UFA Targets #2 Centers

[kimzey59]

Given the style of play that Army seems to value; keep an eye on Brock Nelson. I definitely see him being high on Army’s list(even if I personally think he’s the exact opposite of what we need).

[clemonsonroots]

Wish list in order for the two center positions to fill

1 sign Faksa back at a lower cost deal- 2.25 for 2 years?
then add one more
1 Sam Bennett- would be perfect grit center with speed and a little talent with the puck. However, rumors are out there that he could get 6-7 years at 7.5 million. That is crazy. Even if he is a gamer, he is not enough of an offensive threat and at his age to allocate that kind of money long term. At 5 years for 6 a year, I would be all in.
2 Ryan O'Reilly- he still has something left in the tank. Nashville seems like they would be interested in moving him. Would they deal him to their number one or two rival in the Blues? If the rumors about them asking him where he would want to go are true, maybe. What would it cost? Would something like a 2026 1st and Jakob stancl get it done? I don't know, but I do know that O'Reilly would be a great locker room presence and leader on the team while putting up 45-55 points in a 3rd line role with Neighbors and Bolduc next to him.
3 Brock Nelson- Mr. Consistency in the points department, but he is 33 going on 34. Should still be capable of putting up a 25 goal 30 assist season though. How much will he cost? I would think there will be some competition for his services. While I would rather have a 3 year deal with him at most, I could see a team giving 4 to get him. I think an avg annual value of 5 to 6 million would be the likely rate.
4 Matt Duchene- A point per game player- he likely pushes Schenn down to the 3rd line. He will turn 35 next season. I would put him higher on my list, but I fear that the market will get him a 3 year deal at 7 mil a year, and I don't think it would be a great idea to give that out to someone at his age. i would still be pretty excited if we did though.

What will likely happen- Army will do something that we did not see coming. He does this. Maybe it is dealing someone we didn't think to move salary and a big trade. Maybe it is a trade for someone that fits into the cap. Hell, maybe he goes and poaches another rfa- though much less likely with the cap going up that anyone does that again with any frequency. I would not be surprised though if he did turn to one of his guys in O'Reilly. So, if I had to bet, it would be someone we don't see coming, O'Reilly, and then a free agent signing in that order.

I don't see anything changing in our defensive corps, but again cannot bet anything with Army.
Predicted Lines:
LW C RW
Holloway Thomas Kyrou
Buchnevich Schenn Snuggerud
Neighbors O'Reilly Bolduc
Toropo Faksa Walker

D D
Parayko Fowler
Broberg Faulk
Tucker Leddy

Pressbox
Joseph/Texier Sunqvist Kessel

G
Binnington
Hofer
*Texier or Joseph moved or released

[smegma]

Wish list in order for the two center positions to fill

1 sign Faksa back at a lower cost deal- 2.25 for 2 years?
then add one more
1 Sam Bennett- would be perfect grit center with speed and a little talent with the puck. However, rumors are out there that he could get 6-7 years at 7.5 million. That is crazy. Even if he is a gamer, he is not enough of an offensive threat and at his age to allocate that kind of money long term. At 5 years for 6 a year, I would be all in.
2 Ryan O'Reilly- he still has something left in the tank. Nashville seems like they would be interested in moving him. Would they deal him to their number one or two rival in the Blues? If the rumors about them asking him where he would want to go are true, maybe. What would it cost? Would something like a 2026 1st and Jakob stancl get it done? I don't know, but I do know that O'Reilly would be a great locker room presence and leader on the team while putting up 45-55 points in a 3rd line role with Neighbors and Bolduc next to him.
3 Brock Nelson- Mr. Consistency in the points department, but he is 33 going on 34. Should still be capable of putting up a 25 goal 30 assist season though. How much will he cost? I would think there will be some competition for his services. While I would rather have a 3 year deal with him at most, I could see a team giving 4 to get him. I think an avg annual value of 5 to 6 million would be the likely rate.
4 Matt Duchene- A point per game player- he likely pushes Schenn down to the 3rd line. He will turn 35 next season. I would put him higher on my list, but I fear that the market will get him a 3 year deal at 7 mil a year, and I don't think it would be a great idea to give that out to someone at his age. i would still be pretty excited if we did though.

What will likely happen- Army will do something that we did not see coming. He does this. Maybe it is dealing someone we didn't think to move salary and a big trade. Maybe it is a trade for someone that fits into the cap. Hell, maybe he goes and poaches another rfa- though much less likely with the cap going up that anyone does that again with any frequency. I would not be surprised though if he did turn to one of his guys in O'Reilly. So, if I had to bet, it would be someone we don't see coming, O'Reilly, and then a free agent signing in that order.

I don't see anything changing in our defensive corps, but again cannot bet anything with Army.
Predicted Lines:
LW C RW
Holloway Thomas Kyrou
Buchnevich Schenn Snuggerud
Neighbors O'Reilly Bolduc
Toropo Faksa Walker

D D
Parayko Fowler
Broberg Faulk
Tucker Leddy

Pressbox
Joseph/Texier Sunqvist Kessel

G
Binnington
Hofer
*Texier or Joseph moved or released

Way too high for ROR, I'd like him as a short stop gap, but not at that cost. We really don't know what we have in Jakob Stancl yet. And a 1st on top of it. I don't think ROR impressed Nashville. So I think we could get him for much less.

[DawgDad]

ROR? Did any of you watch him play last season? My goodness, he's a cracked shell of his former self! Schenn is the better player now.

[skilles]

ROR? Did any of you watch him play last season? My goodness, he's a cracked shell of his former self! Schenn is the better player now.

That is kind of the point, while I think you are exaggerating we are not really in a position to acquire a prime ROR.

Low cost, short term 50 point 2 way center. Nashville used him as their #1 forward/center....we don't need him to do that.

Buch/Thomas/Snug
Holloway/Schenn/Kyrou
Neighbours/ROR/Bolduc
Toro/Faksa/Walker

You could do a lot worse

[blues2112]

ROR? Did any of you watch him play last season? My goodness, he's a cracked shell of his former self! Schenn is the better player now.

That is kind of the point, while I think you are exaggerating we are not really in a position to acquire a prime ROR.

Low cost, short term 50 point 2 way center. Nashville used him as their #1 forward/center....we don't need him to do that.

Buch/Thomas/Snug
Holloway/Schenn/Kyrou
Neighbours/ROR/Bolduc
Toro/Faksa/Walker

You could do a lot worse

In totality, that's brutally old and slow in the middle. Why tie up 4.5 million the next two seasons on ROR?

[skilles]

ROR? Did any of you watch him play last season? My goodness, he's a cracked shell of his former self! Schenn is the better player now.

That is kind of the point, while I think you are exaggerating we are not really in a position to acquire a prime ROR.

Low cost, short term 50 point 2 way center. Nashville used him as their #1 forward/center....we don't need him to do that.

Buch/Thomas/Snug
Holloway/Schenn/Kyrou
Neighbours/ROR/Bolduc
Toro/Faksa/Walker

You could do a lot worse

In totality, that's brutally old and slow in the middle. Why tie up 4.5 million the next two seasons on ROR?

Well theoretically because the sexier options are not really options and that is much better than nothing.

In terms of off season cap space even that is pushing it.

There are plenty of things I'd like better but I'm not sure its reasonable to think we can move guys like Joseph and Texier to even have the cap space to do any better and I don't want to get into some big long term contract that we don't like later.

[Lone_Ranger]

We have our #2 center. That is, someone that plays very well with the wingers that are on what we are calling our #2 line. We need a #3 to play with Bolduc and Neighbours. I wouldn't be surprised if they brought back ROR. Two years at 4.5 per. 53 points. Good faceoffs. Nashville wanted to move him, but were acting like he had a no trade....asking him where he wanted to go. Sounds like a fit.

I'd take ROR back in a heart-beat if it was doable.

[STL fan in MN]

Granlund’s much stronger on LW than C these days. He played C to start the season in SJ but not sure I see him as a great option at C going forward.

Are there any legit 2c's you'd like to see us get that you think we could get without giving up too many assets or term?

That’s the hard part isn’t it? Getting a quality player without overpaying in terms of cash, term or assets.

Most of the high profile UFA Cs like Tavares, Duchene and Bennett have been discussed ad nauseam but two other Cs that are pending UFAs that might be able to help us would be Jack Roslovic and Pius Suter. Both seem to bounce around between both center and wing but pretty sure I saw Roslovic as the Canes 2C the other night. Whether they’d slot in at 2C here or 3C with Schenn retaining the 2C role, they’d certainly add to our center depth and push Sunny out of the 3C role. Those would be two guys I’d kick the tires on and see how much they’d cost in free agency.

As for guys we could trade for, there’s numerous but you just never know what all players might be available. I can’t think of hearing any trade rumors on any viable 2Cs lately but it’d be great if the Blues could trade for someone like Vincent Trocheck, Ryan McLeod, Josh Norris, Pavel Zacha, Casey Mittelstadt, Shane Pinto, Philip Danault, Ryan Strome, Casey Cizikas etc.

[TheJackBurton]

well I think it's safe to say Tavares is gone:

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
·
19m
John Tavares says he spoke with Leafs GM Brad Treliving today and he’s optimistic that maybe he will be back perhaps. But obviously none of that is for sure at this point.

[skilles]

well I think it's safe to say Tavares is gone:

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
·
19m
John Tavares says he spoke with Leafs GM Brad Treliving today and he’s optimistic that maybe he will be back perhaps. But obviously none of that is for sure at this point.

and whether he stays with the Leafs or not the chances he chooses the Blues are very slim IMO.

[TheJackBurton]

well I think it's safe to say Tavares is gone:

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
·
19m
John Tavares says he spoke with Leafs GM Brad Treliving today and he’s optimistic that maybe he will be back perhaps. But obviously none of that is for sure at this point.

and whether he stays with the Leafs or not the chances he chooses the Blues are very slim IMO.

I agree. He likely looks to go to somewhere they have a really great shot of winning the cup.

[bluetunehead]

If the Blues want to be contenders they legit need two centers this summer, similar to 2019. One will need to come via trade I believe.

If you're talking about Top 9 centers then I don't think that's plausible with Thomas and Schenn already here. Schenn is ideally a 3C by usage, sure, but he's not going to be a 4C and we have plenty of other options for Top 9 wing right now with the emergence of Holloway, Bolduc, and Snuggerud.

Not necessarily how I'd break it out, but just to get the names on there...

Buch / Thomas / Bolduc
Holloway / Schenn / Kyrou
Neighbours / _____ / Snuggerud

If you can find a legit Top 6 C to fill that empty slot it's a very potent Top 9. I'm not seeing two spots without Schenn moving to 4C (unlikely) or wing (somebody else would have to be on the move).

[skilles]

well I think it's safe to say Tavares is gone:

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
·
19m
John Tavares says he spoke with Leafs GM Brad Treliving today and he’s optimistic that maybe he will be back perhaps. But obviously none of that is for sure at this point.

and whether he stays with the Leafs or not the chances he chooses the Blues are very slim IMO.

I agree. He likely looks to go to somewhere they have a really great shot of winning the cup.

Very good chance we are going to have to explore the bargin bin IMO, I just don't think we can compete in the primary market for various reasons...some of which are really good reasons (Dvorsky)

Gonna be very difficult to compete in UFA with teams that don't have a Dvorsky.

[aroos]

Consider Pius Suter as a 3rd line centre. He's a UFA, is excellently defensively and potted 25 goals (a career high and not likely to be repeated) for the Canucks this year. Hes under 30 and shouldn't be too expensive.

[bud white]

well I think it's safe to say Tavares is gone:

Pierre LeBrun
@PierreVLeBrun
·
19m
John Tavares says he spoke with Leafs GM Brad Treliving today and he’s optimistic that maybe he will be back perhaps. But obviously none of that is for sure at this point.

and whether he stays with the Leafs or not the chances he chooses the Blues are very slim IMO.

I agree. He likely looks to go to somewhere they have a really great shot of winning the cup.

Very good chance we are going to have to explore the bargin bin IMO, I just don't think we can compete in the primary market for various reasons...some of which are really good reasons (Dvorsky)

Gonna be very difficult to compete in UFA with teams that don't have a Dvorsky.

Jeez...pump the brakes on this kid. He was ok at the A this year. He probably has 2 years left down there. 21g 24A and a -10 is world beating yet. Let's see him dominate the A first.