Waived: [STL] F Brandon Saad waived by the Blues (cleared)

[stl76]

This suggests to me that Doug Armstrong is using Saad to send a message to the entire team: Dig in and play like you mean it! You could be next!

I think this is definitely part of the reason.

 

[StlBigFly]

Doubt he gets claimed. The extra year on his contract is the biggest obstacle and clearly the Blues weren't willing to add a sweetener to get Saad off the books.

Remember that just a month ago Anahiem paid for Trouba.

There are teams who need the contracts, or who can do other stuff if they get the contracts.

One of the Elliott Friedman type people said Chicago tried to extend Taylor hall and he was like no ty.

If you’re getting shut down by Taylor hall in 2025 that’s a tough one. Saad maybe a necessary choice for a team in a position like that.

I’d maybe guess there’d be multiple interested groups. Just not the type of group that Saad would waive for. Now it doesn’t matter if he waives or not. His chances at a winning environment are probably less than 1% but his chances at an nhl job are probably above 90% imo.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Come on back home to Chicago

 

[Ignatius]

I wonder if this is a precursor to a trade where the Blues take back a different bad contract. As in, be sure that nobody will take him for free.

Saad for Jarry E5

 

[Some Other Flame]

Remember that just a month ago Anahiem paid for Trouba.

There are teams who need the contracts, or who can do other stuff if they get the contracts.

One of the Elliott Friedman type people said Chicago tried to extend Taylor hall and he was like no ty.

If you’re getting shut down by Taylor hall in 2025 that’s a tough one. Saad maybe a necessary choice for a team in a position like that.

I’d maybe guess there’d be multiple interested groups. Just not the type of group that Saad would waive for. Now it doesn’t matter if he waives or not. His chances at a winning environment are probably less than 1% but his chances at an nhl job are probably above 90% imo.

Eh, Hall never wanted to be a Blackhawk though. He signed with the Bruins thinking he'd finally joined a stable contender only to have the rug pulled out from under him. It makes perfect sense as to why he doesn't want to spend the rest of his career playing for another perennial bottom feeder.

And if the Hawks really wanted Saad, they could have just acquired him, essentially for free, unless Armstrong was insane enough to be insisting on something tangible in return. I doubt that was the case

And Saad was willing to waive his NTC though

 

[benfranklin]

Seems like hed be an easy one to move with 50% off.

 

[qc14]

Reclamation project or cooked?

Cooked beyond belief

 

[Stealth JD]

Cooked beyond belief

Not true. Don’t comment if you don’t know or watch.

 

[Paper]

Dude was traded for Anton. Then traded for Artem and Anatoly. Then traded with Anton for Artemi. Then traded for Anton.

 

[Crow]

Having not watched the Blues much this year: Is Saad cooked, or is there a little something left there?

Would be pretty hard for anyone to say. He’s bounced back from worse years.

Did Chicago lose 3 Saad trades?

Huh? They lost one for sure. Maybe 2, but not the one to Colorado.

 

[biturbo19]

Yikes. I thought they'd at least be able to move him for something at the deadline. He's a big body who has produced in the past and has some "pedigree" or "name value". Was never going to be a top-end deadline guy with a not insubstantial cap hit that still has another year left on it, and the risk that this decline is permanent and will worsen even further. But i figured as some sort of "bargain acquisition" 2nd or 3rd tier deadline option, he'd get some interest from a bubble team with some cap space to play with.


If they've been trying to trade him in earnest though, and he's been willing to waive his NTC to facilitate that...and still haven't found any takers, it's hard to imagine waivers will make him that much more attractive. Though perhaps for a rebuilding team that just wants a veteran jersey filler with lots of experience...maybe "free" is the difference that gets it over the line compared to "late round pick" or whatever?

 

[wolfgaze]

Saad is an easy "get for free and flip later" candidate. Even if he's only moved for like a 3rd next year, I figure Saad as a rental would have value.

His current team just announced they've been trying to trade him for 'weeks' and couldn't find any takers - so how are you now describing this particular player as one who is easily tradeable (for a 3rd round pick) and who has 'rental value'? Hmm.

 

[Reality Czech]

That's what she Saad

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

Always think he's way older than he is.
Feel like he's been around for so long.

 

[Empoleon8771]

His current team just announced they've been trying to trade him for 'weeks' and couldn't find any takers - so how are you now describing this particular player as one who is easily tradeable (for a 3rd round pick) and who has 'rental value'? Hmm.

Did you ignore the "next year" part of that statement?

 

[Clownish]

Come on back home to Chicago

Saad for Brodie.

 

[Esq]

It actually makes a lot of sense for the Penguins to claim him. They're already lacking in top-9 talent and Saad is an easy "get for free and flip later" candidate. Even if he's only moved for like a 3rd next year, I figure Saad as a rental would have value.

Isn't he also a PA native?

 

[Sharksfan66]

Has he really fallen that far??

 

[wolfgaze]

Did you ignore the "next year" part of that statement?

I read that part - I was questioning the assumption that an older player who no one wanted to trade for this season will be guaranteed to have good/decent trade value next season while being a year older and playing on a bottom dwelling team that has a lot of past-their-prime players on it? Personally, I don't see that as a safe assumption to make, given the circumstances.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Isn't he also a PA native?

Yes he's from Pittsburgh.

I read that part - I was questioning the assumption that an older player who no one wanted to trade for this season will be guaranteed to have good/decent trade value next season while being a year older and playing on a bottom dwelling team that has a lot of past-their-prime players on it? Personally, I don't see that as a safe assumption to make, given the circumstances.

Because the Penguins can eat half of his deal plus there is no term commitment. If he can even put up a 15 goal, 30 point pace, he'd likely have value at $2.25 million as a veteran bottom-6 guy.

If St. Louis was willing to eat half of his deal right now, they likely could also flip him for value. They just don't want to eat money.

 

[LTIR]

First person to make a joke about being Saad wins a prize. Check your mailbox, it's coming any day now

Ah crap! I guess I am not the creative one

 

[Ulf5]

Isn't he also a PA native?

Born in Gibsonia, PA. 17 miles north of downtown Pittsburgh.

 

[PanniniClaus]

I see him clearing waivers and do they want Saad rubbing off on what is a very good Springfield team? Maybe a loan to another AHL team.

 

[Rudy Russo]

Mike Sullivan's dreams are all coming true

This is Sully's wet dream.

 

[LTIR]

15 games and counting without laying a single hit. Only 3 in his last 30 games. Maybe if this 215lbs+ miggle 6 player used his body a bit more if his scoring days are over