Blues Trade Proposals 2023-2024

[Reality Czech]

I think people in general underestimate how common trade protection is. You are only eligible to receive trade/move protection for years where you had UFA eligibility, which means any player under 27 can't have one (unless they have accrued 7 years of NHL experience).

Let's look at guys aged 27+ who got 1 way deals making $1M or more. That filters out all the young guys ineligible for trade protection and the cheap journeymen who you get to fill in the very edges of your lineup. There are 363 NHL players aged 27 and older who make $1M+ on a 1 way deal for 2023/24. 222 of them have some form of trade protection.

That's 60%. And again, we're setting the bar at $1M veterans, which is oging to include a lot of bottom-of-the-lineup guys. Set the bar at $2M and you are at 216 of 308 guys. That's 70%. Setting the bar at $3M gets you 77% (201 of 261).

I'm not going to dig into the strength of these clauses, because Capfriendly doesn't have a great tool for that and I don't want to spend more than 10 minutes on this post. But I think it is pretty clear that trade protection is the cost of doing business with any veteran worth signing.

That really puts things in perspective. I wouldn't have guessed the percentage was that high, but it sure seems like NTCs are more the rule for veteran players rather than the exception.

 

[jjniner]

Love this trade idea! Can I put this on the main board to get some feedback?

 

[mk80]

I want to see Karlsson go back to Ottawa, so I've been kicking around the framework of a 3 team deal to get it done.

To STL: Chabot
To Ottawa: Karlsson w/ $3.5M retained
To San Jose: Kyrou

We get 5 years of a top pair LHD while remaining cap neutral. Ottawa replaces 5 years of Chabot with 4 years of a franchise icon while remaining cap neutral and balancing their LHD/RHD in the top 4. San Jose gets 8 year of Kyrou while only adding $125k to their overall cap balance sheet for the 4 years they are retaining on Karlsson.

I think Ottawa would probably need San Jose to either retain more or take Joseph's contract in order to address some other needs. While Karlsson is the better player now, I don't think 4 more years of him at $8M is as valuable as 5 more years of Chabot at $8M.

To STL: Chabot
To Ottawa Karlsson w/ $3M retained
To San Jose: Kyrou and Joseph

What else needs to happen for this to make sense for all 3 teams?

A question in this is, would Karlsson be open to returning to Ottawa?

 

[Brian39]

Love this trade idea! Can I put this on the main board to get some feedback?

Go for it.

I never really venture into the main boards, but I couldn't care less if you post it over there .

A question in this is, would Karlsson be open to returning to Ottawa?

Everything I've heard on podcasts is that he loves Ottawa and still has a home there. I have no clue whether that translates to being willing to return there as a player, but I think that they are much closer to competing for a Cup than San Jose.

 

[Frenzy31]

Why would Ottawa want him back? They are very strong at D.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Have we traded Kyrou yet? No ones gonna be happy until we do.

 

[Brian39]

Why would Ottawa want him back? They are very strong at D.

I think they have 4 good D men at the moment, but I don't think that they have a true #1. Karlsson has flaws to his game, but I firmly believe he is a better all-around #1 D man than Chabot. He did just win the Norris.

But more specifically, Ottawa wasn't all that strong at generating offense from the back end last year. Chabot led the group with 41 total points, which was tied for 30th in the NHL. Karlsson had more goals than Ottawa's 4 highest scoring D men combined, more points than their 3 highest scoring D men combined, and more even strength points than Ottawa's 4 highest scoring D men combined. Chychrun's offensive ability improves them offensively, but they still aren't anything close to the offensive group they would be by swapping Chabot for Karlsson. Adding Karlsson probably doubles up their defensive production, which is a sizeable difference.

It also evens out the handedness of their top 4. They'd go from 3 LHD and 1 RHD to 2 and 2. Chychrun can play on his off side, but I believe he is better on the left side.

I think Ottawa would have good reason to prefer keeping Chabot since he is much younger and should age better over the next 4 years. But I don't see much argument that swapping out Karlsson for Chabot doesn't improve their team right now. I'm a pretty big Chabot fan, but Karlsson is a future hall of famer coming off a Norris win where he incredibly went even at 5 on 5 on an awful Sharks team.

 

[Brockon]

I think they have 4 good D men at the moment, but I don't think that they have a true #1. Karlsson has flaws to his game, but I firmly believe he is a better all-around #1 D man than Chabot. He did just win the Norris.

But more specifically, Ottawa wasn't all that strong at generating offense from the back end last year. Chabot led the group with 41 total points, which was tied for 30th in the NHL. Karlsson had more goals than Ottawa's 4 highest scoring D men combined, more points than their 3 highest scoring D men combined, and more even strength points than Ottawa's 4 highest scoring D men combined. Chychrun's offensive ability improves them offensively, but they still aren't anything close to the offensive group they would be by swapping Chabot for Karlsson. Adding Karlsson probably doubles up their defensive production, which is a sizeable difference.

It also evens out the handedness of their top 4. They'd go from 3 LHD and 1 RHD to 2 and 2. Chychrun can play on his off side, but I believe he is better on the left side.

I think Ottawa would have good reason to prefer keeping Chabot since he is much younger and should age better over the next 4 years. But I don't see much argument that swapping out Karlsson for Chabot doesn't improve their team right now. I'm a pretty big Chabot fan, but Karlsson is a future hall of famer coming off a Norris win where he incredibly went even at 5 on 5 on an awful Sharks team.

Karlsson might entertain this notion, given that Melnyk will no longer be meddling with team affairs, Stone is gone, the fans have had a few years to forgive him leaving and Ottawa is poised to become a playoff team, whereas San Jose is basically destined to finish bottom 5 again for another few years.

But I'm not sold on Ottawa feeling acquiring the age 33-36 seasons of Karlsson (regardless of his career year he just had) merits shipping out a 26 year old Chabot under contract through his prime years, whilst Karlsson would have to defy father time to give them a shot at a few post season runs.

To me, continuing with all their youth development as they're now hitting that 21-25 ages for Norris (now healthy), Tkachuk, Batherson, Stuzle, Chychrun and Pinto with Sanderson 20 and Chabot 26 right outside that range - outweighs getting both Giroux and Karlsson a primo postseason run or two at the expense of 4+ runs with the younger group.

I don't see Dorion biting on this concept - if anything he looks to trade Chabot for a ~25 year old #2/3 RD instead, to keep the same core age together while improving the team's balance on the back end. Something more like Ekblad, Theodore, Dobson, Byram, McAvoy, Fox, Sergachev or Heiskanen (ignoring target team need - just identifying better candidates for Ottawa's window).

More realistically a guy like Sam Girard or Alexander Carrier could be had to fill that 2 RD slot without paying through the nose asset wise. Both have shown offensive instinct and skill, but get held down the lineup by guys like Makar and Josi - meaning there may be more offensive potential if they weren't by default playing 2PB and with 2/3rd lines primarily.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Why would Ottawa want him back? They are very strong at D.

Aside from what others said, club is about to be sold. GM needs them to have big year to keep his job.

 

[Bluesguru]

A question in this is, would Karlsson be open to returning to Ottawa?

Can’t see it. Unless San Jose trades him for peanuts. Where’s the gain for both Ottawa and Karlsson if the Senators have to pay a steep price?

 

[TurgPavs]

Have we traded Kyrou yet? No ones gonna be happy until we do.

It took JR nearly 2 years to trade Tarasenko.......

Will never forget Pierre McGuire asking if Jeremy Rutherford had completed the Tarasenko deal on NHL Network....it was classic.

 

[PJJJP]

It took JR nearly 2 years to trade Tarasenko.......

Will never forget Pierre McGuire asking if Jeremy Rutherford had completed the Tarasenko deal on NHL Network....it was classic.

Wait he said that? That's hilarious, I hope there are clips of it

 

[TurgPavs]

Trading Kyrou in a Chabot/EK 3 team deal......

Leaves the Blues with 9 defensemen on one way contracts totaling roughly 37 million.

I like Chabot, however the guy has played roughly 75% of regular season games the last 2 years, missing nearly 25% of games due to different injuries.

 

[stlbluz]

I wonder if Sanheims' NTC has nixed any possibility of him being available. I'd have to think that the 2/20 scratch by torts is still on his mind.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

I wonder if Sanheims' NTC has nixed any possibility of him being available. I'd have to think that the 2/20 scratch by torts is still on his mind.

Playing for Torts has a way of turning no trade clauses into please trade clauses.

 

[PeoriaBlues309]

Trading Kyrou for Chabot when we still have Krug, Leddy, and Scandella on the roster makes absolutely ZERO sense.

Also who would we be acquiring to replace Kyrou’s offense?

 

[bleedblue1223]

I don't think you don't make a move for Chabot or another similar type player just because you have 1 year left of Scandella. My hang up with a Kyrou trade is you are basically going all in on Snuggerud/Bolduc developing into 30+ goal scorers or being able to trade for that type of player when we are ready to contend again. Kyrou isn't perfect, but he's a piece of the puzzle on a contender. I would move him for a bigger and harder to find puzzle piece though.

 

[BrokenFace]

Trading Kyrou for Chabot when we still have Krug, Leddy, and Scandella on the roster makes absolutely ZERO sense.

Also who would we be acquiring to replace Kyrou’s offense?

Don't you know that Kyrou is a locker room cancer? If we trade him then Saad, Schenn, and Bortz will all put up 90+ points.

 

[BlueDream]

Don't you know that Kyrou is a locker room cancer? If we trade him then Saad, Schenn, and Bortz will all put up 90+ points.

It’s about time we stop holding Bortz back. Let him cook.

 

[Xerloris]

Trading Kyrou for Chabot when we still have Krug, Leddy, and Scandella on the roster makes absolutely ZERO sense.

Also who would we be acquiring to replace Kyrou’s offense?

If Chabot hits the market you make the deal and work out details later.

Don't you know that Kyrou is a locker room cancer? If we trade him then Saad, Schenn, and Bortz will all put up 90+ points.

Kyrou is the only one we have worth Chabot. There are people that want to trade him just to get rid of him but those are the minority. Getting a #1 LD is more important than keeping Kyrou, notice we don't want random offers for him? Just 2 very specific players I can think of that I would do it for.

 

[Spektre]

If Chabot hits the market you make the deal and work out details later.


Kyrou is the only one we have worth Chabot. There are people that want to trade him just to get rid of him but those are the minority. Getting a #1 LD is more important than keeping Kyrou, notice we don't want random offers for him? Just 2 very specific players I can think of that I would do it for.

Chabot is not being traded.

Kyrou is not being traded.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Should just trade Kyrou @50% for a 3rd. Let his lazy bs face off this team he can go play video games with some AHL team.

 

[simon IC]

I really, really want Hanafin. The question is, who do we give up to get him? I think Kyrou is an overpayment, but you have to give to get. I wonder what Conroy wants in return? Are the Flames looking to contend right away, or do they want prospects?

 

[Xerloris]

Chabot is not being traded.

Kyrou is not being traded.

I pretty much agree which is why I would only offer Kyrou for players that are not being traded.

 

[Spektre]

I don’t understand the thought process behind trading key players or futures for an upgrade at LHD.

I do understand why Armstrong wants to put a competitive roster on the ice vs tanking. I can’t imagine ownership is in a hurry to embrace a full rebuild and lose tons of money due to ticket sales, merchandise, and low interest in the team.

Can someone here that really would trade Kyrou or important futures for one of Hanifin or Sanheim explain their thoughts? Is getting one of these LHD putting the organization in a position for a deep playoff run? I’m really interested to hear the details.

In my opinion, the best possible thing for the organization is to be a bottom dweller next season. If the Blues could be in a bottom 10 team at the TDL it could really help speed up the rebuild process.

Buchnevich, Saad, Parayko, etc.. would all be available.

I fully understand prospects don’t necessarily equal a guarantee but it’s the right way to rebuild an organization. I don’t think a rebuild would take many years if the Blues could get some extra draft capital combined with another top 10 pick.

Anyway, that’s my thoughts. I have to hear from all the posters so adamant about upgrading 1 LHD position.