Blues Discussion Thread 2018-2019

[Bye Bye Blueston]

If the Blues could get Rask for a second and a B prospect, I'd do it.

That is what I was thinking. We have a surplus of winger prospects. Would probably give up Sanford or Blais or Foley and 2nd (or 2 of those guys and no pick).

 

[Novacain]

For the record, with Boston seemingly letting Riley Nash walk, he is absolutely the first guy in free agency I'm targetting over Bozak. Was given a legitimate chance to suceed for Boston and had a solid 40 point season, Right Handed Shot, can play center. It's more a 3rd line pickup then 2nd line, but he still seems like the player who can be had in free agency who best fits our need without killing us financially.

 

[Xanadude]

If the price for O'Reilly is too steep, and Stastny/Bozak want too much money, too much term, or won't sign here, what other options are there in our quest to find help down the middle? Free agents are looking pretty bleak.

Free Agents
Riley Nash?
Derek Ryan?
Valteri Filppula?

Could Armstrong acquire a C from a "rebuilding" team?
Redwings - Zetterberg, Nielsen
Canucks - Gagner
Hurricanes - Rask, Staal
Rangers - Zibanejad, Hayes, Namestnikov
Coyotes - Stepan, Dvorak

Would Ducks consider moving Getzlaf? Is it time to hit the reset button there?
Bruins were reportedly shopping Backes.

Anyone have any ideas? Any of the above make sense?

Zetterberg/Backes at 6M for 3 years vs Bozak/Stastny at 5M for 5 years?
The price on Rask was two seconds at the draft.

Really good list. I had been thinking about writing up one of these myself.

Nash- He had far better linemates this year than ever before, so I'd be worried we'd pay for far more than he's worth. I'd be cool with him if we think it isn't an illusion.
Derek Ryan, to me, seems like a right-handed Sobotka. i'd pass.
Filppula's getting up there in age and would be a total bandaid. One or two years...I mean, I'd live with it.

Out of those rebuilding teams, the one I'd LOVE would be Zibanejad, but I doubt New York would have any desire to trade him. They need a reliable 1c as they rebuild, even though they are absurdly deep at the position. (Him, Hayes, Spooner, Namestikov, Andersson and Chytil)
Detroit: Zetterberg has talked about retiring a Red Wing...besides, if he leaves, he's cup chasing. I dunno if we are that team rn. I'd accept Nielsen if it's a cap dump, but I wouldn't drop a big 4 for him.
Nucks: Gagner's career numbers away from the puck are atrocious...not a C i want.
Carolina: I'd be OK with Rask or Staal, honestly. Rask, IMO, will put up numbers like Stastny's for cheaper over the next 2-3 years and Staal would be the same, though the last two years of Staal's contract would be rough.
Yotes: Stepan's pretty important to the 'yotes, especially that Strome is in limbo and Keller isn't playing center yet. Doubt they let him go. I honestly don't know much about Dvorak, but I guess he's the 3c if Galchenyuk sticks, so I'm not sure they'd trade him either.

I'm fairly certain Getzlaf's skillset will age quite well, but I think Carlyle goes before Anaheim blows up leadership.
That'd be a good one for Army to explore IMO. Always coveted his passing ability.

Backes...my heart says do it if Boston's trying to jettison him. My head says that, even at half salary retained...will he ever play again? Krejci was brought up last week too...that's a big 'ol contract but he's effective when he's on the ice. It'd be pretty funny to pick them both up, now that I think about it. They're both signed for 3 more years and would stabilize the dressing room and make the peanut gallery fans happy. Have Boston retain a couple million for each and I'd pull the trigger if we can keep the big 4 to the big 3 in doing so. Just a slight risk of 10 million on the IR...

Seeing those names reminds me that this offseason isn't ROR or bust...but yeesh, some of those names are really scraping the barrel.

 

[WeWentBlues]

Given how this past weekend has unfolded and the likely term and dollars needed to snag a free agent, Zetterberg and Backes make a lot of sense to me right now, even at their age and both having three years remaining.

Zetterberg does not have a NTC/NMC so Wings could move him. Even without retention, I'd take Backes at this point. We don't necessarily need a solution beyond three years. Just 18-19.

 

[Mike Liut]

Any interest in JVR? He’s not a center, but at least he wouldn’t cost assets to acquire

 

[Novacain]

There is a part of me that wonders if Detroit will refuse to trade Zetterberg because of who he is. A larger part thinks Zetterberg would just retire if he was traded anyway and that's why he doesn't have a NTC: Detroit already knows this.

 

[Novacain]

Any interest in JVR? He’s not a center, but at least he wouldn’t cost assets to acquire

We need another Left Handed Shot LW like we need a hole in the head.

 

[WeWentBlues]

Any interest in JVR? He’s not a center, but at least he wouldn’t cost assets to acquire

Not for Evander Kane term and money. That contract would be an anchor in 3-4 seasons.

 

[WeWentBlues]

Boards deleted an essay I practically wrote in response to this.

In short: the bargain-basement free agents: Nash: I don't trust last year, but a cheaper deal? Sure. Rask: Right handed Sobotka. Redundant. Filppula: Old 3/4...doesn't solve our problem imo.

Zetterberg: If he leaves, it's cup chasing. we aren't that team now. Nielsen: a cap dump deal would be ok, but he's reliable and Detroit needs reliability.
Gagner: he's horrific defensively IIRC. I'd pass.
Rask; I'd be A-ok with it. He's cheap salary-wise and will put up Stastny-esque numbers. Staal: more expensive and better for now...but that contract is a bear.
Zibanejad: I doubt he's on the market but I'd LOVE to have him. Hayes: Similar to Rask. Namestikov: I doubt they'd get him at the deadline to ship him out.
Stepan: similar to Nielsen- he's stability. Doubt he's available. Dvorak: if Galchenyuk doesn't work out at c they'll need him.

Getzlaf: His game will age great and I'd be very interested. losing the C could be the best thing for him...but I think Anaheim fires the coach before dismantling on-ice leadership. Also, Kesler might miss the whole year and they'd need him at C.

Backes: My heart says yes yes yes, head says no. even at half salary, are we going to pay 3mill a year for a guy whose career really seems one hit from ending...who hits everyone that moves?
Krejci: he's also hurt a lot, but I'd like to have him honestly. Only 3 years (same as Backes, hmm) and he/they could really stabilize our locker room. A Fabbri/Krejci/Backes second line could either be absolutely incredible or all three could miss the whole season.

It's still there. I saw it at least.

 

[Mike Liut]

We need another Left Handed Shot LW like we need a hole in the head.

Then dump Steen. All of our big prospects are RH

 

[Novacain]

Then dump Steen. All of our big prospects are RH

Or, we can target someone in a position of need instead of just changing the names on our pre-existing strengths?

 

[BlueDream]

Given how this past weekend has unfolded and the likely term and dollars needed to snag a free agent, Zetterberg and Backes make a lot of sense to me right now, even at their age and both having three years remaining.

Zetterberg does not have a NTC/NMC so Wings could move him. Even without retention, I'd take Backes at this point. We don't necessarily need a solution beyond three years. Just 18-19.

No interest in those two.

Of the secondary options being mentioned, Rask makes the most sense to me. He’s still young and has potential to improve. I think he’d be a solid 2C assuming we can then acquire a goal-scoring winger. That wouldn’t be a bad coup. If Skinner doesn’t reject a trade to us, acquiring those two in a mega-deal would be interesting.

 

[Mike Liut]

Or, we can target someone in a position of need instead of just changing the names on our pre-existing strengths?

You dont think JVR is an upgrade over Steen? I’m so ready to move on from Steen

 

[WeWentBlues]

No interest in those two.

Of the secondary options being mentioned, Rask makes the most sense to me. He’s still young and has potential to improve. I think he’d be a solid 2C assuming we can then acquire a goal-scoring winger. That wouldn’t be a bad coup. If Skinner doesn’t reject a trade to us, acquiring those two in a mega-deal would be interesting.

Trying to think outside the box here and juggling a number of other things at the same time.

Backes/Zetterberg wouldn't cost you assets we don't want to move and would be more than serviceable for next year. I'd be open to both for different reasons. Backes so Thomas can play sheltered minutes. Zetterberg to have a legit set up guy for Tarasenko.

 

[STLBloosiers]

Tyler Johnson would be a great center for 91. A guy like 91 who doesnt seem to be the type of sniper who needs to be set up since he literally can't take a one-timer. I think Johnson would back up the d with his speed and be able to dump it off to 91 for his bread and butter which is the wrister in the hashmarks.

 

[Novacain]

You dont think JVR is an upgrade over Steen? I’m so ready to move on from Steen

Yes, he is an upgrade on our 2nd line LW spot, though not a gigantic one. The problem is our list of problems on this team (Center, Lack of Right Handed Shots, especially at RW, Goaltender, potentially lack of RHD depth) still need to be addressed, and our of much higher concern.

 

[Mike Liut]

Yes, he is an upgrade on our 2nd line LW spot, though not a gigantic one. The problem is our list of problems on this team (Center, Lack of Right Handed Shots, especially at RW, Goaltender, potentially lack of RHD depth) still need to be addressed, and our of much higher concern.

I’m not saying we dont try to address those Just because we sign JVR and try to dump Steen (and Berglund and Sobotka).

 

[BlueDream]

Trying to think outside the box here and juggling a number of other things at the same time.

Backes/Zetterberg wouldn't cost you assets we don't want to move and would be more than serviceable for next year. I'd be open to both for different reasons. Backes so Thomas can play sheltered minutes. Zetterberg to have a legit set up guy for Tarasenko.

Just feel those moves are going backwards. Need to be getting younger and faster, not older and slower.

Krejci is really the only “old” player I’d be interested in of the names being mentioned because he still has some good years left. But Boston would likely need to retain some salary.

 

[Mike Liut]

Id rather play the youngsters and miss the playoffs than trade assets for these old turds

 

[WeWentBlues]

Just feel those moves are going backwards. Need to be getting younger and faster, not older and slower.

Krejci is really the only “old” player I’d be interested in of the names being mentioned because he still has some good years left. But Boston would likely need to retain some salary.

In a perfect world I agree 100%. However, plans may need to change after this past weekend if we want to improve the team next year without sacrificing the future.

 

[Xanadude]

Just feel those moves are going backwards. Need to be getting younger and faster, not older and slower.

Krejci is really the only “old” player I’d be interested in of the names being mentioned because he still has some good years left. But Boston would likely need to retain some salary.

If we want to get rid of Sobotka/Berglund/Steen/Gunnarsson, these are kind of guys we go after in a hockey trade, IMO. Rask may cost a 2nd and Berglund, or Sobotka and Blais get us Hayes. That way, we have a contingency if a prospect doesn't go off and incredible depth if they do.

 

[Itsnotatrap]

If we can’t get to a middle ground with Brodziak, then I’d like to see how reasonable Letestu’s price would be for a 4C role. He’s a righthander that is very good on the dot, decent on the PK, and he flashes a decent and accurate one-timer that EDM used heavily on their PP 2 seasons ago. Given where we were on that last one last season, I think he might be a good value option that we could actually use on the 2nd PP unit.

 

[Evocable Manager]

I get guys not wanting to go to St. Louis. I grew up there and moved away. The only reason I would return is family. If not for them, then I have a whole list of other cities that are of interest before STL. I would love if STL was higher on the list, but that desire is largely family driven. If I hadn’t grown up there, I am not sure it would be on my radar. STL just does not engender a ton of desirable qualities when compared to other cities and I have tried hard to rationalize wanting to move back.

That said, I fully acknowledge that I don’t represent everyone.

I'm in pretty much the same boat as you.

I moved out of STL a few years back and in every visit I make the more and more I realize there's just nothing there for me.

I've forever been in a debate about where I plan to move after graduating and getting my education. But there is nothing enticing about Missouri in comparison to the likes of Texas, Colorado, New York, Chicago, etc.

It sucks that the Blues aren't the type of team to attract big name UFA's. If we were able to remain stable and finish near the top of the division where we stood for a lot of the season and the momentum carried us to a 2nd round appearance, maybe Tavares feels different. Maybe he just doesn't like the city at all. Who knows.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

If we can’t get to a middle ground with Brodziak, then I’d like to see how reasonable Letestu’s price would be for a 4C role. He’s a righthander that is very good on the dot, decent on the PK, and he flashes a decent and accurate one-timer that EDM used heavily on their PP 2 seasons ago. Given where we were on that last one last season, I think he might be a good value option that we could actually use on the 2nd PP unit.

I'd like to see Barbashev and Sanford compete for 4C role. Barbs played well down stretch in checking role with a bit of offensive skill and Sanford if he gains strength has some nice hands. Either of those guys with Sosh and Jaskin sounds like nice 4th line.

 

[EastonBlues22]

possible, the Blues did make a pitch to him but it sounds like he just wants the big city life. I'm surprised he wants to go back to Chi after they traded him

There are quotes from Hitchcock saying that they whiffed on their evaluation of him and didn't really pursue him because they thought he was too small.

Maybe he wouldn't have come here anyway, but it sounds like the Blues never really gave him the option to turn them down.