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

[ChicagoBlues]

So, we're getting mixed reactions. Sounds about right. I am indifferent to this move.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Man why lol? Nothing against Fowler — and the actual trade terms are fine — but this is so silly for a team that is *achem* retooling. And to send down Kessel as a result? That’s a terrible consequence here, he’s been playing well.

Leddy, Krug, Fowler, Suter. We have the sickest d-corps in the league (in 2015).

The sickest dementia core.

--

Missed all of this. We were up at the GC and Sedona.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Not sure I fully grasp this one. With the Blues sending down Kessel is the plan to play him on the right side? I know he has played his off hand before.

As others have mentioned this likely means the end of the season for Leddy? Have to imagine next year we see Suter retire. If healthy do we run this defense?

Broberg - Parayko
Krug - Faulk
Leddy - Fowler

I know neither POJ or Perunovich have really solidified a spot but that is a lot of aging defense.

Suter has stated that he wants to pay 3-4 more seasons.

 

[BlueMed]

Huh? So sharing our thoughts isn’t allowed if we disagree with the GM?

It’s more wild to me how many homers on this board vehemently defend every single move the Blues make. It’s like an appeal to authority - if the team is making this move, it MUST be good. Idk, I feel like thinking for yourselves every once in a while may be beneficial.

It's healthy to disagree, but there's a fine line between that and getting so emotionally invested that it detracts from one's viewing experience.

 

[ChicagoBlues]

Could you let me in on your joke about actuary shit?

Do you live in a cave? Or under a rock? Or under a rock in a cave sealed with concrete?

 

[Robb_K]

I don't like giving up the 2nd Rounder. Barely making the last one or 2 Wild Card positions isn't worth losing such a high draft choice in 2027, when we'll need to be replacing higher-priced older players, and still in the beginning of our REAL playoff contending window. We'll be ready to dump Fowler and a few others then. Much as I'd like them to win a Wild Card spot this season, I don't want to give up a 2nd to do that.

 

[Majorityof1]

Thinking for yourself is good. Reflexively posting contrarian positions even though they’re completely illogical (MORE PO Joseph!)…not so much.

Joseph was 3rd on my list. There were others as well, call up one if them. But Joseph is still young and can grow. The basic premise is to take a step back now to be better later. Losing a pick that could have nabbed us a Barbashev or Kyrou for a 33 year old is not that. Why is that so hard to figure out?

People always question my fandom. I've been a Blues fan for decades. I've lived through the 1st round exit like clockwork years. I don't want to be trapped there. I'd rather miss the playoffs for a few years to make some deep runs later.

The ones we are playing sank. That is why we made the deal. And we can always flip him as a rental at next trade deadline and recoup much if not all of the pick value we dealt.

Beyond that, people overrate picks. Fowler is signed through next year. If healthy he will play about 130 games for us. Which is likely more NHL games than the Ducks get out of the pick we dealt. And I suspect that will also be more games than the 6 guys you listed play for us going forward (combined).

Fowler still has his NTC with all but 4 teams. They didn't want to give up a 2nd for him now, why will they later? How sure are you we can flip him?

 

[ScratchCatFever]

It makes sense that people who hate every move (which is reductive, nobody hated the offer sheets) would not like this. Its not that they hate everything, but if they fundamentally disagree with Army's direction and vision, they are going to dislike the moves done in furtherance of that vision. No?

Question, does his NTC stay in effect? If the Ducks struggled to trade him because of trade protection, how are we going to fair better? The other teams that he wanted to go to didn't want to outbid us before, why will they let us recoup their 2nd later? Unless we are retaining into next year to make him cheaper, then we have dead cap on the book next year just to get recoup an asset we didn't need to spend.

If the NTC goes away or he is more willing to waive it at the deadline, then we can do something. But he had a 4 team list, and we were one of them. Down to 3 (unless he has to add another team, not sure how NTCs work after trades).

I can certainly see that argument. It seems Army views this as a no risk move that, even if he can't recoup on Fowler, he'll be able to do it elsewhere effectively not losing anything. LHD defenseman are always in demand at the deadline. Then there's thr off-season and next year to make something happen. Hopefully this rejuvenates Fowler and if we for some reason completely ass out in the standings he can finesse a partner to get his asset back. Unless Biakabatuka becomes a star, this is a fairly inconsequential move long term. I'm just enjoying watching this team play for the first time in 2 years and this move adds to the intrigue and will hopefully help balance the backend.

 

[stl76]

Question, does his NTC stay in effect? If the Ducks struggled to trade him because of trade protection, how are we going to fair better? The other teams that he wanted to go to didn't want to outbid us before, why will they let us recoup their 2nd later? Unless we are retaining into next year to make him cheaper, then we have dead cap on the book next year just to get recoup an asset we didn't need to spend.

If the NTC goes away or he is more willing to waive it at the deadline, then we can do something. But he had a 4 team list, and we were one of them. Down to 3 (unless he has to add another team, not sure how NTCs work after trades).

Believe the NTC stays in effect. Also believe Fowler would be willing to waive for a competitive team:

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

FWIW, Fowler played on same USNTDP as Leddy and has played internationally on teams with Faulk and Suter.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

My initial gut reaction to this trade is very similar to the Leddy trade. I don’t really understand the fit given Fowler’s strengths and weaknesses. But Leddy surprised me and has a been a great fit. So maybe Fowler will too.

Either way if both are healthy next year I don’t really see a fit for both.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

My initial gut reaction to this trade is very similar to the Leddy trade. I don’t really understand the fit given Fowler’s strengths and weaknesses. But Leddy surprised me and has a been a great fit. So maybe Fowler will too.

Either way if both are healthy next year I don’t really see a fit for both.

I see a fit if they don't bring any other LHD. Leddy and Fowler expire at the end of next season and I do not see us bringing back Suter. Both contracts also expire right when we need to resign Broberg and Holloway as well. Tho, I don't see both players ending next season with us.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

I see a fit if they don't bring any other LHD. Leddy and Fowler expire at the end of next season and I do not see us bringing back Suter. Both contracts also expire right when we need to resign Broberg and Holloway as well. Tho, I don't see both players ending next season with us.

Depends on if we’re trying to take a step forward next year. Because if Leddy is healthy then it should be Leddy-Parayko and Broberg-Faulk. Don’t really see a need for a 4 million dollar third pairing defenseman.

Regardless, we desperately need another high end defenseman if we want to actually be cup contenders in the next five years.

 

[DatDude44]

Army stresses that part of the development process is giving the younger players the right environment to grow, and a key ingredient includes a competitive atmosphere where players learn how to play important games.

Yup, Buffalo is a prime example of this.

Look at zegras now in Anaheim. Complete disaster.

Luv the direction we’re heading into the steen era

 

[Linkens Mastery]

Depends on if we’re trying to take a step forward next year. Because if Leddy is healthy then it should be Leddy-Parayko and Broberg-Faulk. Don’t really see a need for a 4 million dollar third pairing defenseman.

Regardless, we desperately need another high end defenseman if we want to actually be cup contenders in the next five years.

I think Leddy get's moved in the offseason to be honest. I am expecting a trade for a younger Dman this offseason.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

I think Leddy get's moved in the offseason to be honest. I am expecting a trade for a younger Dman this offseason.

All things being equal, I think keeping Fowler over Leddy would be a mistake.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

All things being equal, I think keeping Fowler over Leddy would be a mistake.

I'd rather just get rid of them both and get younger this offseason.

 

[Vladys Gumption]

I'd rather just get rid of them both and get younger this offseason.

In a perfect world I would too. But in reality who would replace them? Leddy has been very good defensively for us.

 

[Linkens Mastery]

In a perfect world I would too. But in reality who would replace them? Leddy has been very good defensively for us.

I am kind of hoping KA Miller becomes available this offseason and we can snag him.

 

[Louie the Blue]

You could prevent him from playing more time than necessary without giving out a 2nd and taking on cap. There is nothing stopping the coaching staff from doing this already.

Again, this team is not a cup contender and logical fans don't care about being a welfare wildcard team that gets bounced in 4 or 5 games against actual elite teams.

If Fowler was 7-10 years younger, I would be on board. That is not the case here. This is just another patchjob dumpster dive move by Armstrong to once again attempt to fix the Captain Creampuff debacle.

This isn’t about this season in a vacuum. It’s about a known band-aid for this season and next. If Leddy misses a majority of this season and/or next, that impacts everyone around him, including players who are under contract due to natural wear and tear of playing additional time as well forcing players who aren’t ready to play at the NHL level to have their development rushed.

I identified Fowler as a potential fit over a year ago. Who would you have gone after?

Kessel = 24 years old
Perunovich = 26 years old
PO Joseph = 25 years old
Loof = 22 years old
Johannesson = 23 years olf
Schueneman = 29 years old

Who are we rushing? Play Kessel, Perunovich, Joseph more. Let them sink or swim at their ages. We have other guys we can call up if needed. What good does losing a 2nd to win 5 more regular season games do us? What kids are we protecting?

None of the above. Was thinking along the lines of Lindstein. I’m still bullish on Kessel. Everyone aside from Kessel is why Fowler was acquired. They couldn’t handle the minutes and led to other players being overplayed.

Everyone else is roster fodder.

 

[Drubilly]

I am kind of hoping KA Miller becomes available this offseason and we can snag him.

You can count on @Brian39 and I to be donning our Manifestation Goggles (patent pending) so this happens!

 

[ChicagoBlues]

You can count on @Brian39 and I to be donning our Manifestation Goggles (patent pending) so this happens!

Bofa y'all like KM.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

Yup, Buffalo is a prime example of this.

Look at zegras now in Anaheim. Complete disaster.

Luv the direction we’re heading into the steen era

This is a massive exaggeration around Zegras honestly, was easily playing the best hockey of his career prior to this injury.

Anyway just curious to get a summary of Cam's first game

 

[BlueDream]

This is a massive exaggeration around Zegras honestly, was easily playing the best hockey of his career prior to this injury.

Anyway just curious to get a summary of Cam's first game

He didn’t do anything in his first game.

Now, that was expected because he traveled that same day and joined a brand new team, and the whole team played terribly and got caved in, so it wasn’t a good situation for him and isn’t his fault.

But he was statistically our worst defenseman in terms of shot and chance rates with him on the ice.

I’m only posting this because I know someone else would have tried saying he was “really solid”, and anyone who says that just has shiny new toy syndrome. But yeah, it’s going to take several more games to be able to fairly evaluate him.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

He didn’t do anything in his first game.

Now, that was expected because he traveled that same day and joined a brand new team, and the whole team played terribly and got caved in, so it wasn’t a good situation for him and isn’t his fault.

But he was statistically our worst defenseman in terms of shot and chance rates with him on the ice.

I’m only posting this because I know someone else would have tried saying he was “really solid”, and anyone who says that just has shiny new toy syndrome. But yeah, it’s going to take several more games to be able to fairly evaluate him.

He wasn't himself in Anaheim this year, I really think requesting a trade and playing with one foot out the door, was weighing on him out there. Fifteen years in one place, suddenly dealing with so much uncertainty, I can understand if his mental game was off.

One of my mentors in the hockey business, is quite adamant that it takes about 10 games for a new player to really acclimate to a new group/coach/system. Hoping that Cam has some rejuvenation once he settles in with your team in the next couple weeks.