Confirmed with Link: STL/ANA Cam Fowler, 2027 4th for 2027 2nd, Jeremie Biakabatuka

[LuGBuG]

Hey Blues fans. How has Cam looked so far. Hope he bounces back. I think the anticipated trade was mentally draining him in Anaheim.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Hey Blues fans. How has Cam looked so far. Hope he bounces back. I think the anticipated trade was mentally draining him in Anaheim.

Fantastic. I've used the term "economical" a couple times this season to describe goaltenders, but I'll use that term to describe Fowler. What I mean by that is he has an economy of movement with which he does not over-extend himself and get out of position. He can do a lot with few movements that I rarely see other defensemen do.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Hey Blues fans. How has Cam looked so far. Hope he bounces back. I think the anticipated trade was mentally draining him in Anaheim.

Like someone who can eat minutes and move the puck. So basically just what we need. He hadn't been able to get too comfortable with our schedule of 5 games in 7 days. (Back-to-Back, a day off, game, day off, then another Back-to-Back).

Hopefully they can reset during the Christmas break and be can start playing the PP in Faulk's place after that. But, he's doing what we needed right now.

 

[Sean Garrity]

Fantastic. I've used the term "economical" a couple times this season to describe goaltenders, but I'll use that term to describe Fowler. What I mean by that is he has an economy of movement with which he does not over-extend himself and get out of position. He can do a lot with few movements that I rarely see other defensemen do.

I think economical is the best way to describe Cam at this point in his career.

Like someone who can eat minutes and move the puck. So basically just what we need. He hadn't been able to get too comfortable with our schedule of 5 games in 7 days. (Back-to-Back, a day off, game, day off, then another Back-to-Back).

Hopefully they can reset during the Christmas break and be can start playing the PP in Faulk's place after that. But, he's doing what we needed right now.

He’s not going to wow you on the PP, but he had some really good PP numbers with the Ducks. He’s not a #1, but he can be a minute muncher for sure.

 

[Mike Liut]

Fowler is a perfect partner for Parayko and a much needed piece for the D.

 

[BlueSeal]

Fowler is exactly what I thought he would be, exactly what we needed and no, we are NOT calling up that quality of Dman because we frankly have none of that downstairs and he is absolutely worth that 2nd so hahaha!

He is a missing piece of our puzzle and it will pay dividends once he is comfortable on the team.

Thank you Army!

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Fantastic. I've used the term "economical" a couple times this season to describe goaltenders, but I'll use that term to describe Fowler. What I mean by that is he has an economy of movement with which he does not over-extend himself and get out of position. He can do a lot with few movements that I rarely see other defensemen do.

That's something he's grown into over time. He was such an elite skater in the earlier stages or for most of his career, but was occasionally guilty of "overskating" rather than maintaining gaps and keeping sound position. Definitely a common thing with young Dman who have been able to do so much with just their feet alone, they want to be everywhere and get there quickly.

Very happy to see Cam off to such a good start, hope he keeps it going.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

That's something he's grown into over time. He was such an elite skater in the earlier stages or for most of his career, but was occasionally guilty of "overskating" rather than maintaining gaps and keeping sound position. Definitely a common thing with young Dman who have been able to do so much with just their feet alone, they want to be everywhere and get there quickly.

Very happy to see Cam off to such a good start, hope he keeps it going.

Seems like a great example of the ability of a former top-5 pick to adjust their game as they age.

 

[Frenzy31]

Moving back 50 spots in draft for a top pairing guy. Easy win

On a side note. I am dyslexic….. so when I read the Faulk trade, I thought it was Fowler and was really exited and couldn’t quite figure out how he was coming from Carolina. Took me about 10 minutes to completely click in.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Seems like a great example of the ability of a former top-5 pick to adjust their game as they age.

Well he was rated top 5 that year but surprisingly fell to us at #12. Points still stands.

He may have turned out differently if given a more typical development path for a defenseman. There's always been more offensive ability there than he's fully unlocked for the most part. Right from year one he was forced to focus more on the rest of his game. Made the team straight out of the draft and then almost immediately was given top four minutes on a contending club. Never has played a single minute of AHL hockey and didn't even see any sheltering in the NHL as a teenager. Always seemed like the Ducks used him more to suit their needs rather than playing to his strengths. The pairing with Parayko probably is the best balance he's ever had. Monty likely the best coach he's had in at least a decade. Much better situation for him to flourish

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Well he was rated top 5 that year but surprisingly fell to us at #12. Points still stands.

He may have turned out differently if given a more typical development path for a defenseman. There's always been more offensive ability there than he's fully unlocked for the most part. Right from year one he was forced to focus more on the rest of his game. Made the team straight out of the draft and then almost immediately was given top four minutes on a contending club. Never has played a single minute of AHL hockey and didn't even see any sheltering in the NHL as a teenager. Always seemed like the Ducks used him more to suit their needs rather than playing to his strengths. The pairing with Parayko probably is the best balance he's ever had. Monty likely the best coach he's had in at least a decade. Much better situation for him to flourish

Oohhh that’s what it was. I could’ve sworn he was picked top-5, but he was rated that high and fell for some reason.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

 

[PeoriaBlues309]

I haven’t able to watch many games lately due to preparing for/actually moving, but wow he was impressive yesterday.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Biakabutuka was recently promoted to the Gulls (after Rodwin Dionicio was demoted to the ECHL, then returned to Switzerland) and recorded his first AHL point

 

[TheDizee]

Fowler needs to be moved at the deadline and any picks need to be recuperated at the minimum. He's played well for us so we can perhaps flip him and actually get a bigger haul back than we sent to get him.

Embrace the future and tank. Enough half ass loser hockey. I don't want to become the Minnesota Wild.

 

[LetsGoBooze]

Fowler needs to be moved at the deadline and any picks need to be recuperated at the minimum. He's played well for us so we can perhaps flip him and actually get a bigger haul back than we sent to get him.

Embrace the future and tank. Enough half ass loser hockey. I don't want to become the Minnesota Wild.

This will be an option at next year's trade deadline. We still need him to help this team along next year and eat a lot of minutes, I dont see him getting moved this year.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I view Fowler like I did Buchnevich last season. I would set a high price on him this season, and tell teams that he's available.

The complications are his NTC. We weren't one of his 4 teams, but he accepted a deal here. What are his motivations, does he want to set himself up for the best possible contract when he hits free agency or does he want a shot at a Cup? If he wants the best contract possible, he likely tells Army that he wants to stay, as he's in one of the best possible spots for him. If he wants a Cup, he's increased his value enough by his play and cheaper cap hit, that any contending team with a defensive need would want him.

I do think it goes the same as Buchnevich though, and we keep him because the price will be too high and we value what he'll bring next season, but I do think he'd bring a pretty significant return.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

I view Fowler like I did Buchnevich last season. I would set a high price on him this season, and tell teams that he's available.

The complications are his NTC. We weren't one of his 4 teams, but he accepted a deal here. What are his motivations, does he want to set himself up for the best possible contract when he hits free agency or does he want a shot at a Cup? If he wants the best contract possible, he likely tells Army that he wants to stay, as he's in one of the best possible spots for him. If he wants a Cup, he's increased his value enough by his play and cheaper cap hit, that any contending team with a defensive need would want him.

I do think it goes the same as Buchnevich though, and we keep him because the price will be too high and we value what he'll bring next season, but I do think he'd bring a pretty significant return.

We weren’t one of his 4. He waived. And it would be crappy to deal him again so soon unless it’s something he wants.

 

[bleedblue1223]

We weren’t one of his 4. He waived. And it would be crappy to deal him again so soon unless it’s something he wants.

If he wants to stay, I don't think we even bother. And honestly, I don't expect Army to even consider moving him, I just would if I was the GM. I'd assume Army wants to push for playoffs next season, or at least have it as a possibility, and a Fowler/Parayko pair is going to be needed for that.