Blues Have Leverage To Offer Sheet Certain RFAs

[TBone]

Could They Also Look To Trade For Potential RFAs For Center Help, At What Cost?

Lou Korac
Jun 3, 1025

ST. LOUIS -- Wouldn't it be great for St. Louis Blues fans to see general manager Doug Armstrong get bold and creative like he was last summer, putting together and executing a pair of offer sheets for a pair of Edmonton Oilers players Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway? It would be a clever coup and quite the way to exit center stage as the GM when Alexander Steen takes the reigns for the 2026-27 season, and they have the capital to get the job done.

Because in an ideal situation, with the Blues in search of a No. 2 type center, logical targets for offer sheets would, in my opinion, be: Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks or Ryan McLeod of the Buffalo Sabres. It's not to say the Blues can't acquire one or the other via trade, but to have the benefit of offer-sheeting one or the other would minimize the compensation to draft picks in order to do so for 2026.

At capwages.com, they have McTavish, who is 22 and is coming off a season with 22 goals and 52 points for the Ducks, coming in at a projected contract at six years with an average annual value at $6.8 million, up from his entry-level cap hit of just north of $894,000 and AAV of $3.425 million. An offer sheet in that AAV would cost the Blues a first- and a third-round pick.

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis- ... -what-cost

[Army's Mom]

Lou Lamoriello claims you are tampering with his pursuit of either , even though Lamoriello is jobless, and demands Dvorsky, Hofer, and Holloway in compensation.

[STL fan in MN]

Lou usually does decent work but this is another cr@p article. Anaheim would thank us and easily match that. They have absolutely no reason to let McTavish go. Come on now.

Not even going to click on it to see what he said about McLeod.

[dhsux]

What cap crunch are the Ducks in?

How are they ripe for an offer sheet heist?

[DawgDad]

All this armchair GM stuff is conversation to break up the offseason doldrums but the best deals are usually the ones you don't see coming.

[JoshInFenton]

The targets they have are way WAY below McTavish. Most of them are going to be at or below 3rd round value, and at or below 3C potential in most cases. There isn't another team that is in a financial pickle at this point in time, and unlikely to be given the cap moving up.

I think the blues are going to be taking chances on guys that more or less look like Texier, and maybe hope to hit on one for more than what he turned out to be. In order to do that though, they need to find takers for roster bloat at the forward position. Joseph, Sunny, Texier, someone in that group is going to have to go, 2 of them if you bring back Faksa and want to bring in an RFA guy on an offer sheet (unlikely) or on a deal for a player on his RFA deal or signing a new one (More likely).

If you want to see a success story on an RFA offer sheet, you are going to have to ignore about the top 20-25 on the list, and look for players who aren't breaking a lineup somewhere and offering a team an equivalent of a 3rd round pick to secure them.

I think the blues would be better served dealing from middle 6 winger prospect depth and a mid roster player on a 1 year deal and going after someone with potential upside that has yet to be realized, they might have a shot at that kind of move.

[skilles]

LOL Just bad journalism

[noted]

What cap crunch are the Ducks in?

How are they ripe for an offer sheet heist?

They are not in a cal crunch. Neither are the Sabres.

The Ducks would actually thank the Blues if they did this and just match.

This article is just dumb.

[Harry York 37]

Ahhh, that article is a thousand years old.

[a smell of green grass]

Take note, folks. These moves could be the ones that send the Blues down the wrong river for years. As Armstrong finds his man, will the ranking of the player among his peers be a factor? I ask because championships are won by having the best players on your team. If Army starts dressing Barbie with any old purse and shoes--because they're missing, then we have committed to mediocrity at that position for years. The Barbie is fully-dressed, but winning the beauty contest is impossible. The only benefit of that Barbie is ticket sales.

[DawgDad]

Take note, folks. These moves could be the ones that send the Blues down the wrong river for years. As Armstrong finds his man, will the ranking of the player among his peers be a factor? I ask because championships are won by having the best players on your team. If Army starts dressing Barbie with any old purse and shoes--because they're missing, then we have committed to mediocrity at that position for years. The Barbie is fully-dressed, but winning the beauty contest is impossible. The only benefit of that Barbie is ticket sales.

Take note everyone, trades are risky. The 66 point center? Nah, he didn't rank well among his peers. Hard pass.

Oh, and don't bother signing the 43 point center or the 43 point winger because those guys will just ensure more mediocrity. The 66 point wing? The one with those ugly Barbie shoes you threw out with the trash? Not again, please!

[a smell of green grass]

Take note, folks. These moves could be the ones that send the Blues down the wrong river for years. As Armstrong finds his man, will the ranking of the player among his peers be a factor? I ask because championships are won by having the best players on your team. If Army starts dressing Barbie with any old purse and shoes--because they're missing, then we have committed to mediocrity at that position for years. The Barbie is fully-dressed, but winning the beauty contest is impossible. The only benefit of that Barbie is ticket sales.

Take note everyone, trades are risky. The 66 point center? Nah, he didn't rank well among his peers. Hard pass.

Oh, and don't bother signing the 43 point center or the 43 point winger because those guys will just ensure more mediocrity. The 66 point wing? The one with those ugly Barbie shoes you threw out with the trash? Not again, please!

To summarize DawgDad…
Trades are risky. If it doesn’t work out, don’t blame Army. Blame yourself for expecting anything. However, if it does work out, glorify Army.
Mediocrity is better than a slightly-naked Barbie.

[DawgDad]

Take note, folks. These moves could be the ones that send the Blues down the wrong river for years. As Armstrong finds his man, will the ranking of the player among his peers be a factor? I ask because championships are won by having the best players on your team. If Army starts dressing Barbie with any old purse and shoes--because they're missing, then we have committed to mediocrity at that position for years. The Barbie is fully-dressed, but winning the beauty contest is impossible. The only benefit of that Barbie is ticket sales.

Take note everyone, trades are risky. The 66 point center? Nah, he didn't rank well among his peers. Hard pass.

Oh, and don't bother signing the 43 point center or the 43 point winger because those guys will just ensure more mediocrity. The 66 point wing? The one with those ugly Barbie shoes you threw out with the trash? Not again, please!

To summarize DawgDad…
Trades are risky. If it doesn’t work out, don’t blame Army. Blame yourself for expecting anything. However, if it does work out, glorify Army.
Mediocrity is better than a slightly-naked Barbie.

When I was young there was no professional hockey in town (KC at that time), so I was a baseball fan. The hometown team famously traded ALL of their good players to the Yankees, whoever the Yankees needed, every year. Roger Maris, what a heartbreaker, what a life lesson for a young kid. I won't lie, it was hard coming to terms with the notion your hometown team was destined to lose, finish last, your heroes here today gone tomorrow. Guaranteed.

Later we moved to St. Louis. Not long after there was a big trade. BIG trade. Ace pitcher shipped to the hated Cubs. Traded away, for . . . who? People everywhere scratching their heads, questioning the GM's sanity. Didn't bother me one bit, I had come to terms with how professional sports works.

Pull for your team, cheer for the players, but don't fall in love with them unless you're prepared for heartbreak. Do you fall in love with your plumber? No, you appreciate his skill and efforts. These guys are the plumbers of our sports passion. Celebrate when they win, come to terms when they lose. Never fear for the future, relish in the anticipation of what may come next. Some will succeed, some will fail, some get hurt, some get traded, some walk away. Some miss the empty net. We are spectators, it's all out of our contriol. Fear not, the worm will turn. The worm IS turning.

[Harry S Deals]

Take note, folks. These moves could be the ones that send the Blues down the wrong river for years. As Armstrong finds his man, will the ranking of the player among his peers be a factor? I ask because championships are won by having the best players on your team. If Army starts dressing Barbie with any old purse and shoes--because they're missing, then we have committed to mediocrity at that position for years. The Barbie is fully-dressed, but winning the beauty contest is impossible. The only benefit of that Barbie is ticket sales.

Take note everyone, trades are risky. The 66 point center? Nah, he didn't rank well among his peers. Hard pass.

Oh, and don't bother signing the 43 point center or the 43 point winger because those guys will just ensure more mediocrity. The 66 point wing? The one with those ugly Barbie shoes you threw out with the trash? Not again, please!

Yea but Calum Ritchie had a hattrick.....

[a smell of green grass]

Take note, folks. These moves could be the ones that send the Blues down the wrong river for years. As Armstrong finds his man, will the ranking of the player among his peers be a factor? I ask because championships are won by having the best players on your team. If Army starts dressing Barbie with any old purse and shoes--because they're missing, then we have committed to mediocrity at that position for years. The Barbie is fully-dressed, but winning the beauty contest is impossible. The only benefit of that Barbie is ticket sales.

Take note everyone, trades are risky. The 66 point center? Nah, he didn't rank well among his peers. Hard pass.

Oh, and don't bother signing the 43 point center or the 43 point winger because those guys will just ensure more mediocrity. The 66 point wing? The one with those ugly Barbie shoes you threw out with the trash? Not again, please!

To summarize DawgDad…
Trades are risky. If it doesn’t work out, don’t blame Army. Blame yourself for expecting anything. However, if it does work out, glorify Army.
Mediocrity is better than a slightly-naked Barbie.

When I was young there was no professional hockey in town (KC at that time), so I was a baseball fan. The hometown team famously traded ALL of their good players to the Yankees, whoever the Yankees needed, every year. Roger Maris, what a heartbreaker, what a life lesson for a young kid. I won't lie, it was hard coming to terms with the notion your hometown team was destined to lose, finish last, your heroes here today gone tomorrow. Guaranteed.

Later we moved to St. Louis. Not long after there was a big trade. BIG trade. Ace pitcher shipped to the hated Cubs. Traded away, for . . . who? People everywhere scratching their heads, questioning the GM's sanity. Didn't bother me one bit, I had come to terms with how professional sports works.

Pull for your team, cheer for the players, but don't fall in love with them unless you're prepared for heartbreak. Do you fall in love with your plumber? No, you appreciate his skill and efforts. These guys are the plumbers of our sports passion. Celebrate when they win, come to terms when they lose. Never fear for the future, relish in the anticipation of what may come next. Some will succeed, some will fail, some get hurt, some get traded, some walk away. Some miss the empty net. We are spectators, it's all out of our contriol. Fear not, the worm will turn. The worm IS turning.

I've had a football team stolen from my city twice. If the team in your city can't operate LIKE EVERY OTHER ONE, and if that team doesn't provide the same excitement to their fans LIKE EVERY OTHER ONE, demand better. If not, be prepared to get the scraps forever.

Other NHL cities get young Stan Musials and Wayne Gretzkys. St louis doesn't. We get the gang that can't find the net in Winnipeg.

[DawgDad]

Take note, folks. These moves could be the ones that send the Blues down the wrong river for years. As Armstrong finds his man, will the ranking of the player among his peers be a factor? I ask because championships are won by having the best players on your team. If Army starts dressing Barbie with any old purse and shoes--because they're missing, then we have committed to mediocrity at that position for years. The Barbie is fully-dressed, but winning the beauty contest is impossible. The only benefit of that Barbie is ticket sales.

Take note everyone, trades are risky. The 66 point center? Nah, he didn't rank well among his peers. Hard pass.

Oh, and don't bother signing the 43 point center or the 43 point winger because those guys will just ensure more mediocrity. The 66 point wing? The one with those ugly Barbie shoes you threw out with the trash? Not again, please!

To summarize DawgDad…
Trades are risky. If it doesn’t work out, don’t blame Army. Blame yourself for expecting anything. However, if it does work out, glorify Army.
Mediocrity is better than a slightly-naked Barbie.

When I was young there was no professional hockey in town (KC at that time), so I was a baseball fan. The hometown team famously traded ALL of their good players to the Yankees, whoever the Yankees needed, every year. Roger Maris, what a heartbreaker, what a life lesson for a young kid. I won't lie, it was hard coming to terms with the notion your hometown team was destined to lose, finish last, your heroes here today gone tomorrow. Guaranteed.

Later we moved to St. Louis. Not long after there was a big trade. BIG trade. Ace pitcher shipped to the hated Cubs. Traded away, for . . . who? People everywhere scratching their heads, questioning the GM's sanity. Didn't bother me one bit, I had come to terms with how professional sports works.

Pull for your team, cheer for the players, but don't fall in love with them unless you're prepared for heartbreak. Do you fall in love with your plumber? No, you appreciate his skill and efforts. These guys are the plumbers of our sports passion. Celebrate when they win, come to terms when they lose. Never fear for the future, relish in the anticipation of what may come next. Some will succeed, some will fail, some get hurt, some get traded, some walk away. Some miss the empty net. We are spectators, it's all out of our contriol. Fear not, the worm will turn. The worm IS turning.

I've had a football team stolen from my city twice. If the team in your city can't operate LIKE EVERY OTHER ONE, and if that team doesn't provide the same excitement to their fans LIKE EVERY OTHER ONE, demand better. If not, be prepared to get the scraps forever.

Other NHL cities get young Stan Musials and Wayne Gretzkys. St louis doesn't. We get the gang that can't find the net in Winnipeg.

I grew up a Big Red fan. I followed Johnny Roland at Mizzou and into the NFL. I attended games. My parents were season ticket holders. After the Big Red left they bought tickets to all those annual exhibition games to keep their names on "the list" for the next team. They got scammed, 100%. One day I had tickets for the Rams in the AT&T suite. Got invited over into Georgia Fs box. Met Lou Brock in person. Tried to explain to my son who he was, settled on "he was Ozzie when I was growing up". I came away sad, I could see that team wasn't part of the local fabric. It wasn't "our" team, St. Louis was their parking lot. It was only a matter of time. Without Bidwill I couldn't have seen that.