Extending good young players for term and high AAV, at least to me, is almost always the smart move. You can then have young guys like Bokk seamlessly transition into the NHL as guys like Perron get their last big payday in UFA. It's a quick retool-on-the-fly strategy as some core players get a bit older.

I don't see a big issue with that Thomas deal, although I bet you could keep it at or below the JEE deal, 8 x 5.25.

I have given up on discussing a Tarasenko trade, no idea what a team will pay for him, probably nothing atm.

It's really the shoulder that's tanking his trade value RN. The more certainty that there is on that front, the more likely that he is dealt. Carolina may grow impatient and look elsewhere, however, especially with a still-productive Kessel also on the trade market and Gusev/Donato/Kahun/Galchenyuk as interesting UFAs still unsigned. I personally would be really interested in Gusev if a Vlad or Kessel trade is deemed to be too risky. Vlad would be ideal, though, at least IMO.

yep shoulder, trade request, cap hit, actual salary, recent performance; none of it is helping the Blues. Although it is helpful that they could potentially start the season with him on the roster as long as they're able to get Thomas on a cheap 1 yr deal. Might mean a 22-man roster and it quashes a Bozak return, but at least it's an option. Otherwise we'd probably be looking at Army paying someone to take/flip VT.

His actual salary being higher than his cap hit probably is appealing to a contending club like Carolina that wants to get to as close to the cap as possible for a big run, not detrimental to it. It may lower his overall trade value because of how it affects other clubs, however.

That is quite a contract for a 12-pt winger.
Don't get me wrong, I think Thomas will be top-6 mainstay for Blues for long time...and will probably be worth every penny.

But if he would sign a 2-year bridge, maybe $2.5-3 million...why wouldn't that be in Blues' interest?
Will make it easier to resign Parayko and Perron next year.

The question is whether you want the savings now or later. I conjured up this extension with the idea that Perron would get his last big payday elsewhere and the funds would then be used on Parayko, who IMO is the real must-sign.

he was pretty exclusively playing center last season (between some unfortunate injuries). I'd comfortably say he's already our 2nd best center and would perform up to a $5-6m long term deal, but you'd be correct to assume that both sides are headed toward a bridge deal, probably something similar to Kyrou's 2x2.8. Might even get forced into a 1 yr deal around 2m, if there are no takers for Vlad before training camp.

I don;t think that's it. I think it's the combination of cap hit and Army's aversion to retaining/particular sort of ask on the player return.





Next year's salary is 9.5 and the last year on his deal is 5.5, so it still averages to 7.5 This is not a thing at all.






Heh. Now who's over his skis? Thomas is a center and kept missing time (23 games IIRC, plus a handful of shortened nights) with niggly crap that popped up just when he would get going.

You cut off the part where I say he will be a stud and worth every penny.





My point was from Blues perspective.
Signing RT to bridge deal could help them next year when Parayko and Perron are up.

Right, but you were accurate about that part. It was the winger and 12-point mentions I was referring to.

I was accurate about the other parts too.
He is listed as a winger here.
And he had 12-points in his most recent season.

What he is listed as here has no actual bearing on what position he plays on the ice. And you dropped that 12-point remark with any context (such as missing 40+% of a season already chopped 33% short by the pandemic) as if it needed none. So no, neither of these assertions painted an accurate picture. Obviously.

I most clearly said,

“Don't get me wrong, I think Thomas will be top-6 mainstay for Blues for long time...and will probably be worth every penny.”

Take your grievances elsewhere.
I’m not your straw man.

Again, I didn't comment on that part. And you obviously don't know what a strawman is.