Notes:
- Perron signs a 2 year deal for $3.5M AAV. This was predicted by Rutherford and it makes sense for the Blues.
- Bolduc enters the line-up. Kinda to establish the French connection between Bolduc, Perron and MAF. Realistically, the final spot is between Neighbours or Bolduc. Bolduc was dominant this year in the regular season and playoffs and I think it’s a good time to see what he can do at the NHL level for at least the 9 game trial. If the Blues like it, keep him, if not, send him back to the Q and bring up Neighbours, no harm done. Give Neighbours one year in the AHL if Bolduc works to see how he plays with the T-Birds on the top line.
- Aston-Reese signs for 2 years, I like his defensive game and it would be an improvement on the PK, which is already good.
- Barbashev is dealt for a 1st round pick in a deep draft. He is the odd man out in this situation and should receive a solid return after a career season.
- Tarasenko most likely is the one walking at the end of the year, so Neighbours will be called up to join the Top 9 group anyways in 2023-24 following this scenario.
- Binnington apparently might start the season on the IR, which means Blues need to turn to a backup. I don’t think having Lindgren and Hofer man the show to start the season is the best idea. I’d be more comfortable signing a solid goalie to use in a tandem. If PIT doesn’t push for Fleury, I think the Blues make a solid effort to sign him and reunite Perron and Fleury.
Looking Ahead
- Blues offer extensions to Thomas, Kyrou, and O’Reilly during the summer/early season.
- Thomas extends for 6 years at $6.75M AAV.
- Kyrou extends for 6 years at $6.75M AAV.
- O’Reilly extends for 3 years at $5.5M AAV.
- As mentioned previously, Neighbours or Bolduc is called up to join the Top 9 group when Tarasenko walks.
- After the extensions, calling up Neighbours, and including $400,000 in overages, Blues have $5,095,000 in cap space with 10 F 8 D 2 G on the roster already.
- Toropchenko and Brown are resigned for sure I assume, unless traded, but they’ll be cheap 4th liners for the Blues.
- Walker resigns? Maybe, maybe not. Just need to fill the final scratched spot with a forward.
Projected Lineup:
Bolduc - ROR - Perron
Buch - Thomas - Kyrou
Neighbours - Schenn - Saad
ZAR - Brown - Torp
Krug - Parayko
Perunovich - Faulk
Scandella - Bortuzzo
Binnington
Fleury
Blues acquire a 1st round pick that should range in the late teens/early 20s I assume. A deep draft next year, having 2 firsts would be massive. Barbashev looks like the best option to do so.
Washington receives Barbashev who came off a career season, I don’t know how long Backstrom is out, but Barbashev would be a relatively cheap option to man the second line until he returns. Washington forward lineup would look like this (I’m not a caps fan so I could be wrong here).
Ovi - Kuzy - Oshie
Mantha - Barby - Wilson
McMich - Eller - Sheary
AJF - Dowd - Hathaway
- I can't imagine Bolduc is ready for that.
- I would not take Fleury at half that salary. He's a rebound factory and more than a little erratic handling the puck. Neither of those things works in our system.
- I don't have anything against ZAR, but we need to sign a real 4C (such as Sturm, who also doubles nicely as taking a piece off Colorado), not another winger. And not just because Brown is COMPLETELY incapable of centering that line. The main guy needing to be replaced is Bozak, which means we need another smart, assertive player who can get dirty, win faceoffs and transition to the forecheck. At best, Brown is one of those things.
- I can't imagine Bolduc is ready for that.
- I would not take Fleury at half that salary. He's a rebound factory and more than a little erratic handling the puck. Neither of those things works in our system.
- I don't have anything against ZAR, but we need to sign a real 4C (such as Sturm, who also doubles nicely as taking a piece off Colorado), not another winger. And not just because Brown is COMPLETELY incapable of centering that line. The main guy needing to be replaced is Bozak, which means we need another smart, assertive player who can get dirty, win faceoffs and transition to the forecheck. At best, Brown is one of those things.
Good points, I’m curious what Bolduc does in the off-season in terms of progression. I think he at least gets 9 games and Neighbours starts in the AHL. Goalie we need a stop gap guy. I think Hofer gets the starting job in Springfield next season and then we can re-evaluate and move him up when he’s ready so that’s looking at 1-2 years. Maybe Holtby is better, I’m not entirely sure what’s a good goalie strategy, but I think Husso is gone. I like ZAR defense, but you’re right about that 4C spot. Blueger would be perfect in that spot honestly, but idk how to acquire him. Sturm would work too like you mentioned and he’d be a 1.3 range candidate for cap.
Good points, I’m curious what Bolduc does in the off-season in terms of progression. I think he at least gets 9 games and Neighbours starts in the AHL. Goalie we need a stop gap guy. I think Hofer gets the starting job in Springfield next season and then we can re-evaluate and move him up when he’s ready so that’s looking at 1-2 years. Maybe Holtby is better, I’m not entirely sure what’s a good goalie strategy, but I think Husso is gone. I like ZAR defense, but you’re right about that 4C spot. Blueger would be perfect in that spot honestly, but idk how to acquire him. Sturm would work too like you mentioned and he’d be a 1.3 range candidate for cap.
I'd be perfectly comfortable starting next season with Binny and Chucky Sideburns.
I'd be perfectly comfortable starting next season with Binny and Chucky Sideburns.
Yeah good point. I don’t know if Binnington would be back by the start of the season. In an article it talks about how they might start the season with Binnington on IR. I thought acquiring a 1B goalie would be smart.
- I can't imagine Bolduc is ready for that.
- I would not take Fleury at half that salary. He's a rebound factory and more than a little erratic handling the puck. Neither of those things works in our system.
- I don't have anything against ZAR, but we need to sign a real 4C (such as Sturm, who also doubles nicely as taking a piece off Colorado), not another winger. And not just because Brown is COMPLETELY incapable of centering that line. The main guy needing to be replaced is Bozak, which means we need another smart, assertive player who can get dirty, win faceoffs and transition to the forecheck. At best, Brown is one of those things.
Lazar would be my guy, maybe Johan Larsson. I wish Dak Joshua would get some run, but he’s UFA and I don’t see why he’d want to spin his wheels here anymore. Would love to get two guys for the 4th line. Lazar/Larsson and Raffl/Zar???
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
tstrauss16 et STLBlues17 a aimé ceci.
CapFriendly
CapFriendly