Heh. Army is NOT agreeing to any "if your team wins x" conditions. Especially not in that division.

Fine, just a straight up first then.

There is no chance the islanders would even consider including a 1st rd pick to acquire Tarasenko.

That's kind of you, but really that wasn't the only problem. Just the problem that made me chuckle. So thanks for that, but the Blues almost certainly also pass on taking Bailey, an even older player of the precise type they don't want who takes up as much total cap as Vova.

I think the Blues should keep Tarasenko for the next two years - great player!

Lou doesn't do either of these deals.

Lou most likely has Palmeri, Cizikas, Parise, and Zajac signed.

Lou probably is up made 20 calls and had two coffees by the time you wake up.

Ok, but I know he already has those 3 signed, I’m just guessing what the contracts might be.

I'd be happy to, but it seems that there would need to be some sort of relationship turnaround for that to happen. Any way you slice it, nobody is going to push players Army doesn't want on him. Obviously.

Sure, but Armstrong doesn’t really have much leverage. Teams aren’t giving up significant assets for a locker room cancer who’s injury prone. Plus he’s due 9.5 mill in salary next season. Multiple teams doctors have concerns about his medicals.

First of all, this whole "has no leverage" stuff is hilarious.

Secondly, what is this about a locker room cancer? What now? Why do you guys just make stuff up?

Thing the third, he's due 9.5M next season and then 5.5M the final season of his deal = 7.5M AAV. Again, I have no idea why anyone thinks this is some sort of great point. It ain't. So did you not know the last year would be 5.5M or were you simply pretending?

Finally, I defy you to post any legit source definitively reporting the notion that "Multiple teams doctors have concerns about his medicals".

Yeah, he does not have leverage. According to the Blues writer from the Athletic , Tarasenko’s relationship with the team is irreparably damaged” . Armstrong clearly wants to get rid of him. The only two teams that are left are Carolina and the Islanders. Carolina rarely overpays in trades (and they have a cheap owner) + the islanders do not need Tarasenko. They’re perfectly fine with re-signing their guys and elevating Wahlstrom into the top 6.

Tarasenko was butthurt that he didn’t get the C over O’Rielly. The guy just never stops complaining.

There are teams (like Carolina) who wouldn’t want to pay Tarasenko 9.5 mill next season. It doesn’t matter if the AAV the following year is lower

Friedman on 31TP: "One of the things that I have heard is that some teams, I don't know if New Jersey is one of them or not, they aren't crazy about what they're seeing with Tarasenko's shoulder and I think that's one of the reasons that hasn't been done yet."

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) August 13, 2021

I mean, he apparently is unwilling to play for the Blues and if that is the case they have no leverage especially with his NTC. If he reports to camp, they have leverage. If he plays regular season games and looks good, now he has great value.

If VT refuses to report the blues will be lucky to dump his salary IMO.

I'll believe he's unwilling to play when I see it.

Heh. Another one of Friedman's vague "I have heard but don't really know" nonsense remarks. That's not reporting, dude.

As for Jeremy Rutherford, he is uncharacteristically sinking into the mire throughout this thing. He keeps letting Tarasenko's agent (or some such mystery character) throw flames without even bothering to allow the Blues to respond. Again, not journalism.

We’ll that’s the Blue’s leverage. They are much better off waiting until camp opens and playing hardball with Tarasenko and his agent. Tarasenko has legitimately no trade value otherwise.