Is it time for a rebuild ?

[Mike Liut]

No, I clarified in that post that I meant by the end of this calendar year of 2023

Damn Im stupid. I meant 2022.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I think he should look for someone to take on Saad or Schenn.

I know, I know.......prolly not happening (NTCs), but would be nice.

If you are dealing those guys, and I’m not saying is bad idea, it likely is over summer. Gonna be hard to find someone who can fit in full cap hit in season and we ain’t retaining for that many years.

 

[execwrite1]

SELL SELL SELL.

Here's a list of potential trade targets at the deadline. The Blues have some forward candidates for the rebuild. The defense pool needs to be rebuilt.

Took the top 10 playoff teams, then prospects in the top 5 of each per the Hockey News.

I've linked each one to a story. Didn't double check all the links - hope they're okay.



Mason Lohrei LHD, 20, 6’4” 204 (Bruins)

Simon Nemec RHD, 18, 6’ 1” 190 (Devils) #36 HN Future Watch

Shakir Mukhamadulli LHD 20, 6’3” 194 (Devils)

Lukas Cormier LHD 20, 5’10” 180 (Knights)

Daniil Chayka LHD 20, 6’3” 187 (Knights)

Topi Niemela RHD 20, 5’11” 169 (Leafs) #61 HN Futures Watch

Ryker Evans LHD 20, 5’11” 190 (Kraken)

Scott Morrow RHD 20, 6’2” 195 (Hurricanes) #65 HN Futures Watch

Thomas Harley LHD 21, 6’3” 205 (Stars)

Lian Bischsel LHD 18, 6’4” 209 (Stars) #89 HN Futures Watch

Calle Odelius LHD 18, 6’ 183” (Islanders)

Nick Perbix RHD 24, 6’2” 191 (Lightning)

Jack Thompson RHD 20, 6’ 180” (Lightning)

Ville Heinola LHD 21, 5’11” 180 (Jets) #94 HN Futures Watch

Dylan Samberg LHD, 23, 6’3” 190 (Jets)

 

[stl76]

SELL SELL SELL.

Here's a list of potential trade targets at the deadline. The Blues have some forward candidates for the rebuild. The defense pool needs to be rebuilt.

Took the top 10 playoff teams, then prospects in the top 5 of each per the Hockey News.

I've linked each one to a story. Didn't double check all the links - hope they're okay.



Mason Lohrei LHD, 20, 6’4” 204 (Bruins)

Simon Nemec RHD, 18, 6’ 1” 190 (Devils) #36 HN Future Watch

Shakir Mukhamadulli LHD 20, 6’3” 194 (Devils)

Lukas Cormier LHD 20, 5’10” 180 (Knights)

Daniil Chayka LHD 20, 6’3” 187 (Knights)

Topi Niemela RHD 20, 5’11” 169 (Leafs) #61 HN Futures Watch

Ryker Evans LHD 20, 5’11” 190 (Kraken)

Scott Morrow RHD 20, 6’2” 195 (Hurricanes) #65 HN Futures Watch

Thomas Harley LHD 21, 6’3” 205 (Stars)

Lian Bischsel LHD 18, 6’4” 209 (Stars) #89 HN Futures Watch

Calle Odelius LHD 18, 6’ 183” (Islanders)

Nick Perbix RHD 24, 6’2” 191 (Lightning)

Jack Thompson RHD 20, 6’ 180” (Lightning)

Ville Heinola LHD 21, 5’11” 180 (Jets) #94 HN Futures Watch

Dylan Samberg LHD, 23, 6’3” 190 (Jets)

Interesting list, thanks for posting. Sad to say, but a lot of these guys would be off the table for a TDL rental trade. Two more LHD prospects that could be available from the devils:

Kevin Bahl - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Kevin Bahl, 2000-06-27 New Westminster, BC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the undefined with Calgary Flames. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

Nikita Okhotyuk - Stats, Contract, Salary & More

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Nikita Okhotyuk, 2000-12-04 Chelyabinsk, RUS Russia. Most recently in the KHL with CSKA Moskva. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[execwrite1]

March 3, 2023.

The New Era begins.

 

[Stealth JD]

Blues have positioned themselves very nicely for a top-8 pick. Now they just need to seal the deal and tumble down the standings after trading the UFA’s and long-term contracts that can be dumped.

 

[Robb_K]

Yes, I agree that it is break down and time to start the rebuilding. Apparently, last season's competitive showing was a miracle, of overachievement, with almost everything going right.

 

[execwrite1]

The Chief is a great coach and he won us our Cup, but does he really want to be part of this rebuild?

Maybe he finishes out this year (hopefully without killing some of these players) and then is replaced with some new blood that can develop young players.

 

[Brockon]

The Chief is a great coach and he won us our Cup, but does he really want to be part of this rebuild?

Maybe he finishes out this year (hopefully without killing some of these players) and then is replaced with some new blood that can develop young players.

Berube signed a 3 year extension, meaning he's under contract until the end of the 2024-25 season.

Given DA's propensity to not buy anyone out (presumably a trickle down from ownership to an extent) we're not likely to see Berube let go, having to pay Berube's contract while he isn't coaching us, while paying another head coach.

 

[Mike Liut]

Blues have positioned themselves very nicely for a top-8 pick. Now they just need to seal the deal and tumble down the standings after trading the UFA’s and long-term contracts that can be dumped.

It won’t be easy to drop much further. Some pretty bad teams in the bottom 6

 

[PocketNines]

They are terrible but there's a floor. They can't feasibly get under Arizona, Chicago, Anaheim, Columbus or San Jose.

 

[Allens Five Hole]

It won’t be easy to drop much further. Some pretty bad teams in the bottom 6

They are terrible but there's a floor. They can't feasibly get under Arizona, Chicago, Anaheim, Columbus or San Jose.

Yeah it will be difficult to drop below these squads unless we offload a bunch of these contracts for picks/prospects. We move ROR, Vova, Barbie, and say Mikkola then we are left with a pretty atrocious looking roster not even taking into account injuries that will certainly arise.

 

[Mike Liut]

Yeah it will be difficult to drop below these squads unless we offload a bunch of these contracts for picks/prospects. We move ROR, Vova, Barbie, and say Mikkola then we are left with a pretty atrocious looking roster not even taking into account injuries that will certainly arise.

That’s the plan…. Hopefully

 

[AjaxManifesto]

1) Hard to find buyers right now with cap space.

2) On top of that, some players have traded clauses that could trump any verbal agreement with a potential trade partner.

What a mess....


I say the coaches start healthy scratching a few high priced players each week.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

Berube signed a 3 year extension, meaning he's under contract until the end of the 2024-25 season.

Given DA's propensity to not buy anyone out (presumably a trickle down from ownership to an extent) we're not likely to see Berube let go, having to pay Berube's contract while he isn't coaching us, while paying another head coach.

Yeo was fired with 1.5 years remaining on his contract, so there is precedent there. I don’t think the Blues will fire Berube any time this season, but I do think he could be fired next season if things don’t go well.

 

[Brockon]

Yeo was fired with 1.5 years remaining on his contract, so there is precedent there. I don’t think the Blues will fire Berube any time this season, but I do think he could be fired next season if things don’t go well.

Touché.

Maybe it's the pessimist in me, but I don't think Berube is fired before the end of the 2023-24 season if we sell at the deadline this year. I think he'll be given a year to show what he can do in terms of being competitive every night while developing kids if DA embraces a retool. Low expectations for season win totals, but still icing a team that competes and isn't blown out every night.

That said, if DA doesn't sell - I'm not sure what management does about replacing any UFAs that leave and how the coaching staff is evaluated to determine if they're back next year.

 

[Mike Liut]

Call me crazy, but if the Blues had a legit #1 LD, they could go on a legit 2019 type of run. There aren’t many great teams in the nhl right now. A few good ones, but no real great ones.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Call me crazy, but if the Blues had a legit #1 LD, they could go on a legit 2019 type of run. There aren’t many great teams in the nhl right now. A few good ones, but no real great ones.

Even if they just had a high end 2nd pairing or low end first pairing LHD that wasn't completely trash defensively they'd be a much better team.

If you change Krug out with any of these defenseman that have been rumored to be, or have been available the past 2 years they'd be much better.

Provorov
Chychrun
Lindholm
McDonough

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

Call me crazy, but if the Blues had a legit #1 LD, they could go on a legit 2019 type of run. There aren’t many great teams in the nhl right now. A few good ones, but no real great ones.

Missing out on Lindholm and settling for Leddy really screwed us

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Missing out on Lindholm and settling for Leddy really screwed us

I disagree and agree to a point. Leddy is a great 2nd LHD to have. The issue is we have 2 2nd LHD and not a 1st LHD. And neither one of them are exactly amazing Defensively.

 

[PJJJP]

Missing out on Lindholm and settling for Leddy really screwed us

Didn't Lindholm really want to Boston. I remember hearing that

 

[BlueSeal]

Call me crazy, but if the Blues had a legit #1 LD, they could go on a legit 2019 type of run. There aren’t many great teams in the nhl right now. A few good ones, but no real great ones.

I can see us moving assets to score one soon. Not making the playoffs seems like a great idea for fans but is the kiss that flirts with financial death for Stillman. I expect a move to be made by or after Christmas.

Didn't Lindholm really want to Boston. I remember hearing that

I heard that too. I wish we had found a way to keep Eddy.

 

[execwrite1]

Hofer could be close to ready. Next piece of the rebuild.

Through his first 17 games this season, Hofer finds himself fifth in the AHL in save percentage (.927) and goals-against average (2.28). Saturday's 25-save effort was Hofer's fourth career AHL shutout and second as a Thunderbird.

 

[TurgPavs]

Yeah it will be difficult to drop below these squads unless we offload a bunch of these contracts for picks/prospects. We move ROR, Vova, Barbie, and say Mikkola then we are left with a pretty atrocious looking roster not even taking into account injuries that will certainly arise.

Honestly I think there is going to be a lot more players then the 4 you have listed. I understand we have to put players out on the ice, but if things dont improve, there is going to be some heavy movement off this roster over the next several months.
ROR, Tarasenko are the likely names, IMO Tarasenko stays with St. Louis.

Bortz, Accari, and Barbs will all be in demand.
Deslauries, brought a 3rd back for Anaheim last year, there is no reason to think Accari wouldnt bring back the same.
Barbs would likly bring a 2nd and Bortz 6th or 7th.
Greiss may bring back a late round pick, depending on the goalie landscape at the time of the draft.
Leivo and Pitlick, may, (doubtful) be able to be moved for a 7th, to a team looking to add some bottom 6 depth heading into the playoffs.

Would also think they will try to move some of the players with term, at the TDL or during the off season.
Krug would be at the top of that list along with Saad.

Regardless of who they move, they need to do more then a "re-tool", most of the defense needs to be turned over.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

We are a BAD TEAM.

Time for a complete rebuild. Nothing should be off the table (e.g. 25 and 18).

Prepare for many years of rebuild mode.