Value of: Conor Geekie (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Simon Nemec (New Jersey Devils) to the St. Louis Blues.

[Memento]

Just a curious question to Tampa Bay Lightning fans and New Jersey Devils fans.

I've always loved Geekie since his draft year. Is there a specific player that Tampa Bay fans want for him? From what I'm getting from your general manager and coach, picks aren't of importance, since you're on a Cup run.

New Jersey doesn't seem like they have much of a space for Nemec (by calling up a lot of players aside from him), and from what I could tell, he seemed unhappy with potential playing time for them.

Meanwhile, the Blues are on the edge of competing while still retooling with younger, ready-to-play players. We have a need for a good middle-six center and a talented young right-handed defenseman. Both Geekie and Nemec fit our timeline, especially after a Schenn trade, along with a potential sale of other players (Binnington, Leddy, Suter, from what I can tell).

So, please give me your thoughts, Tampa Bay, New Jersey, and even fellow Blues fans.

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[Empoleon8771]

I don't think Tampa could realistically pull anything off, they don't have the cap space to add pretty much else and I don't see what St. Louis could offer that would be enticing enough to Tampa for them to sell Geekie.

Nemec...you probably won't like the cost Devils fans will ask for. Devils fans can speak for themselves, but I think the ask would probably be Nemec+ for Kyrou.

 

[Brodeur]

New Jersey doesn't seem like they have much of a space for Nemec (by calling up a lot of players aside from him), and from what I could tell, he seemed unhappy with potential playing time for them.

Until recently, the Devils were fortunate on the injury front and didn't need to call him up after Hughes/Pesce were cleared from their preseason injuries. Not sure what you mean by "a lot of players" since only Casey/Misyul have seen game action. Filler guys like DeSimone/Hatakka made more sense to be eating popcorn in the press box than Nemec.

Dillon/Kovacevic/Hamilton: 63 GP
Hughes/Pesce: 54 GP
Siegenthaler: 55 GP
Nemec: 15 GP
Casey: 10 GP
Misyul: 1 GP

Kovacevic was better than expected, so the coaching staff rolled with that and sent Nemec to the AHL so he could get regular playing time. Now Siegenthaler is out and Dougie Hamilton got hurt last night, so I wouldn't expect them to dangle Nemec right now. Kovacevic is UFA this offseason and his play hasn't been as great in the last stretch.

Understandably Nemec was disgruntled playing in the AHL since he's making much less money plus he wasn't able to build up an NHL resume for his next deal.

We'll see which direction they go in the offseason since it seems like there isn't room for Hamilton-Nemec-Casey-Pesce, but Pesce has been playing the left side while Siegenthaler's been hurt.

 

[Memento]

Until recently, the Devils were fortunate on the injury front and didn't need to call him up after Hughes/Pesce were cleared from their preseason injuries. Not sure what you mean by "a lot of players" since only Casey/Misyul have seen game action.

Dillon/Kovacevic/Hamilton: 63 GP
Hughes/Pesce: 54 GP
Siegenthaler: 55 GP
Nemec: 15 GP
Casey: 10 GP
Misyul: 1 GP

Kovacevic was better than expected, so the coaching staff rolled with that and sent Nemec to the AHL so he could get regular playing time. Now Siegenthaler is out and Dougie Hamilton got hurt last night, so I wouldn't expect them to dangle Nemec right now. Kovacevic is UFA this offseason and his play hasn't been as great in the last stretch.

Understandably Nemec was disgruntled playing in the AHL since he's making much less money plus he wasn't able to build up an NHL resume for his next deal.

We'll see which direction they go in the offseason since it seems like there isn't room for Hamilton-Nemec-Casey-Pesce, but Pesce has been playing the left side while Siegenthaler's been hurt.

Okay. Thank you for the explanation, Brodeur. I'm still a Nemec fan, but I can see how he wouldn't be available right now. Perhaps over the offseason?

I don't think Tampa could realistically pull anything off, they don't have the cap space to add pretty much else and I don't see what St. Louis could offer that would be enticing enough to Tampa for them to sell Geekie.

Nemec...you probably won't like the cost Devils fans will ask for. Devils fans can speak for themselves, but I think the ask would probably be Nemec+ for Kyrou.

Fair enough. I just thought that Geekie would be available since he's now on the fourth line after the Gourde/Bjorkstrand trade, and I don't think that's good for his development.

As for Nemec, I thought that a Jake Neighbours/Zack Bolduc + someone like Colin Ralph and possibly another prospect would be a solid package for Nemec? Perhaps not, though. I'll let the Devils fans tell me what they'd realistically wish for, what their weaknesses on their active roster and prospect pool are.

 

[DFC]

Anybody we might want would be too expensive for us to fit in.

 

[Memento]

Anybody we might want would be too expensive for us to fit in.

Fair enough. Curious question, is Geekie on your AHL roster? Is there anyone you could salary dump on us to add Geekie for the expensive player to fit in (who would not be Thomas, Parayko, or Kyrou, hopefully)?

 

[DFC]

Fair enough. Curious question, is Geekie on your AHL roster? Is there anyone you could salary dump on us to add Geekie for the expensive player to fit in (who would not be Thomas, Parayko, or Kyrou, hopefully)?

I really don't think there's a move that's possible. We just spent all our cap space.

 

[Memento]

I really don't think there's a move that's possible. We just spent all our cap space.

Fair enough. Thank you for your patience with me. Maybe in the offseason?

 

[DFC]

Fair enough. Thank you for your patience with me. Maybe in the offseason?

Possible. We would be looking for a big return though.

 

[Rschmitz]

Just a curious question to Tampa Bay Lightning fans and New Jersey Devils fans.

I've always loved Geekie since his draft year. Is there a specific player that Tampa Bay fans want for him? From what I'm getting from your general manager and coach, picks aren't of importance, since you're on a Cup run.

New Jersey doesn't seem like they have much of a space for Nemec (by calling up a lot of players aside from him), and from what I could tell, he seemed unhappy with potential playing time for them.

Meanwhile, the Blues are on the edge of competing while still retooling with younger, ready-to-play players. We have a need for a good middle-six center and a talented young right-handed defenseman. Both Geekie and Nemec fit our timeline, especially after a Schenn trade, along with a potential sale of other players (Binnington, Leddy, Suter, from what I can tell).

So, please give me your thoughts, Tampa Bay, New Jersey, and even fellow Blues fans.

We don't really need any more short term help now that Bjorkstrand is a Bolt. Geekie should provide cheap NHL ready talent next year, I don't think we'd be interested.

 

[Eggtimers]

Devils need a 2C , scoring winger , and bottom 6 forward help in a massive way. I’m not too familiar with what the Blues have that would meet the needs of NJ in exchange for Nemec . Devils could add to Nemec if need be .

 

[Brodeur]

Okay. Thank you for the explanation, Brodeur. I'm still a Nemec fan, but I can see how he wouldn't be available right now. Perhaps over the offseason?

As for Nemec, I thought that a Jake Neighbours/Zack Bolduc + someone like Colin Ralph and possibly another prospect would be a solid package for Nemec? Perhaps not, though. I'll let the Devils fans tell me what they'd realistically wish for, what their weaknesses on their active roster and prospect pool are.

I guess we'll see how they feel about Hamilton. Luke is there to (re)inherit PP1 duties. If they traded Nemec, the roster construction would be a little bit off since Hamilton/Casey don't project to get PK2 time. Nemec got PK2 time last year / this season, but I can't say it's something he's excelled at. Although Luke has gotten pressed into some PK time recently with Siegenthaler out.

I just don't think they'd trade Nemec for futures like Columbus did with Jiricek. Our center depth isn't great at the NHL / AHL level, so I would think that would be a priority if we were to deal Nemec. We're cautiously optimistic that Arseny Gritsyuk can compete for a top 9 wing spot next season. I can't say I've followed Bolduc much since his draft year, so I don't know if he'd fit.

I am having some flashbacks to young Adam Larsson playing a vanilla game out of fears of being scratched for a mistake. Hopefully this coaching staff doesn't have Nemec playing like that. If Hamilton is injured, coaching staff won't have any options other than to throw Nemec into the deep end like last season.