Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2023-24: Hotel California

[seafoam]

After all the debate, NYI did indeed trade the 13th overall to Montreal, but not for Josh Anderson. That's pretty funny to me...

So what's the roster looking like?

Lee-Barzal-Palmeri
Bailey-Nelson-Beau
Parise-JGP-Wahlstrom
Johnston-Cizikas-Martin

Pelech-Pulock
Romanov-Dobson
xxx-Mayfield

Varly/Soro

Not really a great forward group, a guy like Forsberg/Gaudreau etc would be huge. Along with adding some higher quality depth/middle 6 forwards (Nino, Palat, Copp, Marchment). I think Bura or Rakkell could look really nice next to Barzal too.

Parise-Barzal-Palmieri
Lee-Nelson-Beauvillier
Bailey-Pageau-Wahlstrom
Martin-Cizikas-Clutterbuck
Bellows, Johnston

Pelech-Dobson
Romanov-Pulock
Salo-Mayfield

Sorokin
Varlamov

 

[seafoam]

Romanov absolutely worth the 13th OA pick - it should also be noted they received a 4th rounder as well.

With Montreal's abundant amount of 2nd and 3rd round picks, I think Lou could have gotten a better pick than 98th overall, but he wasn't going to walk away from this deal over 30-40 draft spots IMO.

It should help that they will likely sign Romanov to a 2-4 year deal at a favorable cap hit.

Just a guess, but it sounds like while there might have been discussions with Vancouver, they didn't advance too far beyond the initial stages, basic costs, etc.

Then the Isles probably pivoted to Chicago and Montreal and the search for an established defenseman, especially after the top couple defense prospects (who could arrive sooner than later, like Dobson) were off the board.

While the Isles had already moved on in trade talks, it seems like Vancouver then leaked the initial talks, presumably to try to drum up interest in Miller.

Perhaps even hoping the Rags would get involved, if they thought the Isles were sniffing around. Because that ploy worked for Panarin a couple years ago.

If that is the case, then I don't blame Lou for taking a shot at a team that was trying to leverage the Isles (limited) interest in Miller, for their own gain.

I am not sure how the report was generated (were they chatting face to face or over the phone?). Maybe Lou was introducing himself to the new GM and checked in on what Miller was looking for on his next contract (just in case he wants to burn his 2023 1st on Miller at the deadline but would try and sign him).

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

Isles need to add a forward. If they trade Bailey, they need to add two forwards. How are they supposed to add a second forward after using the freed up cap space for the first forward?

Trading Bailey may create more problems than it solves.

They don't need to add one, they need to upgrade one.

Leaving the Martin/Johnston debate alone for who plays next to the CC's on the 4th line and with the full assumption they give Bellows a contract, they have 10 forwards for the top 9. Six who are going nowhere in Barzal, Lee, Nelson, Parise, Pageau and Palmieri for obvious reasons and four that they will need to consider moving to get said upgrade or cap space to sign one (Beau, Bailey, Wahlstrom and Bellows)...

Plus as much as we might like Salo as LD#3, he is still likely to sign another veteran defenseman...

 

[seafoam]

Perhaps Lou doubles down on the Russians and gets Tarasenko?

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

Perhaps Lou doubles down on the Russians and gets Tarasenko?

It would be nice if that kind of move was a priority, but I am not filled with the warm and fuzzy about it.

It really could be all about the defense and defiantly we keep our goaltending duo and same forwards while adding a tweener with Romanov in free-agency.

<Insert Uncle Lou picture here (him yawning optional)>

 

[Skip To My Lou]

Perhaps Lou doubles down on the Russians and gets Tarasenko?

I feel like if that were the case, it would've included pick #13.

 

[seafoam]

I feel like if that were the case, it would've included pick #13.

One year to UFA, 30+ years old, requested a trade twice.

He's just not worth that anymore, plus STL needs cap space to re-sign Perron and others.

 

[xECK29x]

Both sides kinda snippy over this one:

Vancouver and Chicago are notoriously leaky orgs. Look at the constant stream of trade rumors from Vancouver media, it's like they are leaked conversations in real-time.

 

[seafoam]

NYI was close to landing Miller.

 

[JJ18Sniper]

Since Romanov has a unique RFA status where he can't be offer sheeted, I'm expecting his contract to be hidden in Lou's desk all summer to hide his remaining cap space.

 

[seabass45]

Wow, a new twist in the goalie carousel.

 

[Skip To My Lou]

Wow, a new twist in the goalie carousel.

Interesting move considering they have Cossa coming up, and Nedeljkovic.

 

[seafoam]

Keep on driving up that Varly value.

 

[The Real JT]

Don’t get me wrong, I like the Romanov trade but now I’m worried that Lou is scheming to trade the 2023 first round pick for a forward.

 

[seafoam]

Don’t get me wrong, I like the Romanov trade but now I’m worried that Lou is scheming to trade the 2023 first round pick for a forward.

JT Miller with an 8 year 70 million dollar extension please.

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

I dont know how you dont atleast consider moving Varlamov in this market....

 

[Throttle]

Interesting move considering they have Cossa coming up, and Nedeljkovic.

Yzerman seems to be chasing his rebuild.

 

[leeroggy]

One player we have overlooked who is UFA, albeit 34 years old, is David Perron. If Bailey is traded for picks, we could offer him 2 years, $6 million a year. Definite upgrade on goal scoring. Probably would allow us to keep Varly if we don't want to make a quick decision on trading him. Perron is coming off a team friendly $4 million, 4-year contract, and I don't know if St. Louis can afford $6 million for him after next season.

 

[The Wahligator]

For me the biggest plus from last night wasn’t even acquiring Romanov (which I loved), but rather Lou actually acknowledging that we need a forward of JT Miller’s caliber going into next season. IMO Forsberg and Gaudreau are off the table so we’ll see what he can do.

 

[MJF]

Both sides kinda snippy over this one:

Lou says "ask the Canucks". The Canucks say "nothing was going on". Isn't it possible that both sides are telling the truth?

Too many people are looking for something that just isn't there.

 

[MJF]

I feel like if that were the case, it would've included pick #13.

Perhaps, but I think Lou was looking for a defenseman first.

 

[The Wahligator]

Lou says "ask the Canucks". The Canucks say "nothing was going on".

Isn't it possible that both sides are telling the truth?

I suppose so, but I feel like “ask the Canucks” is Lou speak for “yeah, but they f***ed it up.” Wouldn’t he normally just say no and move on? Plus Friedman and Gaffar were confident something was going down between the two teams.

 

[MJF]

One player we have overlooked who is UFA, albeit 34 years old, is David Perron. If Bailey is traded for picks, we could offer him 2 years, $6 million a year. Definite upgrade on goal scoring. Probably would allow us to keep Varly if we don't want to make a quick decision on trading him. Perron is coming off a team friendly $4 million, 4-year contract, and I don't know if St. Louis can afford $6 million for him after next season.

Perron strikes me as one of those players that succeeds in one particular organization. I'm doubtful he would want to leave St Louis a second time.

 

[The Wahligator]

Varly deal getting more and more intriguing…

 

[SayItAintSoJohnny]

Washington still that high on Samsonov????????????

Or 37OA and 85OA for Varlamov going full circle?