No one is paying for mantha, especially not Arizona.

Owed $6.5M vs the cap hit of $5.7M. AZ is the LAST team willing to take on players getting paid more than their cap.

I'd say no for the Blues. Army might listen but I wouldn't.

First, it'd push us over the cap (we only have $6.7 in space this offseason) so a corresponding move would have to happen somewhere and Army traditionally has wanted to allow a little wiggle room at the ceiling.

Second, it seems the Blues are content trying out Buch or someone else in the 2nd or 3rd line center role so they may be trying to fill that void from within.

Although Army is all about reclamation projects, they've been cheap and young that he's brought on. Kuznetsov is turning 31 this May and Army is on record he wants 26-28 year olds in a perfect world, and he's making too much.

I think the Blues pass. But Army would listen I think.

The Blues are not doing that. And there's nowhere near the cap for it even if they wanted to.

What do you think the odds are of getting ROR back? He seemed pretty set on staying in STL before getting traded.

I highly doubt we can afford him, unfortunately. I mean, if he wants to take a Bergeron/Lerjci deal, sure. The chances are good. But I would not ask any player to do it, it would need to be his idea.

Yeah blues don't have a need or want for Kuznetsov. He doesn't fit the age we are looking for in a player

Here comes the give/take, but it's gotta be worth paying something to drop Scandella, right? $10M in cap space is quite a bit different than $6.7M.

If we were in the market for Kuznetsov we’ll be in the market to just re-sign ROR.

We can’t afford this cap wise anyways. I’d imagine there would be interest if the cost were like a 2nd a middling prospect and some salary back the other way. But with no cap going back the other way and at that cost in futures, we won’t be ready to contend in his contract time frame.

Keeping Scandella is far down the list of issues for the Blues. He has one year left and is far better than people give him credit for when he's not asked to play top pairing matchups. Either way, I'm not sure what Scandella has to do with this. The issue you is you want two 1sts, including one NHL ready, for a super expensive player that has not been that good three of the last four seasons and also happens to be a sporadic headcase. The Blues can;t come close to affording him, and they probably would stay away from him if they could. At least at that price.

Me??? I don't think STL should do this trade at all. I agree with all of your points. STL should get a UFA centerman like ROR and find a way to make it work is what I'd do. Even if that meant sending away a pick to dump Scandella. It'll certainly be cheaper in assets that this...and a better player.