Sobotka Returning? (Yes, with extension)

[ort]

I'm sure Armstrong has a good handle on Sobotka's current value on the market.

If it's less than a 2nd rounder, (and it probably is) I say screw it, put him in this year. We really need the depth.

 

[Renard]

Could the Blues use Sobotka in the playoffs? Absolutely. Stastny is questionable, maybe even out, Lehtera has been out, and wasn't impressive before the injury.

When he was last here, Sobotka took lots of defensive zone faceoffs, and we could clearly use him in that role now.

 

[Celtic Note]

If the Blues could burn his contract on this year and LV cannot take him in the expansion draft, as he would be a FA, does that help the Blues?

 

[2 Minute Minor]

before that

spam that F5

I can't stop laughing. AHHHHH! Too bad you can't photoshop a Sobie jersey on him.

 

[PiggySmalls]

If the Blues could burn his contract on this year and LV cannot take him in the expansion draft, as he would be a FA, does that help the Blues?

Well if he said he is ready to return but Blues neither want him forsake of current depth or cap hit next season. It would be in their best interest to go ahead and sign him for the rest of the reason to get this debacle over with.

 

[stl76]

If the Blues could burn his contract on this year and LV cannot take him in the expansion draft, as he would be a FA, does that help the Blues?

Honestly, I don't think anyone here knows for certain.

As Easton pointed out, having Vegas draft Sobotka instead of someone else might be worth more to the organization than whatever Sobotka might add in this playoff run. OR whatever Sobotka might add to this playoff run might be worth more to the organization than protecting whatever other player Vegas would draft.

Having Vegas not be able to draft Sobotka might make them more inclined to agree to draft Lehtera for example. OR not having Sobotka's rights to package with him might make Vegas less likely to draft Lehtera.

Freeing up the cap space for next season is another variable to consider the pros/cons of.

Bottom line, we can all speculate...but who knows?

 

[Celtic Note]

Honestly, I don't think anyone here knows for certain.

As Easton pointed out, having Vegas draft Sobotka instead of someone else might be worth more to the organization than whatever Sobotka might add in this playoff run. OR whatever Sobotka might add to this playoff run might be worth more to the organization than protecting whatever other player Vegas would draft.

Having Vegas not be able to draft Sobotka might make them more inclined to agree to draft Lehtera for example. OR not having Sobotka's rights to package with him might make Vegas less likely to draft Lehtera.

Freeing up the cap space for next season is another variable to consider the pros/cons of.

Bottom line, we can all speculate...but who knows?

I am wondering if not having Sobie available allows us to purge someone else's salary that we would benefit from clearing?

 

[2 Minute Minor]

I'd like to just point out that Sobotka is a fairly low value asset whichever way you slice it. But it sends a strong positive message to the team to add him for the playoff run. Its kind of like a deferred trade deadline acquisition. But you'd need to get his ass over here immediately to get some games in with the team and coaches. Anyway, I like the vote of confidence to the team, after the opposite message was sent with the Shattenkirk trade (an appropriate decision, but still a gut-check to the players).

 

[stl76]

I am wondering if not having Sobie available allows us to purge someone else's salary that we would benefit from clearing?

I get what you're saying, and think the answer is a resounding: "maybe." I know it's not very helpful, but I don't think anyone here can really answer your question with certainty. Other than GM McPhee, everyone else would be guessing with varying degrees of certitude.

My gut feeling is that with one less quality center available, it might be easier to bribe them to take Lehtera. However, they can still sign Sobotka as an UFA and we would then be unable to package his rights to get Vegas to select Lehtera.

I'd like to just point out that Sobotka is a fairly low value asset whichever way you slice it. But it sends a strong positive message to the team to add him for the playoff run. Its kind of like a deferred trade deadline acquisition. But you'd need to get his ass over here immediately to get some games in with the team and coaches. Anyway, I like the vote of confidence to the team, after the opposite message was sent with the Shattenkirk trade (an appropriate decision, but still a gut-check to the players).

Agreed with this, especially the bolded.

 

[Stealth JD]

sign him, bench him and let him go as a UFA. Best way to get out from under that contract for next year and cut ties with him permanently.

 

[BlueDream]

Bringing him back now for the playoffs is absolutely the thing to do.

We are going to need to find a better center than him and Lehtera anyways for the future so I don't care what happens to either one in the summer.

 

[TheDizee]

nah you dont bring him back this season. our forwards have all been playing very well as of late. keep him and expose him at the draft. if you lose him oh well, he hasnt played for us in 3 years.

if he doesnt we get a good player to replace upshall or whoever possibly gets picked via the expansion draft.

 

[shpongle falls]

The plot thickens.

Man I really hope that Armstrong can bring Sobotka over here for a playoff run that would be sweet.

 

[RORbacon]

 

[BleedBlue14]

I don't understand the move here on an extension? Does this at least mean hopefully there is something in play to rid a contract like Lehteras?

Or possibly a sign and trade to somebody? Would increase his value right? I just can't see an extension with the current Center depth we have unless A. Lehtera or Berglund are planning to be moved. Or B. there is a trade in place involving Sabotka. Or C. Possibly a deal made with Vegas was in place to take him/ Lehtera.

 

[TheDizee]

if they signed him then that means they'd protect him, id be Ok with that then. but only if they sign him, no need to burn a very friendly 1 year deal on a likely very short playoff run.

just because they sign him doesnt mean theyd have to move someone like bergie. bergie is better when hes not playing center anyways, think of it like a backes/steen situation with their versatility.

tarasenko
schwartz
stastny
steen
berglund
perron
sobotka

means you are exposing reaves, brodziak, lehtera, jaskin, yak, paavarji. i think the chances are we lose someone like gunnarson or bortuzzo but i could see vegas taking reaves too.

 

[Alklha]

I'm sure that Armstrong has had discussions with McPhee about various things ahead of the expansion draft. The ongoing scouting between the Blues and Lightning suggests that there are ongoing talks there as well.

Next seasons cap could end up at $76m, again he will likely have more information regarding the inflator negotiations.

If he is coming back with an extension, there are plenty of reasons that it could make a lot of sense.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I'm sure that Armstrong has had discussions with McPhee about various things ahead of the expansion draft. The ongoing scouting between the Blues and Lightning suggests that there are ongoing talks there as well.

Next seasons cap could end up at $76m, again he will likely have more information regarding the inflator negotiations.

If he is coming back with an extension, there are plenty of reasons that it could make a lot of sense.

Agreed. Sobotka extended makes a lot of sense for Vegas and for Tampa. Tampa could use a moderately priced middle-6 guy with versatility. Vegas could just use solid players with term. If an extended Sobotka gets Vegas to take Lehtera, then it's a huge, massive win. It basically takes a sunken/dead asset in Sobotka and removes the anchor that is Lehtera.

This will continue to be an overly complicated process where we shouldn't speculate too much until pen is put to paper and Sobotka is in the States.

 

[KingBran]

Every time I see a thread about Sobotka.

 

[Falco Lombardi]

There's no way that Berglund, Lehtera, and Sobotka can all be on this roster next year right?

Just hypothetical lines for a sec...

Fabbri-Stastny-Tarasenko
Schwartz-???-Perron
Steen-Barbashev-???
???-Brodziak-Reaves

This doesn't include Upshall, Paajarvi, Sanford, Yakupov, or Jaskin.

 

[2 Minute Minor]

I don't buy the idea of him getting extended and coming over. That part is probably hot air. After all this, I think Vladdy has got to be salivating about UFA status. Its a big boon to him to get the 1-year commitment out of the way. He doesn't need more incentive.

I think the Blues maybe would consider re-signing him. But I don't think it would be as a top 9 center, with Barbashev, even assuming Berglund is a winger.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

It's important to remember that Yakupov was our Sobotka consolation prize last summer. With the emergence of Barbashev, Sanford, and Paajarvi, and Yakupov turning the gas up a little bit at the end here too, I don't think that hole exists in our roster anymore, necessarily. There are holes in our roster for sure, but I don't think they're Sobotka-shaped anymore, if that makes sense. Sobotka is a faceoff beast, and that's what he would contribute to our roster. I still don't think he can be a goal scorer in this league, and his ability to protect the puck and be physical might be on par with what Paajarvi is providing right now. Idk, maybe he comes in and becomes the missing puzzle piece that makes everything fit together. If his play in the neutral zone is an improvement over what we've got going now, that would be a plus as well. It's just hard to think of anything besides the faceoffs that definitively sets him apart from what we've already got penciled into our long term plans today.

Color me ambivalent.

 

[Spektre]

Berglund got 3.85/yr so one has to assume Army signs Sobotka to a 3.87/yr deal for 5 years. That makes the most sense.

Sobotka, Berglund, Lehtera, and Barbashev can somehow all center the glorious 3rd line that Army must be in love with.

 

[Stealth JD]

Sobotka's been gone 3 years. Skills erode. He'll be 30 next year. I'm not even sure i want a guy with that kind of mileage and limited skillset at $2.725M, let alone with an extension in tow. I wish the club would just turn the page already. Burn his year now, get him off the books for next year and bid adieu.

Considering players don't get payed for the playoffs anyway, how much could he really cost them to burn that year now? $33k/game x 3 games remaining? $100k. I'd sooner give him $100k to go away than $2.7M to stay.

 

[ort]

What do we think his trade value is this summer?

Let's say he's 100% KHL contract free, in the states and ready to go. Armstrong emails all other teams and says, make me an offer.

A 3rd rounder? A 4th rounder?

I would have to think Vegas is complicating things here also. But, he could also be valuable after the draft to a team that loses their "sobotka-like" guy to vegas.