Necas: 8 years, $11.5 AAV NMC for 7 Years

[MiamiLaw]

I'll never understand how these other teams have the money to spend on players to keep them but the Blues won't touch anywhere near it. This team has MacKinnon, Makar and Landeskog but can also afford Necas with a contract that would be, by far, the largest in Blues history. $60M in signing bonuses.

The Blues will NEVER sign any substantial free agent (or retain their own) unless there is a big shift to willingness to offer market rate and the corresponding perks like NMCs and signing bonuses...

[DoneLurking]

I'll never understand how these other teams have the money to spend on players to keep them but the Blues won't touch anywhere near it. This team has MacKinnon, Makar and Landeskog but can also afford Necas with a contract that would be, by far, the largest in Blues history. $60M in signing bonuses.

The Blues will NEVER sign any substantial free agent (or retain their own) unless there is a big shift to willingness to offer market rate and the corresponding perks like NMCs and signing bonuses...

For the sake of argument, who on the Blues would command that type of contract?

And in the case of signing unrestricted free agents, a good number of teams probably wouldn’t make those kinds of offers.

[MiamiLaw]

I'll never understand how these other teams have the money to spend on players to keep them but the Blues won't touch anywhere near it. This team has MacKinnon, Makar and Landeskog but can also afford Necas with a contract that would be, by far, the largest in Blues history. $60M in signing bonuses.

The Blues will NEVER sign any substantial free agent (or retain their own) unless there is a big shift to willingness to offer market rate and the corresponding perks like NMCs and signing bonuses...

For the sake of argument, who on the Blues would command that type of contract?

And in the case of signing unrestricted free agents, a good number of teams probably wouldn’t make those kinds of offers.

The Blues have let keys to the Cup walk over contracts that were like this one (adjusted for cap, etc.).

On your last point, I agree but that's why we watch Schenn, Joseph and/or Sunny in our Top 6 while the Avs fans watch Nate, Necas, Landy and Cale/Toews. The Blues aren't the only ones but the product is not great. We have to admit that.

[DoneLurking]

I'll never understand how these other teams have the money to spend on players to keep them but the Blues won't touch anywhere near it. This team has MacKinnon, Makar and Landeskog but can also afford Necas with a contract that would be, by far, the largest in Blues history. $60M in signing bonuses.

The Blues will NEVER sign any substantial free agent (or retain their own) unless there is a big shift to willingness to offer market rate and the corresponding perks like NMCs and signing bonuses...

For the sake of argument, who on the Blues would command that type of contract?

And in the case of signing unrestricted free agents, a good number of teams probably wouldn’t make those kinds of offers.

The Blues have let keys to the Cup walk over contracts that were like this one (adjusted for cap, etc.).

On your last point, I agree but that's why we watch Schenn, Joseph and/or Sunny in our Top 6 while the Avs fans watch Nate, Necas, Landy and Cale/Toews. The Blues aren't the only ones but the product is not great. We have to admit that.

The Blues let Pietrangelo walk over a contract like that. Can’t think of another example.

I don’t think the Avalanche are a good example for the point youre making. With Pietrangelo being an exception they haven’t recently drafted or traded for those calibers of player, or in Colorado’s case that amount.

The product isn’t great, I agree. But in 2025, it’s my opinion that it’s due to a lot more than not signing Pietrangelo in 2020 or not signing massive free agent contracts in the subsequent seasons

[theograce]

I'll never understand how these other teams have the money to spend on players to keep them but the Blues won't touch anywhere near it. This team has MacKinnon, Makar and Landeskog but can also afford Necas with a contract that would be, by far, the largest in Blues history. $60M in signing bonuses.

The Blues will NEVER sign any substantial free agent (or retain their own) unless there is a big shift to willingness to offer market rate and the corresponding perks like NMCs and signing bonuses...

For the sake of argument, who on the Blues would command that type of contract?

And in the case of signing unrestricted free agents, a good number of teams probably wouldn’t make those kinds of offers.

The Blues have let keys to the Cup walk over contracts that were like this one (adjusted for cap, etc.).

On your last point, I agree but that's why we watch Schenn, Joseph and/or Sunny in our Top 6 while the Avs fans watch Nate, Necas, Landy and Cale/Toews. The Blues aren't the only ones but the product is not great. We have to admit that.

The Blues let Pietrangelo walk over a contract like that. Can’t think of another example.

I don’t think the Avalanche are a good example for the point youre making. With Pietrangelo being an exception they haven’t recently drafted or traded for those calibers of player, or in Colorado’s case that amount.

The product isn’t great, I agree. But in 2025, it’s my opinion that it’s due to a lot more than not signing Pietrangelo in 2020 or not signing massive free agent contracts in the subsequent seasons

He picked the wrong dudes to build on

150 million on buchnevich faulk and Krug is criminal.

I like Armstrong but he should have lost his job. 100%

[MiamiLaw]

I'll never understand how these other teams have the money to spend on players to keep them but the Blues won't touch anywhere near it. This team has MacKinnon, Makar and Landeskog but can also afford Necas with a contract that would be, by far, the largest in Blues history. $60M in signing bonuses.

The Blues will NEVER sign any substantial free agent (or retain their own) unless there is a big shift to willingness to offer market rate and the corresponding perks like NMCs and signing bonuses...

For the sake of argument, who on the Blues would command that type of contract?

And in the case of signing unrestricted free agents, a good number of teams probably wouldn’t make those kinds of offers.

The Blues have let keys to the Cup walk over contracts that were like this one (adjusted for cap, etc.).

On your last point, I agree but that's why we watch Schenn, Joseph and/or Sunny in our Top 6 while the Avs fans watch Nate, Necas, Landy and Cale/Toews. The Blues aren't the only ones but the product is not great. We have to admit that.

The Blues let Pietrangelo walk over a contract like that. Can’t think of another example.

I don’t think the Avalanche are a good example for the point youre making. With Pietrangelo being an exception they haven’t recently drafted or traded for those calibers of player, or in Colorado’s case that amount.

The product isn’t great, I agree. But in 2025, it’s my opinion that it’s due to a lot more than not signing Pietrangelo in 2020 or not signing massive free agent contracts in the subsequent seasons

It's frustrating to me seeing teams that have multiple big name elite players that would all be the best players on the Blues locking even more talent long term with contracts the Blues would not EVER even dream about giving. Petro is the major one but we have no clue what guys they have missed out on in FA by being known as a cheap team.

My point more though is forward looking. The Blues will not attract talent or retain theirs unless there is a major shift in the contracts they are willing to offer.

[skilles]

The Blues have signed players to these contracts, its just been a few years back so they are for less.

Its more of an evaluation problem really. Petro should have been a no brainer.

Would be interesting to figure up even what Schenn was as far as cap % VS cap% on this signing.


At this point we probably need to evaluate whoever is evaluating d men for the Blues because some very gross misreads have been made for sure.

[DoneLurking]

I'll never understand how these other teams have the money to spend on players to keep them but the Blues won't touch anywhere near it. This team has MacKinnon, Makar and Landeskog but can also afford Necas with a contract that would be, by far, the largest in Blues history. $60M in signing bonuses.

The Blues will NEVER sign any substantial free agent (or retain their own) unless there is a big shift to willingness to offer market rate and the corresponding perks like NMCs and signing bonuses...

For the sake of argument, who on the Blues would command that type of contract?

And in the case of signing unrestricted free agents, a good number of teams probably wouldn’t make those kinds of offers.

The Blues have let keys to the Cup walk over contracts that were like this one (adjusted for cap, etc.).

On your last point, I agree but that's why we watch Schenn, Joseph and/or Sunny in our Top 6 while the Avs fans watch Nate, Necas, Landy and Cale/Toews. The Blues aren't the only ones but the product is not great. We have to admit that.

The Blues let Pietrangelo walk over a contract like that. Can’t think of another example.

I don’t think the Avalanche are a good example for the point youre making. With Pietrangelo being an exception they haven’t recently drafted or traded for those calibers of player, or in Colorado’s case that amount.

The product isn’t great, I agree. But in 2025, it’s my opinion that it’s due to a lot more than not signing Pietrangelo in 2020 or not signing massive free agent contracts in the subsequent seasons

It's frustrating to me seeing teams that have multiple big name elite players that would all be the best players on the Blues locking even more talent long term with contracts the Blues would not EVER even dream about giving. Petro is the major one but we have no clue what guys they have missed out on in FA by being known as a cheap team.

My point more though is forward looking. The Blues will not attract talent or retain theirs unless there is a major shift in the contracts they are willing to offer.

It’s hard for me to agree since we don’t really have a good sample size for the entirety of the existence of the salary cap of the Blues constantly losing elite talent on account of rigid contract standards.

I guess we’ll agree to disagree.

[Harry S Deals]

Necas also got a huge signing bonus starting next year, $8 million ish paid out in Summer in one check regardless, no question. This is a major reason why the Blues didnt get a deal done with Pronger. Army offered Pietrangelo a deal, he wanted full no-movement and signing bonus clauses. The Blues passed on the signing bonus clause they have yet to commit to that kind of deal
Also recall the salary cap was frozen at $81.5 post COVID. So......its not my money to spend i dont blame the Blues in this scenario but again i have no agenda to fulfill. The Blues may be in a better position financially today without the $7.8 million signing bonus due again next summer (paid regardless of LTIR)

[blues2112]

Career averages per 82 games played:
Necas: 24 goals, 38 assists, 62 points
Kyrou: 30 goals, 36 assists, 66 points
The Thomas: 19 goals, 51 assists, 79 points.

Kyrou is a hair older than Necas, The Thomas a hair younger. Those 8.1 million cap hits are bargains.

[bluetunehead]

For comparison:

Necas will be getting 11.1% of the cap when the deal starts.

This is what our guys got:

Schenn - 8%
Buchnevich - 8.4%
Thomas - 9.7%
Kyrou - 9.7%

[Harry S Deals]

Career averages per 82 games played:
Necas: 24 goals, 38 assists, 62 points
Kyrou: 30 goals, 36 assists, 66 points
The Thomas: 19 goals, 51 assists, 79 points.

Kyrou is a hair older than Necas, The Thomas a hair younger. Those 8.1 million cap hits are bargains.

Yea good point they really are good deals. You can throw Buch and Schenn in there too although we dislike Buch's level of intensity. Blues should be in a good spot salary wise as long as they can still spend money. No worries so far on Holloway hes playing himself into an arbitration hearing whereas he seemed like a lock for 8x8

[TheJackBurton]

I'll never understand how these other teams have the money to spend on players to keep them but the Blues won't touch anywhere near it. This team has MacKinnon, Makar and Landeskog but can also afford Necas with a contract that would be, by far, the largest in Blues history. $60M in signing bonuses.

The Blues will NEVER sign any substantial free agent (or retain their own) unless there is a big shift to willingness to offer market rate and the corresponding perks like NMCs and signing bonuses...

They'll have 16 million available to sign 9 players next year.

Which isn't exactly cap hell but certainly isn't ideal for signing depth, but they'll have to get Makar under contract.

The next year is where that pain starts to set in. He likely gets between 13-15 million.

Once that happens they'll have 33 million left to sign 12 players. On top of that the majority of their star players will be well into their 30's. Mac will be 32, Nelson will be 36, Landie will be 34, Val Nichushkin will be 32(plus if he can stay out of extra curricular issues), Lehkonen will be 32 and a UFA, Toews will be 33, and Manson will be 36.

They don't have a whole lot in the minors, so they better hope that this Necas contract actually pays off for them.

[Wattage]

I'll never understand how these other teams have the money to spend on players to keep them but the Blues won't touch anywhere near it. This team has MacKinnon, Makar and Landeskog but can also afford Necas with a contract that would be, by far, the largest in Blues history. $60M in signing bonuses.

The Blues will NEVER sign any substantial free agent (or retain their own) unless there is a big shift to willingness to offer market rate and the corresponding perks like NMCs and signing bonuses...

For the sake of argument, who on the Blues would command that type of contract?

And in the case of signing unrestricted free agents, a good number of teams probably wouldn’t make those kinds of offers.

The Blues have let keys to the Cup walk over contracts that were like this one (adjusted for cap, etc.).

On your last point, I agree but that's why we watch Schenn, Joseph and/or Sunny in our Top 6 while the Avs fans watch Nate, Necas, Landy and Cale/Toews. The Blues aren't the only ones but the product is not great. We have to admit that.

The Blues let Pietrangelo walk over a contract like that. Can’t think of another example.

I don’t think the Avalanche are a good example for the point youre making. With Pietrangelo being an exception they haven’t recently drafted or traded for those calibers of player, or in Colorado’s case that amount.

The product isn’t great, I agree. But in 2025, it’s my opinion that it’s due to a lot more than not signing Pietrangelo in 2020 or not signing massive free agent contracts in the subsequent seasons

It's frustrating to me seeing teams that have multiple big name elite players that would all be the best players on the Blues locking even more talent long term with contracts the Blues would not EVER even dream about giving. Petro is the major one but we have no clue what guys they have missed out on in FA by being known as a cheap team.

My point more though is forward looking. The Blues will not attract talent or retain theirs unless there is a major shift in the contracts they are willing to offer.

Havent the blues been pretty close to the cap every year? You can criticize how the blues spend their money but they havemt been cheap persay. More like afraid to put all their eggs in the same basket. They spent more money on krug and faulk combined than petro cost.

[Mr.Snuggleupagus]

Didn't they dump Rantanen once they learned he wanted 12 million per season, this doesn't make sense.

Necas shouldn't deserve more than 10....tops.