Two Realistic UFA Options Blues Could Target in Free Agency

[moose-and-squirrel]

the question on the radio yesterday was, should STL dive into FA's this offseason or next.

imo, they don't NEED to do it this offseason. Schenn is most likely still a viable 2c for 1 more season, especially if his wingers stay healthy

then, you can re-assess what your needs are next offseason

that being said, if they can sign Duschene (sp?), I think they absolutely should

If you are strictly talking about the center market off the top of my head i think eichel is the only one thats a difference maker.

honestly, I think their priority should be extending Holloway and Broberg, which I believe they can do July 1st

also consider Buch's extension kicks in

[Younghopp1991]

the question on the radio yesterday was, should STL dive into FA's this offseason or next.

imo, they don't NEED to do it this offseason. Schenn is most likely still a viable 2c for 1 more season, especially if his wingers stay healthy

then, you can re-assess what your needs are next offseason

that being said, if they can sign Duschene (sp?), I think they absolutely should

If you are strictly talking about the center market off the top of my head i think eichel is the only one thats a difference maker.

honestly, I think their priority should be extending Holloway and Broberg, which I believe they can do July 1st

also consider Buch's extension kicks in

Yes and i believe they get that taken care of fairly quickly. But those contracts wont kick in till the following season and we have a decent amount of money coming off the books after next year.

[Army's Mom]

I’ve mentioned Pius Suter numerous times. Not a top name and he’d slot in more at 3C behind Schenn more than being a 2C to knock Schenn down to 3C, but he’d be a realistic add.

Gavrikov, while a solid player, is a LD. We just don’t have a need for him.

Would you be more in favor of suter or granlund. I dont expect granlund to put up 66 pts this coming season but seems to fit what we are looking for in a short term. Between him, faksa and schenn i feel like thats a good veteran group to learn from while also covering a bulk of our prospects nationality coming up (if that even matters). I could be way off base but it just seems like a smart low risk high reward move. And makes us better

Granlund is certainly the better player but it’d depend on if the Blues saw him as a C or LW. IMO, he’s a much better winger than center. That’d be my hesitation with Granlund.

The Dallas player I'd go after is Duchene. It’s not incredibly likely but he’s absolutely a C and Dallas is in cap trouble and won’t be able to keep everyone. I’d think he’d be willing to sign for around 3 years. So a good stopgap option. And he can absolutely still play.

Duchene would be a monster get and he can fly. Inseem to remember people harping on his 2way game in Nashville when he put up 40+ goals. I just didnt include him in this because im sure someone will overpay with the quality center shortsge in free agency the next couple offseasons. Holloway duchene kyrou would fly out there. But not much physical play outside of holloway.

Duchene with Holloway and Kyrou would be a nightmare for opponents. IJS.

[bluetunehead]

Does anyone have a good read on how Klingberg is playing? I know he was hurt most of the year. Right shot D that has played at a high level in his career. Someone will sign him to a prove it one year deal. Him and Tucker on the third pair might work.

He’s atrocious defensively.

[TheHighHat]

The author is 0 for 2

If Suter is your 2C, you're not making the playoffs.
At the projected cost, hell no, especially since he isn't a true center.
He's smaller and coming off his outlier season.
Stay far away.

Gavrikov is a LHD
Broberg-Fowler-Leddy-Tucker-Lindstein
Not happening.

Suter is not small. He is basically same size as Robert Thomas. Whether he is 2 or 3C and Schenn is the other, he’d be a big upgrade over Sunny, and that Blues team made the playoffs. Suter would be a very good get by Blues.

5'11 tall and only 180 lbs. is small, especially for a 3rd line center.

[zamadoo]

As far as UFA centers, I'm not seeing anyone who I think we could reasonably sign that wouldn't just go back to the team they're on other than maybe Brock Nelson. I wouldn't mind him on a 1-2 year deal, but not sure that's what we could get.

I think if we're only going UFA route, we'd be better off just re-signing Faksa and Alexandrov and going with what we've got.

As for UFA D - I would basically say the same thing. Maybe we can get Ekblad, and I would be fine with that decision on the term/cost. My only questions would be how much doe he have left, and how much drive would he have to leave FLA and try to emulate that success for the duration of his career. Ceci might be a nice add, but I'd be fine just bringing back Suter or going with what we have. Does Brent Burns have anything left? Suter+Burns bottom pairing

I'm thinking we're mostly going with what we've got but maybe some tradework being done that we aren't expecting and would be hard to guess. ROR back to STL is an interesting idea. I'm also wondering if we could recoup some picks.

[moose-and-squirrel]

As far as UFA centers, I'm not seeing anyone who I think we could reasonably sign that wouldn't just go back to the team they're on other than maybe Brock Nelson. I wouldn't mind him on a 1-2 year deal, but not sure that's what we could get.

I think if we're only going UFA route, we'd be better off just re-signing Faksa and Alexandrov and going with what we've got.

As for UFA D - I would basically say the same thing. Maybe we can get Ekblad, and I would be fine with that decision on the term/cost. My only questions would be how much doe he have left, and how much drive would he have to leave FLA and try to emulate that success for the duration of his career. Ceci might be a nice add, but I'd be fine just bringing back Suter or going with what we have. Does Brent Burns have anything left? Suter+Burns bottom pairing

I'm thinking we're mostly going with what we've got but maybe some tradework being done that we aren't expecting and would be hard to guess. ROR back to STL is an interesting idea. I'm also wondering if we could recoup some picks.

at this point, is Nelson better than what we already have?

[zamadoo]

Edit: sorry forgot to tag you moose

I'm not sure, but this is his competition:

Sunny
Dvo
Alexandrov (pending re-signing)
Dean
Peterson?
Kaskimaki? (did these guys play center or wing? thought Peterson was C and Kaskimaki was W)

Goals have gone down from 37, 36, 34 to 26, but he had 56pts and +8 across two teams last season. Was 52% on the draw, but that's good for him. I would probably pass but wouldn't be upset if we signed him to a 1 year deal as insurance.

I think the point of my post was that unless we're getting one of the top studs like Marner, Bennett, Tavares, Duchene, or Ekblad, I don't think it's really worth it, and I'm not sure it's possible or worth it for any of them either.

[moose-and-squirrel]

Edit: sorry forgot to tag you moose

I'm not sure, but this is his competition:

Sunny
Dvo
Alexandrov (pending re-signing)
Dean
Peterson?
Kaskimaki? (did these guys play center or wing? thought Peterson was C and Kaskimaki was W)

Goals have gone down from 37, 36, 34 to 26, but he had 56pts and +8 across two teams last season. Was 52% on the draw, but that's good for him. I would probably pass but wouldn't be upset if we signed him to a 1 year deal as insurance.

I think the point of my post was that unless we're getting one of the top studs like Marner, Bennett, Tavares, Duchene, or Ekblad, I don't think it's really worth it, and I'm not sure it's possible or worth it for any of them either.

agree with this. I just still have PTSD from the Hayes fiasco

[zamadoo]

Edit: sorry forgot to tag you moose

I'm not sure, but this is his competition:

Sunny
Dvo
Alexandrov (pending re-signing)
Dean
Peterson?
Kaskimaki? (did these guys play center or wing? thought Peterson was C and Kaskimaki was W)

Goals have gone down from 37, 36, 34 to 26, but he had 56pts and +8 across two teams last season. Was 52% on the draw, but that's good for him. I would probably pass but wouldn't be upset if we signed him to a 1 year deal as insurance.

I think the point of my post was that unless we're getting one of the top studs like Marner, Bennett, Tavares, Duchene, or Ekblad, I don't think it's really worth it, and I'm not sure it's possible or worth it for any of them either.

agree with this. I just still have PTSD from the Hayes fiasco

I hear ya. Just based off what's available and what has been discussed, what do you think about the following:

Trade Faulk for ROR (and Leddy if they'll take him)
Sign Ekblad 7/$8M

[moose-and-squirrel]

Edit: sorry forgot to tag you moose

I'm not sure, but this is his competition:

Sunny
Dvo
Alexandrov (pending re-signing)
Dean
Peterson?
Kaskimaki? (did these guys play center or wing? thought Peterson was C and Kaskimaki was W)

Goals have gone down from 37, 36, 34 to 26, but he had 56pts and +8 across two teams last season. Was 52% on the draw, but that's good for him. I would probably pass but wouldn't be upset if we signed him to a 1 year deal as insurance.

I think the point of my post was that unless we're getting one of the top studs like Marner, Bennett, Tavares, Duchene, or Ekblad, I don't think it's really worth it, and I'm not sure it's possible or worth it for any of them either.

agree with this. I just still have PTSD from the Hayes fiasco

I hear ya. Just based off what's available and what has been discussed, what do you think about the following:

Trade Faulk for ROR (and Leddy if they'll take him)
Sign Ekblad 7/$8M

I'd be 'ok' with that. I like Faulk more than most, but def not untouchable.
and I know some on here would point out ROR's footspeed, but when I watched him last year, he looked to be the same as he ever was. not faster, not slower. he'd def be a stopgap at this point

[zamadoo]

Edit: sorry forgot to tag you moose

I'm not sure, but this is his competition:

Sunny
Dvo
Alexandrov (pending re-signing)
Dean
Peterson?
Kaskimaki? (did these guys play center or wing? thought Peterson was C and Kaskimaki was W)

Goals have gone down from 37, 36, 34 to 26, but he had 56pts and +8 across two teams last season. Was 52% on the draw, but that's good for him. I would probably pass but wouldn't be upset if we signed him to a 1 year deal as insurance.

I think the point of my post was that unless we're getting one of the top studs like Marner, Bennett, Tavares, Duchene, or Ekblad, I don't think it's really worth it, and I'm not sure it's possible or worth it for any of them either.

agree with this. I just still have PTSD from the Hayes fiasco

I hear ya. Just based off what's available and what has been discussed, what do you think about the following:

Trade Faulk for ROR (and Leddy if they'll take him)
Sign Ekblad 7/$8M

I'd be 'ok' with that. I like Faulk more than most, but def not untouchable.
and I know some on here would point out ROR's footspeed, but when I watched him last year, he looked to be the same as he ever was. not faster, not slower. he'd def be a stopgap at this point

I feel similarly about Schenn, and also don't hate Faulk. It might be kind of weird bringing ROR (former C) back and having Schenn as C now. I would think ROR would be the 2C, though it would really make our lines more of a blend. Highly unlikely any of this happens, and really starting to think we just go with what we've got to start the season. Would like to at least move on from Leddy, but we're a bit lacking in depth on D. Would be cool to see Army find a way to sign Ekblad and keep Faulk as 3RD until Jiricek is ready.

[SameOldBlues]

Yuck on all of these has beens/retreads/never weres that have already been mentioned. Id much prefer Army go young and either find an up and comer with nice potential. Not one available for trade right now? Then stick with what we’ve got until there is one.

[Zizzle1297]

What about UFA Morgan Geekie? Could he be an option at Center?

[hockey jedi]

I vote to just grow from our own system. Posters would have been fine with bringing Dvo up last January after the WJC. He performed well in Springfield. Have Dvo and Schenn as your interchangeable 2C and 3C. Also, consideration to Zach Dean, who many posters feel is a legitimate prospect. We have all of these prospects coming up and I don't want to block them and max out our cap with free agent signings.

[Harry York 37]

Dean came back from a long injury and almost set the ice on fire.
Alexandrov, on paper, is ready for another closeup.
With Sunny as a mentor and with Sunny needing as much rest as we can make him take, maybe Sunny can find a good role on next years team on the last year of his contract. That guy bleeds blue and it will not be fun to see him go away, someday.