Confirmed with Link: Blues and Saad agree to Mutual Contract Termination

[BlueMed]

By the reports I’m reading about him, I’m not so sure he’ll be ready next year.

Can you cite those reports? Or at least who is reporting that information?

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Next years #3 center is already here. His name is Dalibor Dvorsky.

If that's the only addition to this forward group we're going to be in the same position as we are this year, perhaps even worse.

 

[kimzey59]

By the reports I’m reading about him, I’m not so sure he’ll be ready next year.

I don't see any scenario where Dvorsky plays 2 full seasons in the AHL.
Even if his defense is a mess, his production will warrant the callup.

If that's the only addition to this forward group we're going to be in the same position as we are this year, perhaps even worse.

There's also Snuggerud coming at the end of the season.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

I don't see any scenario where Dvorsky plays 2 full seasons in the AHL.
Even if his defense is a mess, his production will warrant the callup.



There's also Snuggerud coming at the end of the season.

Let me rephrase. If we don't add a solid top 6 center to this team in the offseason, it's going to be another disappointing season.

 

[kimzey59]

Let me rephrase. If we don't add a solid top 6 center to this team in the offseason, it's going to be another disappointing season.

Don't agree with that, at all.

Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou
Neighbours-Thomas-Snuggerud
Buch-Dvorsky-Bolduc
Toro-Sunny-Joseph

There is a LOT of skill in that lineup.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Don't agree with that, at all.

Holloway-Schenn-Kyrou
Neighbours-Thomas-Snuggerud
Buch-Dvorsky-Bolduc
Toro-Sunny-Joseph

There is a LOT of skill in that lineup.

It's a nice fantasy and fun to look at on paper, but I have my doubts that Snuggerud and Dvorsky are going to do enough in their rookie seasons to push the Blues above their current level of mediocrity. Beyond that, what are you going to get from Schenn next season? He'll be 34.

 

[Mike Liut]

Can you cite those reports? Or at least who is reporting that information?

It was one of our posters who watches him regularly and who I respect his opinion. I won’t call him out.

 

[BlueDream]

We're a mess right now. Honestly thought Saad played really well a few days ago against Dallas.

Well that’s not enough. He can’t put in one good performance every 10 games and think he’s doing his part.

I’m glad the Saad era is coming to an end. The guy has a great combo of size and speed but just doesn’t use it, and is one of the most bland players to watch because of his (seemingly) lack of effort. Time to turn the page.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

My gut tells me that this is much more about sending a message to the room than it is about Saad specifically.

This is a 900+ NHL game vet (1000+ including playoffs) who had 26 goals last year that the team just committed to sending to the AHL. I've never heard a peep about him being a locker room problem or an asshole. To me, this is a loud signal to the entire locker room that no one is truly safe. No one on this team has a NMC that prevents waivers and the GM just told the room that they are willing to send a well respected vet to the minors without even calling up a replacement.

I get the message, but I really don't like Army's quotes about it.

Maybe this is a giddy Armstrong seeing his final GM season winding down. But I think he might be TRYING to piss of some players at this point to push a button or two.

 

[Reality Czech]

Seems like a wake up call/shot across the bow to the rest of the team.

Was really hoping Saad would go on a run, score some goals, and get us a 2nd at full retention…too bad.

Saad for a second was never gonna happen. If Taylor Hall is basically worth nothing, then Saad is worth less.

These are the seasons that drive you crazy - not just because the team sucks, but then you start to gaslight yourself. I've been thinking these last couple of days - was Kevin Hayes really that bad? Did we really need to drop a 2nd round pick to get rid of him? Do I need a wellness check? He put up 13 goals and almost 30 points last year. He'd easily be our 3C without a doubt on this squad. I was as happy as anyone when he was moved, but now I'm kinda thinking back and going - huh, wonder if we had kept him what our season would have looked like? I mean, our third line couldn't have been WORSE with him could it? Would he have been a better option then Faksa on PP2? I know he's looked pretty meh in Pittsburgh, but they're depth is f***ing terrible compared to ours. Hayes could have at least protected the puck while Bolduc found space. I dunno, seems like we dropped a 2nd round pick and then got worse depth production.

That's a good point. We would have been better off just keeping Hayes and I never thought I'd say that.

 

[BlueDream]

Saad for a second was never gonna happen. If Taylor Hall is basically worth nothing, then Saad is worth less.



That's a good point. We would have been better off just keeping Hayes and I never thought I'd say that.

Wow, you’re actually second guessing a move the Blues made?

Never thought I’d see the day.

 

[Stupendous Yappi]

Let me rephrase. If we don't add a solid top 6 center to this team in the offseason, it's going to be another disappointing season.

Disappointment can only be present relative to expectation. If we have two promising rookies in the top 9, I won’t have high expectations….but I will have high interest.

 

[A Real Barn Burner]

Disappointment can only be present relative to expectation. If we have two promising rookies in the top 9, I won’t have high expectations….but I will have high interest.

100 percent agree. However, despite this I know I will still be disappointed if we miss the playoffs next year. As my excitement for Broberg and Holloway doesn’t stop that sting for this year. But as you say it is relative to expectations. Will be excited to see how snuggy and dvorsky do and still hope for the playoffs. Even if we get booted first round nothing beats playoff hockey!

 

[BadgersandBlues]

I love that movie. Gummy bears gummy bears! SPRINKLES SPRINKLES!

 

[SirPaste]

Guys you wouldn’t have dreamed of trading two years ago are now gone for nothing, precisely when you’re desperate for assets. And you don’t even get the cap relief if someone doesn’t claim him.

Who are we talking about here?

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

Who are we talking about here?

Can't be Saad. I don't think Saad's ever been untouchable on anyone's list.

 

[Brian39]

Thought Army’s comments today were interesting. Have to think Faulk is next on chopping block, Kyrou could be available too I’d think, although not for cheap. Don’t think we will deal Thomas or Parayko and he thinks quite highly of buchy too.

While I do think this is primarily message-sending to the room by Army, I could also see this (and the shedding of Perunovich) being the precursor to a big move. I don't think a big blockbuster is the most likely outcome/explanation for these moves, but it also wouldn't surprise me if one happens in the next couple weeks.

The Rantanen/Necas trade certainly established a precedent for high trade value on a mid-20s skilled winger with speed, offensive skill, and defensive deficiencies. Colorado clearly just put a ton of value on that type of player, which would certainly give Army something to point to if he's shopping Kyrou. Vancouver's GM just threw more gasoline on the Miller/Petey fire and appears to be prepping his fanbase for an underwhelming return. Again, I'm not saying that this is the most likely outcome, but these two moves would align extremely well with the Blues working on a Kyrou for Petey trade framework. It has been reported that Saad was willing to waive his trade protection, but it was not specified that he would waive for anywhere. If he clears waivers and is assigned to the AHL, I'm confident that he'd waive to go to any team that told him he'd have an NHL job the rest of the year.

2 days ago, Kyrou, Saad, Perunovich, and Leddy (on regular IR) counted for $17.775M against our cap.

Petey, a $900k call up, and Leddy (back on the 23 man roster) would count for $16.5M against the cap. Retaining $1.275M on Saad would make it perfectly cap neutral for us from where we stood 2 days ago (assuming he doesn't clear waivers).

Again, I'm not saying a deal is imminent or the most likely outcome/rationale for these moves. But the last 48 hours would fit make absolute perfect sense if we were working on a Kyrou for Petey trade.

 

[A Real Barn Burner]

While I do think this is primarily message-sending to the room by Army, I could also see this (and the shedding of Perunovich) being the precursor to a big move. I don't think a big blockbuster is the most likely outcome/explanation for these moves, but it also wouldn't surprise me if one happens in the next couple weeks.

The Rantanen/Necas trade certainly established a precedent for high trade value on a mid-20s skilled winger with speed, offensive skill, and defensive deficiencies. Colorado clearly just put a ton of value on that type of player, which would certainly give Army something to point to if he's shopping Kyrou. Vancouver's GM just threw more gasoline on the Miller/Petey fire and appears to be prepping his fanbase for an underwhelming return. Again, I'm not saying that this is the most likely outcome, but these two moves would align extremely well with the Blues working on a Kyrou for Petey trade framework. It has been reported that Saad was willing to waive his trade protection, but it was not specified that he would waive for anywhere. If he clears waivers and is assigned to the AHL, I'm confident that he'd waive to go to any team that told him he'd have an NHL job the rest of the year.

2 days ago, Kyrou, Saad, Perunovich, and Leddy (on regular IR) counted for $17.775M against our cap.

Petey, a $900k call up, and Leddy (back on the 23 man roster) would count for $16.5M against the cap. Retaining $1.275M on Saad would make it perfectly cap neutral for us from where we stood 2 days ago (assuming he doesn't clear waivers).

Again, I'm not saying a deal is imminent or the most likely outcome/rationale for these moves. But the last 48 hours would fit make absolute perfect sense if we were working on a Kyrou for Petey trade.

I would be extremely surprised if Vancouver moved Petey over Miller. Not saying I wouldn’t be happy. Also I don’t see how Vancouver does that without getting a center back in trade and the only option we have is Dvorsky. How likely are we to hear if Vancouver was scouting Springfield? Would think there would be some smoke somewhere.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

I can’t help but feeling like Pettersson would be more of the same in terms of mentality. This team doesn’t have any leaders that pull the team into the fight. They all seem very laid back and unemotional but also uninspired at times.

If we’re going to make a big splash, I hope it’s for a player who brings that dog mentality. This team needs some fire.

Never thought id say this because I think he’s kind of a prick, but I’d rather trade a lesser package for JT Miller.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

Who are we talking about here?

Perunovich and Saad. Army said this in his presser yesterday. Something to the effect of “maybe we’re overvaluing our own guys.” This is how you run out of options. You hang onto guys past their sell-by date, or give them extensions you KNOW will age badly (or both), and then when you need to move on from them you can’t. Or if you can, you’re eating salary, or paying to send them out, or waiving them, or accepting future considerations (or a condition which could end up being that). Whatever options remain available to you are bad ones. Which is why Army seemed so surprised at other GMs offering him bad deals to take Saad on.

So two guys we’ve held onto for years, taking up roster spots, preventing prospects from playing up, and eating cap that could have been allocated elsewhere, return essentially nothing. Two guys who had some value at some point, and who could have returned something at some point, now return nothing because we overvalued them, and hung onto them until their value was zero.

I get (and mostly agree with) wanting to stay competitive through this retool. But getting nothing for players you’re sending out is awful roster management. Earlier this week we had Saad and Perunovich and very few draft picks, and now we don’t have those guys and the same number of picks. That’s less than ideal!

 

[joe galiba]

Thought Army’s comments today were interesting. Have to think Faulk is next on chopping block, Kyrou could be available too I’d think, although not for cheap. Don’t think we will deal Thomas or Parayko and he thinks quite highly of buchy too.

Except Thomas and Buch (along with Faulk) are the players he is talking about not living up to their expectations
if Thomas and Buch are the guys at forward not pulling their weight, why would you put Kyrou on the block?

 

[SirPaste]

Perunovich and Saad. Army said this in his presser yesterday. Something to the effect of “maybe we’re overvaluing our own guys.” This is how you run out of options. You hang onto guys past their sell-by date, or give them extensions you KNOW will age badly (or both), and then when you need to move on from them you can’t. Or if you can, you’re eating salary, or paying to send them out, or waiving them, or accepting future considerations (or a condition which could end up being that). Whatever options remain available to you are bad ones. Which is why Army seemed so surprised at other GMs offering him bad deals to take Saad on.

So two guys we’ve held onto for years, taking up roster spots, preventing prospects from playing up, and eating cap that could have been allocated elsewhere, return essentially nothing. Two guys who had some value at some point, and who could have returned something at some point, now return nothing because we overvalued them, and hung onto them until their value was zero.

I get (and mostly agree with) wanting to stay competitive through this retool. But getting nothing for players you’re sending out is awful roster management. Earlier this week we had Saad and Perunovich and very few draft picks, and now we don’t have those guys and the same number of picks. That’s less than ideal!

I'm sorry but you said guys we wouldn't have dreamed of moving on from, not sure anyone cared that much about moving on from either of those players 2 years ago.

 

[BlueOil]

saad clears as expected

 

[joe galiba]

saad clears as expected

kind of ssaaaadd

 

[joe galiba]

I honestly think Saad is at that age, starting when he was out a couple of weeks for baby purposes at the beginning of the year, where he has lost a bit of his desire