Sobotka Returning? (Yes, with extension)

[MissouriMook]

I could live with a one year extension so we get the full year he owes us(and can trade/expose him if we'd like), but anything longer is unnecessary. He doesn't deserve that level of commitment.

Exactly. If you can get him to commit to extension to replace the year he is burning, it allows the team to preserve the asset value of his tolled contract. At the end of the season, they can use that year of control to:

1. Expose him in the Expansion Draft so as not to lose another player.
2. Package his remaining year before UFA as an enticement in a deal with VGK to have them select Lehtera in the ED.
3. Trade him for other assets.
4. Retain him for depth next season.

Adding just one year to the one he already owes us gives us a tremendous amount of flexibility even after burning the arb awarded year of the deal as playoff depth. I suspect Stastny (if he has a broken foot as has been reported) will likely miss the first round of the playoffs, so Sobotka's defense and FO abilities could spell the difference between a first round exit and moving on to Round 2.

 

[Vincenzo Arelliti]

I think re-signing Sobotka is a smart move, as long as the AAV is low enough. Maybe he impresses enough that LVK takes him - and Lehtera. At the very least he could be a cheap depth player next year, and he could play himself to be a semi-valuable trade chip post-ED. Adding him for the playoffs seems like an excellent idea for a team riddled with center injuries. Maybe Stastny won't be ready to go for game one of the playoffs.

 

[SirPaste]

I'm nervous about this extension, it better be reasonable

 

[stl76]

itshappening.gif

lol I'll believe it when I see it...gotta say tho, this time actually feels legit.

 

[carter333167]

Well, Armstrong better figure a way to cram in a 6-8 year deal for Parayko b/c if he has worked himself into another Shattenkirk hole, signs him to a bridge and then Parayko walks at UFA, you can point to all of these signings. In sum, we need to offload a few salaries asap.

BTW, if signing Sobie means Barbie goes to the box, I think this is a bad move.

 

[Oberyn]

Well, Armstrong better figure a way to cram in a 6-8 year deal for Parayko b/c if he has worked himself into another Shattenkirk hole, signs him to a bridge and then Parayko walks at UFA, you can point to all of these signings. In sum, we need to offload a few salaries asap.

BTW, if signing Sobie means Barbie goes to the box, I think this is a bad move.

Shattenkirk's contract wasn't a bridge, and if Parayko does get a bridge he'll still be an RFA at the end of it.

 

[SirPaste]

Shattenkirk's contract wasn't a bridge, and if Parayko does get a bridge he'll still be an RFA at the end of it.

I've tried to explain this to him many times, he doesn't pay attention

 

[Dbrownss]

Im still waiting for an Omsk contract renewal tweet

 

[SirPaste]

Im still waiting for an Omsk contract renewal tweet

Their GM already said Sobotka is coming back to the NHL. So that means his extension is imminent. With Omsk of course

 

[carter333167]

I've tried to explain this to him many times, he doesn't pay attention

It wasn't a bridge but most acknowledge that it was shorter than it should have been b/c Armstrong was cramming in other filler contracts. In hindsight, don't you wish it had been longer?

In any case, and as it has been explained in numerous other places, the last thing you want to do with a premium asset is bridge them to within one year of UFA. Is he still an RFA as you claim: Yes. Does the team have any leverage whatsoever to negotiate a long term deal with one year of RFA left? NO. There is literally nothing we can do to stop him from playing out the year and walking to UFA.

Do you really want to play around with a Parayko bridge and risk him only playing three more seasons for the Blues? Is that wise?

You sign your premium assets to long term deals...it's pretty simple.

 

[Brewhouse Sports]

Minnisota Wild vs. St Louis 3rd Liners in the first round. Love our chances.

 

[BangarangxRufio]

Something a buddy brought up... Do you think it was Hitch that made him leave? Now that he is gone he is trying to get back?

 

[bleedblue1223]

Something a buddy brought up... Do you think it was Hitch that made him leave? Now that he is gone he is trying to get back?

No, it was all money for why he left. The reason he couldn't come back is because he renegotiated his contract when the ruble fell, and when that happened, he had to lose his opt out clause. So, all of last summer was for nothing.

 

[Majorityof1]

Something a buddy brought up... Do you think it was Hitch that made him leave? Now that he is gone he is trying to get back?

He tried to come back last year...maybe...we think...who knows? But he is coming back this year because his contract is up this year. I think the Hitch thing is just coincidence. Hitch actually liked Sobotka. At least he talked him up in the post-game. If I had to bet money on a player Hitch would have driven out, Sobotka would not be anywhere near the top of my list.

 

[Alklha]

Far too much is getting made of our cap situation, and the Parayko situation. There are zero similarities between Parayko and Shattenkirk.

Even with a stagnant cap, which is unlikely, we don't have any real cap concerns. We might have to move a couple of pieces, but that isn't difficult or harmful to the roster.

 

[AjaxManifesto]

Let him show up next season. I want to see our youngsters get playoff experience. I think our chances of winning the cup are less than 10%. So lets make this about seeing how far our current veterans and youngsters get in the playoff rounds and build for next season.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

He tried to come back last year...maybe...we think...who knows? But he is coming back this year because his contract is up this year. I think the Hitch thing is just coincidence. Hitch actually liked Sobotka. At least he talked him up in the post-game. If I had to bet money on a player Hitch would have driven out, Sobotka would not be anywhere near the top of my list.

I was under the impression he was actually in St. Louis last summer before his agent / Avangard were like "yeah... nah come back." Hence the famous video of him "Charlie Brown-ing / George Michael Bluth-ing" back into the Avangard rink after the debacle.

But you're absolutely right. If there's anyone in this league that Sobotka has to thank for his name being known at all, it's Hitch. He is THE prototypical Hitch forward, and Hitch played him all up and down the lineup, even lining him up between Schwartz and Tarasenko for a time (which eventually led to Sobotka believing he was worth more than the Blues were offering).

 

[DatDude44]

Dream scenario: sobotka replaces Lehtera lol.

Then Soby plays with he same edge he did before he left STL, but has now developed a little more offensive ability from playing top 6 in KHL.


A MAN CAN DREAM LOL

 

[carter333167]

Let him show up next season. I want to see our youngsters get playoff experience. I think our chances of winning the cup are less than 10%. So lets make this about seeing how far our current veterans and youngsters get in the playoff rounds and build for next season.

Agreed....chemistry is good right now. I don't want to see a guy like Barbie get benched and potentially mess with the current chemistry just to fit Sobotka on to the team.

 

[Majorityof1]

Agreed....chemistry is good right now. I don't want to see a guy like Barbie get benched and potentially mess with the current chemistry just to fit Sobotka on to the team.

I think its being made very clear that Barbashev is ahead of Lehtera on the depth chart right now. Lehtera slotted in at wing last game with Barbs staying at center. Barbashev is the one being moved up to play with Tarasenko tonight, not Lehtera even in spite of their "legendary" chemistry. Sobotka will take time away from Lehtera before Barbashev, and rightfully so.

 

[Brian39]

Agreed....chemistry is good right now. I don't want to see a guy like Barbie get benched and potentially mess with the current chemistry just to fit Sobotka on to the team.

I completely disagree about passing on Sobotka based on chemistry. Over the last week this team has been outshot in 3 straight games and went 1-1-1 over that stretch. Outside of 1 night, Allen has been stellar for the last month and has been our MVP. Since March 1, we are averaging 2.82 goals per game, which would be good for 13th over the course of the entire season. That's not all that impressive considering 6 of those 17 games have been against the worst 2 teams in hockey.

I like what I have seen out of our young guys and I absolutely don't think Barby should be the guy who sits if Sobotka comes back. But there is absolutely room for improvement in the top 9 both offensively and I'd argue that the defense from our forward group has been slipping lately. Even is Stastny is healthy game 1, you are still looking at a top 9 that includes PRV, Barby and one of Yak/Lehtera/Jaskin/Sanford if we don't bring in Sobotka. I just don't believe that any of those 4 guys is a better option in the playoffs than Sobotka.

 

[MortiestOfMortys]

I completely disagree about passing on Sobotka based on chemistry. Over the last week this team has been outshot in 3 straight games and went 1-1-1 over that stretch. Outside of 1 night, Allen has been stellar for the last month and has been our MVP. Since March 1, we are averaging 2.82 goals per game, which would be good for 13th over the course of the entire season. That's not all that impressive considering 6 of those 17 games have been against the worst 2 teams in hockey.

I like what I have seen out of our young guys and I absolutely don't think Barby should be the guy who sits if Sobotka comes back. But there is absolutely room for improvement in the top 9 both offensively and I'd argue that the defense from our forward group has been slipping lately. Even is Stastny is healthy game 1, you are still looking at a top 9 that includes PRV, Barby and one of Yak/Lehtera/Jaskin/Sanford if we don't bring in Sobotka. I just don't believe that any of those 4 guys is a better option in the playoffs than Sobotka.

Bringing in Sobotka to cure your offensive problems... interesting.

 

[Ranksu]

Would be so funny if this happends, so many have been bashing him and hole situation. Can't wait to see them get pissed.

 

[Brian39]

Bringing in Sobotka to cure your offensive problems... interesting.

Is he a silver bullet? Of course not. Is he objectively an upgrade offensively over 2 players currently in our top 9? Absolutely. Unless you want to convince me that you think Lehtera and Jaskin's 30 points in 110 NHL games this season is better than the production you can expect out of Sobotka.

Besides, that isn't my point at all. My point is that foregoing an objectively better player due to 'chemistry' that is producing middling-slightly above average production would be a mistake. For all the hand-wringing and complaining about Lehtera, Yak, Jaskin and Sanford over the last few months, I'm shocked that people are suddenly comfortable with at least 1 of them being a top 9 player in the playoffs.

Edit: His 33 points in 61 games from the last NHL season would tie him for 6th among Blues forwards in points this season. Since that time he has been a .7+ ppg player in the KHL. Even if you cut that in half, he would be on pace for 23 points in 65 games played. That is better than Yak, Lehtera, and Jaskin and would be right on par with Barby's pace.

 

[2 Minute Minor]

Would be so funny if this happends, so many have been bashing him and hole situation. Can't wait to see them get pissed.

I've seen more people bashing Armstrong over the ordeal. If they really are talking about an extension, it shows that the relationship was a lot better than some have speculated.