Sobotka Returning? (Yes, with extension)

[MissouriMook]

What if Sobotka agrees to a reasonable 1 year extension to his current $2.725M contract that was tolled and comes back to play in the playoffs this season. In exchange, we agree not to protect him in the expansion draft or to trade him before the season if he ends up not being claimed. Blues get help down the middle for the playoffs (especially helpful if Stastny isn't back next week) with no cap consequences and Sobotka gets to continue his NHL career somewhere else next season. Am I missing a downside here?

 

[Brian39]

This is a really interesting development. A few months ago, I would have hated the idea of burning the year he owes us on a playoff run. However, I think the Berglund signing has changed my stance on that.

I don't really want Sobotka here at $2.7 mil next season. Even if we shed Lehtera's contract, having Sobotka at $2.7 mil would pretty much guarantee that we would be unable to upgrade the 2C spot unless the cap increases drastically or we shed a large contract in a trade. I want to see Barbashev as a 3rd line player next year. I believe he is ready for that role, I think it is the best thing for his development and he is on a dirt cheap contract which helps leave space for other areas. I don't want to see Stasnty-Berg-Sobotka down the middle next year at a combined cap hit of $13.5 mil.

I'm not sure if Sobotka's rights carry all that much value in a trade over the summer either, so I don't think we lose all that much if we end this season no longer holding his rights. We aren't in danger of having bonus overages that affect next year's cap, so the only financial consideration is the prorated 6 days of salary.

I think this team would be objectively better with Sobotka in the lineup over Jaskin or Yak. I'd argue he is an upgrade over Lehtera. Given the uncertainty around Stastny, added center depth (with some limited experience playing with 91) would certainly be a good thing.

This roster has played pretty well since the trade deadline and I have no problem 'wasting' a minor asset to give them a boost for the playoffs. If the leadership in the room would welcome him back, I would have no problem burning the year he owes us on a playoff push. Chicago is the only team in the West that I believe is a clear step above the Blues right now and we always play them well. I'm not predicting a deep run, but it is certainly feasible if Allen doesn't implode. I wouldn't hate it if the Blues brought him back.

 

[bleedblue1223]

What if Sobotka agrees to a reasonable 1 year extension to his current $2.725M contract that was tolled and comes back to play in the playoffs this season. In exchange, we agree not to protect him in the expansion draft or to trade him before the season if he ends up not being claimed. Blues get help down the middle for the playoffs (especially helpful if Stastny isn't back next week) with no cap consequences and Sobotka gets to continue his NHL career somewhere else next season. Am I missing a downside here?

Sobotka potentially cashing in with a weak free agent class.

 

[jura]

That becomes a more attractive option if you think you'll lose him for nothing in the expansion draft. Also Stastny and Lehtera injuries. Why else bother terminating a contract that is expiring?

Before the end of the day, we'll have a tweet that he signed a new contract

With a different KHL team. I would believe that.

He'll probably fire his agent somewhere in there as well

And hire yet another (different) Petr Svoboda

lol loving all replys

Is we aren't going to protect Sobotka in the expansion draft then he should be signed and used for the playoff run.

bring back the real #17

 

[2 Minute Minor]

Sobi's contract with Omsk was over 26 days from now anyway so this tells me that Sobi has a plan that includes something in the next 26 days.

Army has been emphatic in the past about not being agreeable to letting Sobi burn the 1 year contract he owes them on just a handful of games at the end of a season...but maybe he's changed his mind...especially now with Stastny injured.

Or maybe Army is willing to burn the 1 year contract this season if Sobi signs a 1 year extension for next season and Sobi is agreeable to that? I'm just completely spitballing there but it would be a decent compromise.

In any event, it's certainly an interesting situation and I'll have to admit that I'd rather have Sobi in the lineup than any of Lehtera, Jaskin or Yak.

He doesn't want to lose him in the expansion draft, and especially not if he thinks there is a chance Lehtera could be selected instead. A month or two of Sobotka is better than nothing. This move is consistent with Armstrong's stated position. Its just modified by the expansion draft.

Sobotka walks in. "An alliance once existed between the Blues and Petr Svboda. No, the other Petr Svboda. I am here to honor that allegiance."

 

[2 Minute Minor]

Sobotka shows up for practice the first day. Tarasenko stops his puck drills, looks up and says, "That was no Orc horn!"

 

[Dbrownss]

Sobotka shows up for practice the first day. Tarasenko stops his puck drills, looks up and says, "That was no Orc horn!"

 

[carter333167]

The team has great chemistry right now and is on a roll. Bringing in Sobotka is not worth potentially messing with the chemistry IMO.

 

[Oberyn]

The team has great chemistry right now and is on a roll. Bringing in Sobotka is not worth potentially messing with the chemistry IMO.

Well we just brought Lehtera back in so apparently the Blues staff don't feel the same way

 

[stl76]

Sobotka shows up for practice the first day. Tarasenko stops his puck drills, looks up and says, "That was no Orc horn!"

One does not simply walk out of Omsk!





But seriously, with Stastny's injury I would welcome Sobotka back with open arms for the playoffs. Can someone with more knowledge of the details comment on the legal status of having a player join the team this late? I assume Sobotka would be eligible to play in the playoffs...

 

[jura]

do blues have 2.75m cap space ?!

 

[STL fan in MN]

One does not simply walk out of Omsk!





But seriously, with Stastny's injury I would welcome Sobotka back with open arms for the playoffs. Can someone with more knowledge of the details comment on the legal status of having a player join the team this late? I assume Sobotka would be eligible to play in the playoffs...

Yep, he's currently on the Blues reserve list as "suspended". He can be added and can play in the playoffs.

 

[stl76]

do blues have 2.75m cap space ?!

I think they could ltir Stastny till the playoffs liked the hawks did with Kane a couple seasons ago and once the playoffs start the salary cap shouldn't be an issue. At least I think...if anyone has better knowledge of the details I would love to hear your thoughts!

Edit: also yeah like you say from trading Shatty.

Yep, he's currently on the Blues reserve list as "suspended". He can be added and can play in the playoffs.

Very interesting...thanks for the confirmation.

 

[STL fan in MN]

do blues have 2.75m cap space ?!

It would be prorated. They would have more than enough room to add Sobi this late in the game if they wanted to.

 

[PiggySmalls]

But seriously, with Stastny's injury I would welcome Sobotka back with open arms for the playoffs. Can someone with more knowledge of the details comment on the legal status of having a player join the team this late? I assume Sobotka would be eligible to play in the playoffs...

JR reported awhile ago that Sobotka was on the reserved list, so he would be eligible for the playoffs. If Army wants to roll the dice and bring him in for a playoff run, so be it.

What I tell myself is, if the Blues could pick up a Sobotka type player at the TDL for only "future considerations." Should they? The answer is yes. Even if he plays LW with Barbie and Sanford/PRV on RW. That is a speedy, energetic 3rd line.

 

[542365]

I say bring him in for the playoffs as well if he's not willing to play a full year here. We're a better team with him than without him so it's better than just losing him for nothing to Vegas. If there's a chance he'd be willing to play all next year for us, I'd prefer that over just the playoff run this year when the team has little chance of winning it all.

 

[Brian39]

do blues have 2.75m cap space ?!

According to CapFriendly, we currrently have enough space to add $32 mil in salary today. There are only 6 days left in the season, so everything is prorated based on that number.

 

[Majorityof1]

Cap shouldn't be an issue as we have Jack Sandlewood...err...Mack Sandstorm...that tall scrawny guy we got for Shattty making $875k instead of Shatty making $4.25M. So even if we had no excess reserve built up, we should still have the cap room to fit Sobotka going forward. Not to mention the LTIR relief from Stastny.

Still, I don't like the idea of burning that year now. Are we going to do anymore damage in the playoffs with Sobotka plugged in as center if Stastny is out long term? I din't think Sobotka makes a ton of difference. For those saying we'd lose him anyway to Vegas, we'd still be saving someone else. We'd lose Sobotka and not Edmundson or Reaves or whoever Vegas will take instead of Sobotka. If we think they'd take Gunnarsson or Lehtera if Sobotka's not available, that is a different story. But I don't think they'd take either of those regardless.

 

[stl76]

Still, I don't like the idea of burning that year now. Are we going to do anymore damage in the playoffs with Sobotka plugged in as center if Stastny is out long term? I din't think Sobotka makes a ton of difference. For those saying we'd lose him anyway to Vegas, we'd still be saving someone else. We'd lose Sobotka and not Edmundson or Reaves or whoever Vegas will take instead of Sobotka. If we think they'd take Gunnarsson or Lehtera if Sobotka's not available, that is a different story. But I don't think they'd take either of those regardless.

I think the logic with Vegas would be that if they did not have the option to take Sobotka then it may be easier/cheaper to convince them to take Lehtera, especially with the lack of quality centers exposed in the ED. Who really knows tho, all speculation at this point.

Regardless, I think the Blues are better team tomorrow with Sobotka in the lineup than they are today...meaning a better chance to do more damage in the playoffs. Maybe not a HUGE difference, but a positive difference nonetheless. If this team gets solid goaltending then they can absolutely do damage in the playoffs. Another deep run is not outside the realm of possibility IMO.

The way I see it, this team and fanbase had to swallow a bitter pill trading Shatty for futures. Tough but necessary. The team has responded by playing pretty much lights out since then. Everything else aside, I think it sends a good message to the players that their performance has earned the faith from management to bring in a useful player to help the team. We made the big short term sacrifice for the long term gain, the team has responded positively, management responds by making a small long term sacrifice for the big short term gain to kind of even things out...if that makes any sense haha. To be clear, I am not trying to say that gaining Sobotka is somehow equivalent to losing Shattenkirk.

All that being said, if history has taught us anything it's that we are probably wasting our time here.

 

[bleedblue1223]

If Army truly just wants to move on from Sobotka, then signing him now is the best option. Use him for a playoff run and then cut ties and you don't have to worry about any of his games in the summer. He'd be a big upgrade to the 3rd line, and it's not like we need him for next season, it's probably better cap wise if he isn't here.

 

[2 Minute Minor]

Cap shouldn't be an issue as we have Jack Sandlewood...err...Mack Sandstorm...that tall scrawny guy we got for Shattty making $875k instead of Shatty making $4.25M. So even if we had no excess reserve built up, we should still have the cap room to fit Sobotka going forward. Not to mention the LTIR relief from Stastny.

Still, I don't like the idea of burning that year now. Are we going to do anymore damage in the playoffs with Sobotka plugged in as center if Stastny is out long term? I din't think Sobotka makes a ton of difference. For those saying we'd lose him anyway to Vegas, we'd still be saving someone else. We'd lose Sobotka and not Edmundson or Reaves or whoever Vegas will take instead of Sobotka. If we think they'd take Gunnarsson or Lehtera if Sobotka's not available, that is a different story. But I don't think they'd take either of those regardless.

Blast Hardcheese
or
Thick McRunFast
or
Big McLargeHuge
or
Punch RockGroin
etc.

 

[Brian39]

Still, I don't like the idea of burning that year now. Are we going to do anymore damage in the playoffs with Sobotka plugged in as center if Stastny is out long term? I din't think Sobotka makes a ton of difference. For those saying we'd lose him anyway to Vegas, we'd still be saving someone else. We'd lose Sobotka and not Edmundson or Reaves or whoever Vegas will take instead of Sobotka. If we think they'd take Gunnarsson or Lehtera if Sobotka's not available, that is a different story. But I don't think they'd take either of those regardless.

If Stastny is done for the year, then we aren't going to win the Cup with or without Sobotka.

However, if Stastny is out for game 1, but has a chance to return at some point, I think Sobotka could absolutely tilt the scales of a series against Minnesota. If we don't have Stastny in at any point in the playoffs, we will absolutely need to rely on 6 forward depth to be a factor. I don't see how adding Sobotka weakens our forward depth and I would argue that it undoubtedly improves it.

If you don't think he improves that depth, what do you realistically expect for him over the summer? Do you even want to sign him at $2.7 mil if you are more comfortable with 12-14 other forwards on the roster?

 

[EastonBlues22]

Split off the most recent discussion from the previous thread as it was over 1000 posts. We can carry on in here.

 

[Ranksu]

before that

spam that F5

 

[EastonBlues22]

Is we aren't going to protect Sobotka in the expansion draft then he should be signed and used for the playoff run.

Having Vegas draft Sobotka instead of someone else might be worth more to the organization than whatever Sobotka might add in this playoff run.