Per Andy Strickland - Sam Bennett Blues Target

[tubastarr]

Exactly what we need.....be prepared for some much needed cheapshots! I love it!

The thing about "cheapshots" is, if you want to win a Cup, you have to play on the edge. I'm not talking about cross checks to the face, but you have to walk that very thin line and be the hunter and not the hunted. The Blues did it in 2019, Florida did it last year. Hunters win Cups, the hunted do not.

Bennet doesn’t play on the edge. He goes past it. Often. With our PK we don’t need that. Don’t want that dirty player on our team.

[STL fan in MN]

I’m thinking more like a Danault, Pinto, Pius Suter level of player.

I coveted Danault during his draft year and he would have made a nice career Blue. Two years left on his deal with LA. They have to be thinking of making some adjustments to their roster but I have no particular reason to think Danault would be available

And now the Kings have Ken Holland, so who knows what they'll give away.

Sold!

But to Seattle’s point, he’s right. Why would they even want to trade Danault? But that’s just the sort of player I’d target. The caliber of player that’s much more likely than Duchene, Tavares, Bennett etc.

[skilles]

Targeting Bennett isn't necessarily a bad idea. We certainly need an upgrade at 2C.

But he doesn't make Dvorsky expendable in any way. By the time Dvo is hitting his stride at the NHL level, Bennett will be in Schenn territory. He's a very good fit for a stop gap who eventually slides down the lineup, not as a replacement.

100%.

You still keep Devo. When he’s NHL ready, ease him in at 3C or 2 or 3LW. You eventually have the wonderful problem of too many quality players and not enough room for them all? Then you trade 1-2 of them (but still likely not the young C).

You wouldn't trade Dvorksy for Nemec if we had Bennett on a 6 year deal?

No.

Hmm kind of seems like Nemec is the higher prospect no?

Scoring center is like RHD in that they're super hard to acquire. So why would we move a right-on-track developing player at a unicorn spot for a player at another unicorn spot who is showing some risks? Trade from other places but not Dvorsky
I would not trade Dvorsky for Nemec either. I don't have to consider it long.

Because if we sign a 2c long term RD becomes the clear cut biggest need long and short term IMO and I also think Nemec has the higher upside but I'm willing to listen as I'm not that educated on prospects but I like guys that are 21 on hold AHL scoring records.

And I also am concerned our "window" is going to close about as quickly as it opens if we don't address the aging d pretty soon

Well we 100% agree on the structural need for the defense, it's more about timing here. In less than a year the center situation could be resolving itself at least in our future conception. I see an overall roster that is going to make the playoffs as is. As we progress through the year we're going to be asking what deadline deal we want to make. IMO we aren't a deep contender til we upgrade Faulk. I think they should bring in a center UFA but it's more in the Bozak quality vet stopgap range. Shorter deal for an experienced center veteran would supplement this team nicely.

To me Dvorsky specifically is just a piece of critical infrastructure and I heartily endorse what MN said about trading anybody else if Nemec were available for our prospects. I would sooner do Lindstein. I don't easily offer him up but the existence of Fischer Burns and Ralph along with Broberg is very reasonable for now. I don't think Dvorsky would be demanded and I also don't see NJ as reasonably expecting to get him. If truly that was their only take it or leave it deal I'd leave it and look for another way to get the D we need.

I still feel very good about Dvorsky's future. He has intangibles galore that make it likely he will reach his potential. If you want a flash from the past here's Grant McKagg on draft day 2023 talking about his future projection for Dvorsky. Two years have passed since then but McKagg is sharp as hell. He called Sennecke to Anaheim at 3 overall and he saw Jake Sanderson as elite talent. He had Dvorsky 3d overall on his board. He sees Dvorsky as so high because he seems like a particularly effective playoff center in the most pressure moments. Fast forward to 3:24 if you want to skip the general draft/Bedard part
https://www.tsn.ca/radio/ottawa-1200/mc ... -1.1978514

Well I don't really want to trade Dvorsky or think he is a bust or expendable at all. The idea is giving something great to get something great. Of course I'd rather they take less

[STL fan in MN]

Well I don't really want to trade Dvorsky or think he is a bust or expendable at all. The idea is giving something great to get something great. Of course I'd rather they take less

True. You do have to give to get and I could certainly see that being the price needed for a young RD. But specific to NJ, would a center even be a good fit for them? They seem to be a little thin at wing and already have Hughes, Hischer and Mercer at C. They’re a prime team to trade a wing to IMO.

[seattleblue]

Well I don't really want to trade Dvorsky or think he is a bust or expendable at all. The idea is giving something great to get something great. Of course I'd rather they take less

True. You do have to give to get and I could certainly see that being the price needed for a young RD. But specific to NJ, would a center even be a good fit for them? They seem to be a little thin at wing and already have Hughes, Hischer and Mercer at C. They’re a prime team to trade a wing to IMO.

It's their need for wingers to complement and improve their current team striving for playoff results as opposed to their need for centers, added to their relative glut on RD which makes the idea of trading with them appealing in the first place.

All three of us in this tangent believe you have to give to get and are realistic about that. I agree with you about the way Armstrong protected Thomas in the ROR deal as a reason to believe he will recognize the same situation with Dvorsky, and I also agree with Tim about how we might have wait til the dust settles if they really do go blockbuster with Van for the Hughes situation.

[Cahokanut]

Army has always had a boner for this guy.
Not a fan.
Sammy B was -17 last year on Florida. -21 career.
12yrs 3 seasons with more then 20 goals. 2 seasons with more then 150 hits. Neighbours with 3 yrs in, has 1 less 20 goal season and one less 150 hit season. Almost the same guy. But 6yrs older and dirty.

I rather wait on the prospect (you know. This years Plan 4)
Then bring in another guy closing in on 30.

But like Bozac, and Krug, if Army likes him. He will be took to the wood shed, getting him.

The reason why we overpaid for Bozak was because he was literally our only option for 2C at the time. By most accounts they all thought the ROR deal wasn't happening anymore and the Blues still needed another Top 6 center. When the ROR deal came back we suddenly had a surplus down the middle, which proved to be huge.

I don't agree with either assertion.
We had youth options. Barb's could of easily filled that role. But Army only saw a grinder.

Also It was at the end of free agency, with no one calling him.
5mil was offered.

[STL fan in MN]

Army has always had a boner for this guy.
Not a fan.
Sammy B was -17 last year on Florida. -21 career.
12yrs 3 seasons with more then 20 goals. 2 seasons with more then 150 hits. Neighbours with 3 yrs in, has 1 less 20 goal season and one less 150 hit season. Almost the same guy. But 6yrs older and dirty.

I rather wait on the prospect (you know. This years Plan 4)
Then bring in another guy closing in on 30.

But like Bozac, and Krug, if Army likes him. He will be took to the wood shed, getting him.

The reason why we overpaid for Bozak was because he was literally our only option for 2C at the time. By most accounts they all thought the ROR deal wasn't happening anymore and the Blues still needed another Top 6 center. When the ROR deal came back we suddenly had a surplus down the middle, which proved to be huge.

I don't agree with either assertion.
We had youth options. Barb's could of easily filled that role. But Army only saw a grinder.

Also It was at the end of free agency, with no one calling him.
5mil was offered.

End of free agency? Bozak was signed on July 1st in 2018, the first day of free agency. They traded for ROR later the same day.

I do think Barbs had more offensive potential than the role he was given here but just as he is now, he was better on LW than C back then as well. Good player but his faceoffs and defensive metrics when playing C are not good.

[TheJackBurton]

Army has always had a boner for this guy.
Not a fan.
Sammy B was -17 last year on Florida. -21 career.
12yrs 3 seasons with more then 20 goals. 2 seasons with more then 150 hits. Neighbours with 3 yrs in, has 1 less 20 goal season and one less 150 hit season. Almost the same guy. But 6yrs older and dirty.

I rather wait on the prospect (you know. This years Plan 4)
Then bring in another guy closing in on 30.

But like Bozac, and Krug, if Army likes him. He will be took to the wood shed, getting him.

The reason why we overpaid for Bozak was because he was literally our only option for 2C at the time. By most accounts they all thought the ROR deal wasn't happening anymore and the Blues still needed another Top 6 center. When the ROR deal came back we suddenly had a surplus down the middle, which proved to be huge.

I don't agree with either assertion.
We had youth options. Barb's could of easily filled that role. But Army only saw a grinder.

Also It was at the end of free agency, with no one calling him.
5mil was offered.

How could Barbs have filled a 2nd line center role?

[stlblue06]

Bennett would be a perfect fit for this Blues team (assuming he’s not WAY overpaid). Adding a playoff performer with sandpaper to our weakest position would be perfect. Our top 6 was way too soft against WPG with Scheen/Neighbors often struggling. Imagine a healthy Holloway and Bennett on the same line.

When Devo is ready Scheen can slide over to wing for 3C and eventually we could slide Bennett down or to the wing if Devo develops into a top 6 center but the Blues can’t pass on filling a huge void because that player MIGHT block a young promising prospect.

[skilles]

Well I don't really want to trade Dvorsky or think he is a bust or expendable at all. The idea is giving something great to get something great. Of course I'd rather they take less

True. You do have to give to get and I could certainly see that being the price needed for a young RD. But specific to NJ, would a center even be a good fit for them? They seem to be a little thin at wing and already have Hughes, Hischer and Mercer at C. They’re a prime team to trade a wing to IMO.

Yeah that could be, to be honest I have not looked into what they need that much. They would really probably want to make their NHL team better immediately if they are trading Nemec.

Either way if they are loaded at center and RD and need wingers we seem like a good match to make something happen but a lot of teams probably think they are a good match to trade with a team that has lots of centers and RD but needs wingers

[Cahokanut]

Army has always had a boner for this guy.
Not a fan.
Sammy B was -17 last year on Florida. -21 career.
12yrs 3 seasons with more then 20 goals. 2 seasons with more then 150 hits. Neighbours with 3 yrs in, has 1 less 20 goal season and one less 150 hit season. Almost the same guy. But 6yrs older and dirty.

I rather wait on the prospect (you know. This years Plan 4)
Then bring in another guy closing in on 30.

But like Bozac, and Krug, if Army likes him. He will be took to the wood shed, getting him.

The reason why we overpaid for Bozak was because he was literally our only option for 2C at the time. By most accounts they all thought the ROR deal wasn't happening anymore and the Blues still needed another Top 6 center. When the ROR deal came back we suddenly had a surplus down the middle, which proved to be huge.

I don't agree with either assertion.
We had youth options. Barb's could of easily filled that role. But Army only saw a grinder.

Also It was at the end of free agency, with no one calling him.
5mil was offered.

End of free agency? Bozak was signed on July 1st in 2018, the first day of free agency. They traded for ROR later the same day.

I do think Barbs had more offensive potential than the role he was given here but just as he is now, he was better on LW than C back then as well. Good player but his faceoffs and defensive metrics when playing C are not good.

My bad. 7 was a 9 on my eyes.
Barb's was a better winger. Bozac was a better third line center. Odd having no other options on first day. Anyways. No one was looking Bozacs way.

We also had Fabs, and a young Thomas. Who would of been the second line center on many teams. Needing the development.

That decision probably was the last straw for Barb's in The Lou.
We didn't make the playoffs that year. Maybe we do, if Army put some trust in his youth. Barb's with Tarasenko, was a match no coach seem to want. But could of been.
No matter, at the end of that season. We would of had a guy with that experience.(in the past)

I'd rather we go with Buch, then bring in yet another power forward

[somni]

I don't know. Sam Bennett has a chance to be this era's Bobby Holik, for you old-timers

IOW, someone is going to sign him to high dollars and long term thinking he's the main piece to a Cup. When reality is that he's supported by a well put together team that allows him to play like a loose cannon.

[skilles]

Army has always had a boner for this guy.
Not a fan.
Sammy B was -17 last year on Florida. -21 career.
12yrs 3 seasons with more then 20 goals. 2 seasons with more then 150 hits. Neighbours with 3 yrs in, has 1 less 20 goal season and one less 150 hit season. Almost the same guy. But 6yrs older and dirty.

I rather wait on the prospect (you know. This years Plan 4)
Then bring in another guy closing in on 30.

But like Bozac, and Krug, if Army likes him. He will be took to the wood shed, getting him.

The reason why we overpaid for Bozak was because he was literally our only option for 2C at the time. By most accounts they all thought the ROR deal wasn't happening anymore and the Blues still needed another Top 6 center. When the ROR deal came back we suddenly had a surplus down the middle, which proved to be huge.

I don't agree with either assertion.
We had youth options. Barb's could of easily filled that role. But Army only saw a grinder.

Also It was at the end of free agency, with no one calling him.
5mil was offered.

End of free agency? Bozak was signed on July 1st in 2018, the first day of free agency. They traded for ROR later the same day.

I do think Barbs had more offensive potential than the role he was given here but just as he is now, he was better on LW than C back then as well. Good player but his faceoffs and defensive metrics when playing C are not good.

My bad. 7 was a 9 on my eyes.
Barb's was a better winger. Bozac was a better third line center. Odd having no other options on first day. Anyways. No one was looking Bozacs way.

We also had Fabs, and a young Thomas. Who would of been the second line center on many teams. Needing the development.

That decision probably was the last straw for Barb's in The Lou.
We didn't make the playoffs that year. Maybe we do, if Army put some trust in his youth. Barb's with Tarasenko, was a match no coach seem to want. But could of been.
No matter, at the end of that season. We would of had a guy with that experience.(in the past)

I'd rather we go with Buch, then bring in yet another power forward

Probably because Tarasenko and Barbs were both weak defensive players.

[britishblue]

Army has always had a boner for this guy.
Not a fan.
Sammy B was -17 last year on Florida. -21 career.
12yrs 3 seasons with more then 20 goals. 2 seasons with more then 150 hits. Neighbours with 3 yrs in, has 1 less 20 goal season and one less 150 hit season. Almost the same guy. But 6yrs older and dirty.

I rather wait on the prospect (you know. This years Plan 4)
Then bring in another guy closing in on 30.

But like Bozac, and Krug, if Army likes him. He will be took to the wood shed, getting him.

The reason why we overpaid for Bozak was because he was literally our only option for 2C at the time. By most accounts they all thought the ROR deal wasn't happening anymore and the Blues still needed another Top 6 center. When the ROR deal came back we suddenly had a surplus down the middle, which proved to be huge.

I don't agree with either assertion.
We had youth options. Barb's could of easily filled that role. But Army only saw a grinder.

Also It was at the end of free agency, with no one calling him.
5mil was offered.

End of free agency? Bozak was signed on July 1st in 2018, the first day of free agency. They traded for ROR later the same day.

I do think Barbs had more offensive potential than the role he was given here but just as he is now, he was better on LW than C back then as well. Good player but his faceoffs and defensive metrics when playing C are not good.

My bad. 7 was a 9 on my eyes.
Barb's was a better winger. Bozac was a better third line center. Odd having no other options on first day. Anyways. No one was looking Bozacs way.

We also had Fabs, and a young Thomas. Who would of been the second line center on many teams. Needing the development.

That decision probably was the last straw for Barb's in The Lou.
We didn't make the playoffs that year. Maybe we do, if Army put some trust in his youth. Barb's with Tarasenko, was a match no coach seem to want. But could of been.
No matter, at the end of that season. We would of had a guy with that experience.(in the past)

I'd rather we go with Buch, then bring in yet another power forward

Pretty sure you are getting confused mate. Your timeline is way off.

We won the cup the year we signed Bozak.

At the time we had Schenn and Bergy as our top 6 centers. Bozak was brought in to be a middle 6 center. Thomas was about to start his rookie season, and Tage Thompson was also looking for ice time. Fabbri was also about but definitely wouldnt have been seen as a top 6 center after all his injuries.

We then traded for ROR and the rest is history.

18/19 was Barbys first full time year in the NHL, he'd played 83 nhl games over the previous 2. He was a massive part of our cup run on the 4th line.

By the time he was traded (which was bozaks 4th year, because he had signed a 1 year 750k extension not 5m) he was absolutely a top 6 player. He was a pending free agent and we were selling.

[dhsux]

Army has always had a boner for this guy.
Not a fan.
Sammy B was -17 last year on Florida. -21 career.
12yrs 3 seasons with more then 20 goals. 2 seasons with more then 150 hits. Neighbours with 3 yrs in, has 1 less 20 goal season and one less 150 hit season. Almost the same guy. But 6yrs older and dirty.

I rather wait on the prospect (you know. This years Plan 4)
Then bring in another guy closing in on 30.

But like Bozac, and Krug, if Army likes him. He will be took to the wood shed, getting him.

The reason why we overpaid for Bozak was because he was literally our only option for 2C at the time. By most accounts they all thought the ROR deal wasn't happening anymore and the Blues still needed another Top 6 center. When the ROR deal came back we suddenly had a surplus down the middle, which proved to be huge.

I don't agree with either assertion.
We had youth options. Barb's could of easily filled that role. But Army only saw a grinder.

Also It was at the end of free agency, with no one calling him.
5mil was offered.

He saw a grinder and went out and got a 1st for him?

Barbs wanted out and that was that.

[TheJackBurton]

Army has always had a boner for this guy.
Not a fan.
Sammy B was -17 last year on Florida. -21 career.
12yrs 3 seasons with more then 20 goals. 2 seasons with more then 150 hits. Neighbours with 3 yrs in, has 1 less 20 goal season and one less 150 hit season. Almost the same guy. But 6yrs older and dirty.

I rather wait on the prospect (you know. This years Plan 4)
Then bring in another guy closing in on 30.

But like Bozac, and Krug, if Army likes him. He will be took to the wood shed, getting him.

The reason why we overpaid for Bozak was because he was literally our only option for 2C at the time. By most accounts they all thought the ROR deal wasn't happening anymore and the Blues still needed another Top 6 center. When the ROR deal came back we suddenly had a surplus down the middle, which proved to be huge.

I don't agree with either assertion.
We had youth options. Barb's could of easily filled that role. But Army only saw a grinder.

Also It was at the end of free agency, with no one calling him.
5mil was offered.

He saw a grinder and went out and got a 1st for him?

Barbs wanted out and that was that.

It was more that Barbs knew the money he wanted and he wasn't going to be able to get it here.