Free agents to get

[STL fan in MN]

Has anyone heard if Tucker will be ready for the start of the season?

Yes, he should be fine. No surgery needed.

[STL fan in MN]

The thing people are forgetting is that the Blues aren't the only team whose cap is going up. All teams have more to spend. That causes inflation. You might be surprised how much someone like Ekblad gets.
On another note, if they were looking at a splash, and Krug knows he is done, maybe he would approve a trade to someone that has the cap space so the Blues would have it all to play with in the off season. That has happened in the past.

Why would a team trade for Krug? Yeah, that’s happened in the past but that was mostly Arizona trying to play payroll gymnastics. They’d acquire a LTIR contract with a big AAV and ideally low salary…with most of the salary covered by insurance. This way they could meet the Cap minimum while their actual real world payroll was much much less. Now that they’re not a dumpster fire anymore, there’s really no incentive to take on a LTIR contract like that anymore.

[HighStick]

I like the idea of Bennett. He plays fast and with an edge. Maybe he produces a lil more with 2 speedy linemates like Holloway and Kyrou. Truth is I could see Bennett pressuring Thomas for the 1 spot.

[TheJackBurton]

I like the idea of Bennett. He plays fast and with an edge. Maybe he produces a lil more with 2 speedy linemates like Holloway and Kyrou. Truth is I could see Bennett pressuring Thomas for the 1 spot.

ehhhh out of Ekblad and Bennett Florida likely extends Bennett.

Ekblad misses games, got the ding for PED's and plays a position that will command more in dollars due to lack of competition than he is worth.

[leedog68]

The thing people are forgetting is that the Blues aren't the only team whose cap is going up. All teams have more to spend. That causes inflation. You might be surprised how much someone like Ekblad gets.
On another note, if they were looking at a splash, and Krug knows he is done, maybe he would approve a trade to someone that has the cap space so the Blues would have it all to play with in the off season. That has happened in the past.

Why would a team trade for Krug? Yeah, that’s happened in the past but that was mostly Arizona trying to play payroll gymnastics. They’d acquire a LTIR contract with a big AAV and ideally low salary…with most of the salary covered by insurance. This way they could meet the Cap minimum while their actual real world payroll was much much less. Now that they’re not a dumpster fire anymore, there’s really no incentive to take on a LTIR contract like that anymore.

Why would anyone trade with anyone? Because what is offered is worth more to them than what they give up. If a team was going to be under the cap by over 6.5 mil to start the season, and the Blues offered an asset that said team deemed worth taking Krug's contract to acquire, a deal is done. Not likely, but only because the Blues wouldn't offer what it would take.

[STL fan in MN]

The thing people are forgetting is that the Blues aren't the only team whose cap is going up. All teams have more to spend. That causes inflation. You might be surprised how much someone like Ekblad gets.
On another note, if they were looking at a splash, and Krug knows he is done, maybe he would approve a trade to someone that has the cap space so the Blues would have it all to play with in the off season. That has happened in the past.

Why would a team trade for Krug? Yeah, that’s happened in the past but that was mostly Arizona trying to play payroll gymnastics. They’d acquire a LTIR contract with a big AAV and ideally low salary…with most of the salary covered by insurance. This way they could meet the Cap minimum while their actual real world payroll was much much less. Now that they’re not a dumpster fire anymore, there’s really no incentive to take on a LTIR contract like that anymore.

Why would anyone trade with anyone? Because what is offered is worth more to them than what they give up. If a team was going to be under the cap by over 6.5 mil to start the season, and the Blues offered an asset that said team deemed worth taking Krug's contract to acquire, a deal is done. Not likely, but only because the Blues wouldn't offer what it would take.

Right. There’s no incentive for the Blues to attach a lock to Krug at this point. Just LTIR him and he’ll be gone in 2 years.

[Bubble4427]

The thing people are forgetting is that the Blues aren't the only team whose cap is going up. All teams have more to spend. That causes inflation. You might be surprised how much someone like Ekblad gets.
On another note, if they were looking at a splash, and Krug knows he is done, maybe he would approve a trade to someone that has the cap space so the Blues would have it all to play with in the off season. That has happened in the past.

Why would a team trade for Krug? Yeah, that’s happened in the past but that was mostly Arizona trying to play payroll gymnastics. They’d acquire a LTIR contract with a big AAV and ideally low salary…with most of the salary covered by insurance. This way they could meet the Cap minimum while their actual real world payroll was much much less. Now that they’re not a dumpster fire anymore, there’s really no incentive to take on a LTIR contract like that anymore.

Why would anyone trade with anyone? Because what is offered is worth more to them than what they give up. If a team was going to be under the cap by over 6.5 mil to start the season, and the Blues offered an asset that said team deemed worth taking Krug's contract to acquire, a deal is done. Not likely, but only because the Blues wouldn't offer what it would take.

Right. There’s no incentive for the Blues to attach a lock to Krug at this point. Just LTIR him and he’ll be gone in 2 years.

Krug does have value to some in the league.
He doesn’t have to play a game to have value. A team acquiring Krug can then go over the cap by 6.5 million. Vegas has been doing that for years. For example, if Colorado is up against the cap next season and really wants a player to put them over the top…then they can slide the Blues a 4th or 5th round pick for Krug and then they open up 6.5 million in cap space to acquire another key player.

[JoshInFenton]

Having just watched Nashville try their hand at building out of FA, i'd be inclined not to make too many different splashes in free agency. I think a lot of what the blues need to do going into this offseason is move some of the smaller cap hits off the books that wont likely get much playing time. Not all of them, but getting 1 or 2 forwards outbound and a defensemen outbound is ideal. The problem with UFa is a lot of them are probably too old to be decently long term impacts for the Blues. You'd be taking chances on guys mostly 33-38 holding up or not declining, unless you really wanted to spend 7-10M on a player knowing full well you would not likely get the dollars back in realized production.

Most of the guys that i would like to get are likely RFA offer sheets or are players that might be cheaper so that the team can resign someone else, thus the blues might be able to swoop in.

[clemonsonroots]

I like the idea of Bennett. He plays fast and with an edge. Maybe he produces a lil more with 2 speedy linemates like Holloway and Kyrou. Truth is I could see Bennett pressuring Thomas for the 1 spot.

I love the idea of getting Bennett. No way anyone is pushing Thomas for the number one, as he is a star in this league now and likely on the olympic roster at this point. However, Bennett as a number 2 center allows you to move Schenn down to number 3. Those are two extremely physical centers and Bennett is also quick which will compliment whoever they put on his wing as we have a lot of speed now. I would expect an uptick of about 10 points by him in that position. No one will want to play us come playoff time with the physicality we have and adding Bennett.

Buchnevich Thomas Snuggerud
Holloway Bennett Kyrou
Neighbors Schenn Bolduc
Toropchenko Faksa Walker

Parayko Fowler
Broberg Faulk
Leddy Tucker

Binnington
Hofer

extra- Sundqvist Texier Joseph Kessel

One of Texier or Jospeh will be moved
That is a hell of a lineup, and it will contend for a cup.

[TheHighHat]

There will be plenty of competition for #2 centers and Ekblad come July.

Other teams that made the playoffs that need a major upgrade at 2C:
Carolina
Colorado
Winnipeg
Montreal
Minnesota

Other teams that made the playoffs that need a major upgrade at RHD:
Dallas
Toronto
Ottawa
Winnipeg
Carolina
Montreal
Tampa Bay

Then you have the teams that failed to make the playoffs...

How many of you think the Blues are Cup contenders if they fill that 2C need?
Or is it a stop gap until the unproven Dvorsky is supposed to fill that role?

Just a friendly reminder:
Only one Cup winning #2 center (B. Richards) in the cap era was signed as an UFA.
Major asterisk behind that signing as well.
Richards was signed only to a one year deal after he was bought out of his contract in NY.
That doesn't mean that an UFA 2C will never win the Cup again, but I would not overpay for a depreciating asset.

Be careful what you wish for:
Last year at this time everyone wanted Stephenson or Lindholm.

I can see Tavares going to Colorado if he leaves TO
Nelson would be better suited at LW at this point in his career.
Duchene wants a Cup.

Bennett is going to print money if he doesn't take a discounted deal in Florida.
He brings more intangibles than pure talent.
Keep in mind that at the same age Schenn had more talent than Benny.
The team that signs Bennett to a 7 year deal will regret it early in his new contract.
A lot of hard miles on those tires for a guy that has never scored 30 goals and has a career high of 51 points.
Having said that, I'm sure Brind'Amour is going to push hard for him.

Ekblad is in a great spot because he is the only quality RHD available and demand is thru the roof.
At this year's past TDL Zito traded away his probable future #1 goalie (Knight) and a 1st round pick to acquire a minute munching RHD (Jones) because he let one (Montour) get away last summer. Will he make the same mistake again?

If Florida somehow re-signs Bennett and Ekblad, RFA Samoskevich can be had for a song.

It's almost to the point with centers and RHD that drafting those positions instead of BPA will be in vogue.

[TBone]

It's almost to the point with centers and RHD that drafting those positions instead of BPA will be in vogue.

Reading the various discussions on these positions I'd be surprised if an across the board premium isn't already placed on them.

[Sprtsfntc11]

Something everyone needs to remember is we can not spend to the cap this year due to the contract extensions we have to look at next year to Broberg & Holloway & Fowler. If we sign a guy to a 3 x 8 mil this offseason, it greatly effects what we have to spend on extensions for 26/27.

I expect no UFA signings until after July 1st extensions to those three to know what flexibility we have in future seasons $$$ availability.

Just my 2 cents......

[George Zipp]

Something everyone needs to remember is we can not spend to the cap this year due to the contract extensions we have to look at next year to Broberg & Holloway & Fowler. If we sign a guy to a 3 x 8 mil this offseason, it greatly effects what we have to spend on extensions for 26/27.

I expect no UFA signings until after July 1st extensions to those three to know what flexibility we have in future seasons $$$ availability.

Just my 2 cents......

I'll give you some change for your two cents. Assuming he returns healthy and to form, yeah, I think Holloway gets locked up long term for big money, and rightfully so. I feel like Broberg can go one of two ways, one more shorter term decent money bridge deal or he too gets locked up long term. On Fowler, if we re-up him, and I sure hope we do, seems more like a 2-3 yr type deal. That's my two cents.

[TheJackBurton]

Something everyone needs to remember is we can not spend to the cap this year due to the contract extensions we have to look at next year to Broberg & Holloway & Fowler. If we sign a guy to a 3 x 8 mil this offseason, it greatly effects what we have to spend on extensions for 26/27.

I expect no UFA signings until after July 1st extensions to those three to know what flexibility we have in future seasons $$$ availability.

Just my 2 cents......

We have a lot of money coming off the books in the next 2 seasons.

Right now we are projected to have close to 42 million available in 2026-2027.

Now that's with only 11 players signed (which includes Krug), but that doesn't include any of the prospects coming up and contributing.

At least 2 or 3 of those salaries will be at or near league minimum with Dvorsky, a re-signed Tucker at most 1-1.5 million, and likely Fowler making about the same. Faksa, if extended, won't be at 3.25 it will be less especially if it's a multi year deal.

I can see Faulk being extended actually, if nothing else he can be a quality 3rd pairing RHD but his 6.5 million dollar days are over.

Now the increases for Broberg and Holloway probably total between 8-10 million, so that leaves you about 20 million to fill like 4 spots.

The cap won't be much of an issue overall.

[Cahokanut]

Something everyone needs to remember is we can not spend to the cap this year due to the contract extensions we have to look at next year to Broberg & Holloway & Fowler. If we sign a guy to a 3 x 8 mil this offseason, it greatly effects what we have to spend on extensions for 26/27.

I expect no UFA signings until after July 1st extensions to those three to know what flexibility we have in future seasons $$$ availability.

Just my 2 cents......

How much you reckon we'll need for a 35yo defender.

He did good....And.
We have another year, I can't see any reason not to wait on this extension. Even a chance he goes elsewhere. There's no upside to giving him a friendly.

[Lone_Ranger]

Army says he likes his top 4 defenseman for next year. I can't imagine the defense will be changing. I think the team will look pretty much the same as we finished this year.

Defense played fine under Monty's system. They made their big run without Parayko. What they need is quality depth to fill out the top 8.