To extend or not to extend: Cam Fowler's case in St. Louis

[TBone]

A nice article from this young man.

If it's a reasonable deal, count me in the re-sign Cam camp. He showed more than Leddy, Faulk or Marco Scandella ever did.

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To extend or not to extend: Cam Fowler's case in St. Louis

The Blues have a massive decision to make this coming season with the impending free agency of defenseman Cam Fowler. Has he shown enough to earn a short-term extension as the Blues top pair skater next to Parayko, or is there more reason to be cautious?

By Alec Gau
Aug 1, 2025

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Doug Armstrong and his aging defenseman

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Doug Armstrong has been burned by signing aging defensemen before. The closest case in age would be Nick Leddy, who was released by the Blues this offseason due to performance; a deal for Fowler could end up perhaps not so bad, but not good enough to play on the top pair where he's needed.

Finally, a potential extension for Fowler could block playing time for a young and upcoming Blues defenseman, Philip Broberg. Broberg received some top-pair minutes, and while he wasn't ready for it last season, at any moment now, Broberg could break out into the excellent top-pair defenseman that Blues fans all know is in there.

A Fowler extension is a move that comes with a lot of risk that he could fall off at any moment, and there is no guarantee he can play on the top pair. Furthermore, in a potentially best-case scenario where he does stay partnered with Parayko, this blocks ice time from one of the Blues' developing stars in Broberg. There are a lot of moving parts that can't all be satisfied with Fowler on the roster beyond this coming season.

Both stances have legitimate points for and against their case. There is no doubt that Fowler was awesome last season, but Doug Armstrong, Alex Steen, and the Blues have a crucial decision to make this coming season. Should they extend Fowler? Or were you convinced that there is too much risk involved? Whatever the case may be, I think Blues fans can all agree this is a big season for #17 on the Blues.

https://bleedinblue.com/to-extend-or-no ... k1gfr9ge27

[Snuggyfresh]

A nice article from this young man.

If it's a reasonable deal, count me in the re-sign Cam camp. He showed more than Leddy, Faulk or Marco Scandella ever did.

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To extend or not to extend: Cam Fowler's case in St. Louis

The Blues have a massive decision to make this coming season with the impending free agency of defenseman Cam Fowler. Has he shown enough to earn a short-term extension as the Blues top pair skater next to Parayko, or is there more reason to be cautious?

By Alec Gau
Aug 1, 2025

- clip -

Doug Armstrong and his aging defenseman

- clip -

Doug Armstrong has been burned by signing aging defensemen before. The closest case in age would be Nick Leddy, who was released by the Blues this offseason due to performance; a deal for Fowler could end up perhaps not so bad, but not good enough to play on the top pair where he's needed.

Finally, a potential extension for Fowler could block playing time for a young and upcoming Blues defenseman, Philip Broberg. Broberg received some top-pair minutes, and while he wasn't ready for it last season, at any moment now, Broberg could break out into the excellent top-pair defenseman that Blues fans all know is in there.

A Fowler extension is a move that comes with a lot of risk that he could fall off at any moment, and there is no guarantee he can play on the top pair. Furthermore, in a potentially best-case scenario where he does stay partnered with Parayko, this blocks ice time from one of the Blues' developing stars in Broberg. There are a lot of moving parts that can't all be satisfied with Fowler on the roster beyond this coming season.

Both stances have legitimate points for and against their case. There is no doubt that Fowler was awesome last season, but Doug Armstrong, Alex Steen, and the Blues have a crucial decision to make this coming season. Should they extend Fowler? Or were you convinced that there is too much risk involved? Whatever the case may be, I think Blues fans can all agree this is a big season for #17 on the Blues.

https://bleedinblue.com/to-extend-or-no ... k1gfr9ge27

Extend 3x4 mil

[SRV1990]

Not sure I understand the authors stance that if they extend Fowler he has to play with CP as the 1st pair dman and would block Broberg from doing so (assuming Broberg is ready).

[bstpete11]

Why did they write essentially the same paragraph twice there in the middle about blocking Broberg?

I don't see how that would be an issue. If Broberg breaks out and can play top paring minutes, then you put him there and drop Fowler to the 2nd pair. And if Broberg levels off and settles in as a 3/4 type guy, then you still have Fowler to play with Parayko. You need 6 good defenseman, if Fowler isn't going to break the bank, then I think you lock him up for another 2 or 3 years.

[BluesDom]

Talk about this after season or at trade deadline.

[DawgDad]

It might wind up Broberg-Parayko and Fowler-Mailloux anyway. A lot depends on what FOWLER wants. If this was to be resolved quickly it likely would have been, right?

[b-a-a-a-rclay]

I read a rumor on another Blues site that the Blues have had a 2 year offer on the table at approximately 5.5M per year since early in the summer. The implication is that Fowler and his agent haven't given their answer.

[seattleblue]

at any moment now, Broberg could break out into the excellent top-pair defenseman that Blues fans all know is in there.

I think he means 'hopes,' not 'knows' but either way this is pretty lazy to say "all Blues fans agree with me" as the premise

[DawgDad]

I read a rumor on another Blues site that the Blues have had a 2 year offer on the table at approximately 5.5M per year since early in the summer. The implication is that Fowler and his agent haven't given their answer.

THAT makes sense to me. He probably could get more in UFA but he's going to come out all right staying in St. Louis at least a couple more seasons. I'd give him an extra mil to mentor Mailloux into a stud.

[MikoTython]

Don't know how this factors into the $ & cents, but CF resuscitated his career/value here, with this team, this past season. You'd tend to think he's smart/superstitious enough to want to make a deal here work, the Blues enough to pay the freight to keep him - the only real issue left is probably term.

[TheJackBurton]

I read a rumor on another Blues site that the Blues have had a 2 year offer on the table at approximately 5.5M per year since early in the summer. The implication is that Fowler and his agent haven't given their answer.

If there is some validity to it, I'd imagine they want a 3rd year, but will take less to get it.

Doug however likely wants to see how the season plays out for a little bit before he commits to a 3 year.

[HighStick]

He's probably enjoying a bit of summer before he decides to stay. I think Fowler will stay. The Blues are the best team he's been on in a long time.

[dhsux]

Don't know how this factors into the $ & cents, but CF resuscitated his career/value here, with this team, this past season. You'd tend to think he's smart/superstitious enough to want to make a deal here work, the Blues enough to pay the freight to keep him - the only real issue left is probably term.

If I'm him I'm certainly thinking along this track. He's the one with the resurgence and it happened here.

But I don't mind the Blues pushing term as an issue either.

It needs to work both ways.

[Snuggyfresh]

Why did they write essentially the same paragraph twice there in the middle about blocking Broberg?

I don't see how that would be an issue. If Broberg breaks out and can play top paring minutes, then you put him there and drop Fowler to the 2nd pair. And if Broberg levels off and settles in as a 3/4 type guy, then you still have Fowler to play with Parayko. You need 6 good defenseman, if Fowler isn't going to break the bank, then I think you lock him up for another 2 or 3 years.

Plus maillux cold use fowlers presence on second

[TAFKAP]

As long as it's 3 years or less, I don't see a problem. Nobody coming going to claim a spot in the Top 4 in the next 3 years. You can't build a team expecting a young player to take a spot you don't have an NHL avg guy to cover. See our 2C situation last year. Someone gets hurt and the season's in the balance. Based on the signings this Summer I think Army understands that.

[DawgDad]

As long as it's 3 years or less, I don't see a problem. Nobody coming going to claim a spot in the Top 4 in the next 3 years. You can't build a team expecting a young player to take a spot you don't have an NHL avg guy to cover. See our 2C situation last year. Someone gets hurt and the season's in the balance. Based on the signings this Summer I think Army understands that.

Three potentially decent LD players coming in Lindstein, Burns, and then Fischer, but you are spot-on none are likely to be NHL top-4 starters for 3-4 seasons or more. Lindstein could potentially be a Faulk type but he needs to step up his offense. The intriguing size guy is Fischer but he's way far away. We'll know a lot more about how Lindstein and Burns project this time next summer after a season in the A.

Fowler and Broberg is plenty good. If they get two more solid seasons out of Cam a prospect might be ready to pick up some minutes in a third contract season.