1 Forward out - 1 Defense in
1 Defense out - 1 Forward in
Heads up, before you come after me, this scenario including the projection for next year focuses on the idea that Scandella is impossible to move. I just wanted to see what the Blues can do if they MUST keep his contract.
Offense Moves
- Perron gets an increase, he’s never made more than $4M AAV so I feel like he won’t be pressing for a huge pay raise, 2-3 years at $4.15M is very team friendly, but I see Perron and the Blues agreeing here.
- Neighbours finds himself with a full-time role on the Blues, pair him with ROR and DP to get some really good experience from the strongest offensive duo on the team.
- Larsson is a solid option for the 4C spot. I can see the Blues going for Lazar or Sturm too, we will see here, but replacing Barbashev with a defensive-minded center would be a big impact for the Blues depth.
Defense Moves
- Trading for Soucy is smart. Trade happens during the Draft this year to acquire a 2nd round pick where the Blues can select a defenseman or basically the opposite of what they get in round 1. Barbashev is a cap casualty to give Neighbours an opportunity, plus Barbashev is gone after this year.
- Mikkola is moved for a deal similar to Lauzon, doesn’t matter what team really, I thought Carolina would be a good fit.
- Perunovich signs for 1 year to give him a full season before signing a 2 year bridge deal.
Goalie Moves
- Blues sign Lindgren to play for one season before Hofer is ready to make the jump. If we can get Comrie to sign for a similar deal I’d love to see him sign with the Blues too for a year.
Looking ahead:
Blues offer extensions to
- Thomas for 8 years at $7M AAV (during summer)
- Kyrou for 8 years at $7M AAV (during summer)
- O’Reilly for 4 years at $5.5M AAV (during summer)
- Perunovich for 2 years at $1.5M AAV (depends on play)
- Hofer for 2 years at $787.5k AAV
- Recall Bolduc who has 3 years left at $863,333 AAV
Including $82,500 in overages, the Blues will have $6,993,333 in cap space with 3 forward and 1 defense spots left.
- Sign a legit Top 4D in free agency, maybe Graves for like $4.15M x 3 years.
- Recall either Alexandrov who has 1 year left at $816,667 AAV or Kostin who has 2 years left at $766,667 following this scenario.
- Spend between $1.85-1.9M on Toropchenko (either $950k or $1M AAV for 2 years) and Brown ($900k AAV for 1 year).
This will give the Blues $176,667 in cap space for the 2023-24 season. We love satisfying numbers and the cap spaces being the same.
2023-24 Projected Lineup
Buch - Thomas - Kyrou
Neighbours - ROR - DP57
Schenn - Bolduc - Saad
4LW - Larsson - Torp
4LW = Brown or Alexandrov/Kostin
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
CapFriendly
CapFriendly