Bozak signs 1 year deal at 750k

[tomin]

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[BlueDream]

f***in right. Props to him for taking a team friendly deal. I’ve liked this guy a lot, such a good bottom 6’er.

Now I assume we IR Sundqvist in order to get Thomas signed and then when Sunny comes back, decisions to be made.

 

[BlueOil]

i'm sure there's some bonuses involved, but that's a "Tarasenko's staying around" salary

happy to have bozak back in the line up and on the dot

 

[bleedblue1223]

Wonder if there are any bonuses. If not, this is fantastic for us. Even with Sunny on LTIR, we'll have some sort of move before or shortly into the season.

I suppose we could force Thomas into a $1.5M or less deal, but we'll see.

 

[bleedblue1223]

 

[A Real Barn Burner]

Glad Bozak is back, and on such a great deal!

Little worried Armstrong is painting himself into a corner. Whatever deal is to come, to be cap compliant, could cost us a bit. You never get a good deal when they know you are desperate.

 

[TheDizee]

love the move but how does this effect our cap situation with thomas still unsigned?

 

[Brian39]

The article says "plus bonuses" which I assume will include an easy to reach GP bonus that makes the real dollars substantially more than the $750k initial cap hit. This is exactly what I've wanted for months. Barring insane performance bonuses this is an absolutely perfect contract for the team. Literally a league minimum cap hit until the end of the season. We now have until the trade deadline to free up cap space to avoid a rollover penalty. Absolutely incredible work by Army.

 

[Brian39]

Glad Bozak is back, and on such a great deal!

Little worried Armstrong is painting himself into a corner. Whatever deal is to come, to be cap compliant, could cost us a bit. You never get a good deal when they know you are desperate.

The reality is the exact opposite. Bozak's cap hit is league minimum for now. If we don't free up cap space throughout the year then any bonuses hit will roll into next year's cap. Bozak on the roster instead of Clifford or Mac actually saves cap space to sign Thomas.

This just told the entire league "we can have Tarasenko here all year. We don't have to do anything to be cap compliant."

 

[bleedblue1223]

love the move but how does this effect our cap situation with thomas still unsigned?

Not much really. For people that have been tracking, Bozak basically replaces Santini, so we sit at the same cap space we've had ~1.5M with just Thomas left to sign to get to 23 players. With Sunny likely starting on LTIR, it won't be an issue to start the season, but under the assumption that he'll return relatively quickly, we'll need to have some sort of move lined up for when that happens.

People will argue we'll start the season with a 22 man roster or something. And while we could do that, I imagine it's worst case scenario for Army.

 

[Brian39]

People will argue we'll start the season with a 22 man roster or something. And while we could do that, I imagine it's worst case scenario for Army.

That's only the play if Sunny is ready to go within the first couple weeks of the season (which I'd say isn't a worst-case scenario). If Sunny isn't ready and is placed on LTIR, then we can easily run a 23 man roster with Thomas making around $2.4M. Then we would have to trim down to a 22 man roster when Sunny is taken off LTIR (unless there has been a bad injury in the first 3 weeks or we have made a trade). Here is that 22 man without Sunny on LTIR (ignore/change the lines as you see fit)

Perron-ROR-Tarasenko
Saad-Schenn-Buch
Sanford-Thomas ($2.4M)-Kyrou
Barby-Sunny-Bozak
Clifford
Krug-Faulk
Scandella-Parayko
Mikkola-Bortz
Walman
Binner/Husso

If Sunny starts on LTIR, then you can slide Bozak to the 4C plus put both Mac and Kostin into the 23 man roster until he gets back. Upon Sunny's return you send Kostin to the AHL (waiver exempt) and then choose which of Clifford/Mac is risked on waivers. All of this may become irrelevant if there is an injury, a trade or Thomas can't find an offer sheet and has to accept a 1 year prove it deal for $1.5M.

 

[bleedblue1223]

That's only the play if Sunny is ready to go within the first couple weeks of the season (which I'd say isn't a worst-case scenario). If Sunny isn't ready and is placed on LTIR, then we can easily run a 23 man roster with Thomas making around $2.4M. Then we would have to trim down to a 22 man roster when Sunny is taken off LTIR (unless there has been a bad injury in the first 3 weeks or we have made a trade). Here is that 22 man without Sunny on LTIR (ignore/change the lines as you see fit)

Perron-ROR-Tarasenko
Saad-Schenn-Buch
Sanford-Thomas ($2.4M)-Kyrou
Barby-Sunny-Bozak
Clifford
Krug-Faulk
Scandella-Parayko
Mikkola-Bortz
Walman
Binner/Husso

If Sunny starts on LTIR, then you can slide Bozak to the 4C plus put both Mac and Kostin into the 23 man roster until he gets back. Upon Sunny's return you send Kostin to the AHL (waiver exempt) and then choose which of Clifford/Mac is risked on waivers. All of this may become irrelevant if there is an injury, a trade or Thomas can't find an offer sheet and has to accept a 1 year prove it deal for $1.5M.

We can run 23 man roster with Sunny on LTIR no problem, the issue is when he comes off. I just don't see Army pulling a Vegas and embracing a reduced roster.

 

[Ranksu]

Great bargain by Army. Squeeze those balls.

Good signing.

 

[Zezel’s Pretzels]

That's only the play if Sunny is ready to go within the first couple weeks of the season (which I'd say isn't a worst-case scenario). If Sunny isn't ready and is placed on LTIR, then we can easily run a 23 man roster with Thomas making around $2.4M. Then we would have to trim down to a 22 man roster when Sunny is taken off LTIR (unless there has been a bad injury in the first 3 weeks or we have made a trade). Here is that 22 man without Sunny on LTIR (ignore/change the lines as you see fit)

Perron-ROR-Tarasenko
Saad-Schenn-Buch
Sanford-Thomas ($2.4M)-Kyrou
Barby-Sunny-Bozak
Clifford
Krug-Faulk
Scandella-Parayko
Mikkola-Bortz
Walman
Binner/Husso

If Sunny starts on LTIR, then you can slide Bozak to the 4C plus put both Mac and Kostin into the 23 man roster until he gets back. Upon Sunny's return you send Kostin to the AHL (waiver exempt) and then choose which of Clifford/Mac is risked on waivers. All of this may become irrelevant if there is an injury, a trade or Thomas can't find an offer sheet and has to accept a 1 year prove it deal for $1.5M.

I love that 4th line. That's a 4th line of a contender, and it's the 2019 4th line except swapping Steen with Bozo.

 

[BlueDream]

We can run 23 man roster with Sunny on LTIR no problem, the issue is when he comes off. I just don't see Army pulling a Vegas and embracing a reduced roster.

Me neither but luckily by that time the roster will have probably worked itself out, whether there’s another injury, Tarasenko plays well to increase his trade value, or someone else (Sanford as an example) plays poorly enough to lose their spot and get moved.

I’m excited about our lineup now.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Me neither but luckily by that time the roster will have probably worked itself out, whether there’s another injury, Tarasenko plays well to increase his trade value, or someone else (Sanford as an example) plays poorly enough to lose their spot and get moved.

I’m excited about our lineup now.

Yeah, something will happen, not really worried about what it'll be.

Agreed. Glad we have enough bottom 6 players that can competently play in the top 6 when needed. It's really going to come down to health.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Not much really. For people that have been tracking, Bozak basically replaces Santini, so we sit at the same cap space we've had ~1.5M with just Thomas left to sign to get to 23 players. With Sunny likely starting on LTIR, it won't be an issue to start the season, but under the assumption that he'll return relatively quickly, we'll need to have some sort of move lined up for when that happens.

People will argue we'll start the season with a 22 man roster or something. And while we could do that, I imagine it's worst case scenario for Army.

Send Clifford down, LTIR Sunny.

-Not actual lines just depth charts-

Perron-RoR-Buch
Saad-Schenn-Tarasenko
Kostin-Thomas-Kyrou
Sanford-Bozak-Barbie
MacMac-Clifford(LTIR)Sunny

Krug-Parayko
Scandella-Faulk
Mikkola-Bortuzzo
Walman

 

[Brian39]

We can run 23 man roster with Sunny on LTIR no problem, the issue is when he comes off. I just don't see Army pulling a Vegas and embracing a reduced roster.

Bear in mind, my mindset is still very much that Army's long-term plan is to move Tarasenko in a hockey trade. I don't view a decision to roll 22 guys as a decision to do that for an entire year. I view it as a potential short term solution to get Thomas into camp and let Tarasenko play his trade value up. Running 22 guys for 4-8 weeks to continue shopping Tarasenko is different and less risky than what Vegas did. And if you can't find a deal for Tarasenko, then you can jettison Barby or Sanford to create enough space to run a 23 man roster.

My assumption of a 22 man roster is simply a measure to buy time. Either until the first long term injury or until there is clarity about who Tarasenko is and whether he will be moved. It also allows Berube to try out various guys at LW for stretches to see how essential Sanford is to the lineup. It is a low risk gamble and it should be easy to move one of Sanford/Barby if Tarasenko is washed and not moveable. But the potential reward to that gamble is staggeringly high. If Tarasenko can return a legit 2nd pair LD and Kostin is NHL ready, then we could run something like this:

Perron-ROR-Buch
Saad-Schenn-Kyrou
Sanford-Thomas-Kostin
Barby-Sunny-Bozak
Clifford/Mac

Krug-Parayko
#2LD-Faulk
Scandella-Bort
Mikkola/Walman

Binner/Husso

Adjust the wings as you see fit, but that is a formidable looking team.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I'd agree with the statement that this move with how it's structured is simply done in a way to buy time, that's why I expect a move before the season or shortly into it. Shortly for me means more along the lines of weeks.

 

[TheDizee]

It is always nice to see a player take less money to stay in St Louis

 

[Reality Czech]

Send Clifford down, LTIR Sunny.

-Not actual lines just depth charts-

Perron-RoR-Buch
Saad-Schenn-Tarasenko
Kostin-Thomas-Kyrou
Sanford-Bozak-Barbie
MacMac-Clifford(LTIR)Sunny

Krug-Parayko
Scandella-Faulk
Mikkola-Bortuzzo
Walman

Not a bad looking lineup! I might have a slight preference to play Bozak with Thomas and Kyrou to provide a stable veteran presence, but overall I like it.

 

[Xerloris]

It is always nice to see a player take less money to stay in St Louis

But I was told no one would ever want to come or stay in St.Louis again

 

[Mike Liut]

It is always nice to see a player take less money to stay in St Louis

I dont think it’s a actually less money after he hits the bonuses.

 

[WeWentBlues]

I dont think it’s a actually less money after he hits the bonuses.

2M is still a bargain considering he made 4.25M last year

 

[EastVillageBlues]

I dont think it’s a actually less money after he hits the bonuses.

Bonuses or not, he is a good vet presence that can still put up some offensive contribution. And one of the top FO draws, and can be a good option as the bumper position on the 2nd PP to boot.

I don't think you can do much better than him, even for 3-4 M spent in FA.