bud white wrote: ↑07 May 2025 10:24 am
The first area to address is the D - specifically size. We need some beef and some reach. A guy like Scott Mayfield isn't making much and can be serviceable 5/6 guy.
Adding size and reach certainly helps the 5v6 situation. Long reach gets sticks in lanes. The 2019 D was big and ever since, they've gotten smaller. I think you'll see Tucker with a regular role.. and we'll see a bigger D next season. This one is not built for a long run.
Another St. Louis kid obsession. He was the Isles #6-7 d-man this season and makes $3.5M/year for 4 more years. Averaged 17 minutes/game on a team so desperate for D help they traded for Perunovich and signed DeAngelo out of the KHL. The Isles would be lucky to get future considerations (ie nothing) for that contract.
I wouldn’t mind having Mayfield as the 3RD or as a #7 guy in the vein of Borts but he’s a replacement level player. Worth closer to league minimum than $3.5M these days. He’s an absolute no from me because of the contract.
bud white wrote: ↑07 May 2025 10:24 am
The first area to address is the D - specifically size. We need some beef and some reach. A guy like Scott Mayfield isn't making much and can be serviceable 5/6 guy.
Adding size and reach certainly helps the 5v6 situation. Long reach gets sticks in lanes. The 2019 D was big and ever since, they've gotten smaller. I think you'll see Tucker with a regular role.. and we'll see a bigger D next season. This one is not built for a long run.
Another St. Louis kid obsession. He was the Isles #6-7 d-man this season and makes $3.5M/year for 4 more years. Averaged 17 minutes/game on a team so desperate for D help they traded for Perunovich and signed DeAngelo out of the KHL. The Isles would be lucky to get future considerations (ie nothing) for that contract.
I wouldn’t mind having Mayfield as the 3RD or as a #7 guy in the vein of Borts but he’s a replacement level player. Worth closer to league minimum than $3.5M these days.
Isles had him for cheap for years....that's when the Blues should have got him, not now imo.
bud white wrote: ↑07 May 2025 10:24 am
The first area to address is the D - specifically size. We need some beef and some reach. A guy like Scott Mayfield isn't making much and can be serviceable 5/6 guy.
Adding size and reach certainly helps the 5v6 situation. Long reach gets sticks in lanes. The 2019 D was big and ever since, they've gotten smaller. I think you'll see Tucker with a regular role.. and we'll see a bigger D next season. This one is not built for a long run.
Another St. Louis kid obsession. He was the Isles #6-7 d-man this season and makes $3.5M/year for 4 more years. Averaged 17 minutes/game on a team so desperate for D help they traded for Perunovich and signed DeAngelo out of the KHL. The Isles would be lucky to get future considerations (ie nothing) for that contract.
I wouldn’t mind having Mayfield as the 3RD or as a #7 guy in the vein of Borts but he’s a replacement level player. Worth closer to league minimum than $3.5M these days. He’s an absolute no from me because of the contract.
It's not an obsession - A guy "like" a Mayfield. Long reach and a serviceable lower pairing D with experience. Edmundson comes to mind - and I'm surprised he's become a journeyman since leaving the Blue, but he's just been re-upped by LA. All that said - it's amazing how a career can be revitalized when you leave a losing culture. And the Isles are a losing culture currently.
bud white wrote: ↑07 May 2025 10:24 am
The first area to address is the D - specifically size. We need some beef and some reach. A guy like Scott Mayfield isn't making much and can be serviceable 5/6 guy.
Adding size and reach certainly helps the 5v6 situation. Long reach gets sticks in lanes. The 2019 D was big and ever since, they've gotten smaller. I think you'll see Tucker with a regular role.. and we'll see a bigger D next season. This one is not built for a long run.
Based off Army’s comments, I didn’t get the sense the D was going to be a big priority for the club in the offseason.
Sounds like they want to add more offense (forwards).
I dont think size on D is much of an issue surprisingly losing Tucker may have hurt the Blues in front of their own net in the end, but he'll be back. Faulk at 5'11" 205 is the smallest guy the Blues dont have a small D.
Correct. In game 7, the Blues average height and weight were greater than Jets'.
(Suter is listed as the same size as Tucker, so that point won't fly.)
What i would do is target Aaron Ekbald from Florida...won several cups....RD. I feel Florida may prioritize Sam Bennett over AE....I dont think they have room for both plus resigning other players.
This would likely require a taker for Leddy and Faulk. Or at least 1 of the 2.
Imagine
Cam and CP55
Broberg, Ekbald
Leddy , Tucker or Tucker, Faulk
If he’s willing to sign here for relatively cheaply, I’d be interested. But if he’s going to cost what I think he’s likely to, I think we have more pressing needs elsewhere.
Lone_Ranger wrote: ↑07 May 2025 09:36 am
I fully expect the Blues to ink this guy to a deal. Fits a need and he'll be affordable.
Which need exactly?
Toughness. 200 hits, 15 goals, 35 points. Willing to drop the gloves and fight. Won't cost a lot. Sold
Other places of need to spend our money on first.
He replaces Faksa at the same or less price. Adding toughness to this team is a high priority.
If you’re replacing Faska, why not just keep Faksa? As others stated, he’s not really a center so he doesn’t replace him
Yeah but Faksa's past his prime. If you get Frederic at a nice price, it'd be an upgrade. Kid is entering his prime and like I said, he'll drop the gloves. You could see the Blues in this playoff series, they tried to be physical and that's a huge credit to Coach Monty in getting these guys on board. But this team isn't quite built yet to be a physical team, especially for 4 playoff rounds.
Lone_Ranger wrote: ↑07 May 2025 09:36 am
I fully expect the Blues to ink this guy to a deal. Fits a need and he'll be affordable.
Which need exactly?
Toughness. 200 hits, 15 goals, 35 points. Willing to drop the gloves and fight. Won't cost a lot. Sold
Other places of need to spend our money on first.
He replaces Faksa at the same or less price. Adding toughness to this team is a high priority.
If you’re replacing Faska, why not just keep Faksa? As others stated, he’s not really a center so he doesn’t replace him
Yeah but Faksa's past his prime. If you get Frederic at a nice price, it'd be an upgrade. Kid is entering his prime and like I said, he'll drop the gloves. You could see the Blues in this playoff series, they tried to be physical and that's a huge credit to Coach Monty in getting these guys on board. But this team isn't quite built yet to be a physical team, especially for 4 playoff rounds.
You keep ignoring that Frederic doesn’t actually play C though. So he wouldn’t even be able to replace Faksa.
I admit I like home town kids and did want Fredric but man the roster room is getting tight. As recently as halfway through this season I would have been a yes for sure.
