Pronger used to get away with. Plus is not of that mindset. The slipper, however, he can fix that.

I can’t think of any Blues fans here that are pining for the organization to trade Parayko. It could be that dealing him is the organization’s best way of getting the center they want. If Army was indeed taking calls about Parayko that indicates it’s not out of the realm of possibilities.