skilles wrote: ↑15 Jan 2026 01:04 am
At this point to be honest I'm probably not doing much unless the offers a very good, selling low is a bad idea. Unless I'm getting a premium for these guys I think we are best severed by letting them help the next generation get there feet under them. Specially on d, we have a lot of young forwards developing and I think that process goes much better with the best d we can give them. If I'm selling I'm looking at Bennington and Schenn.
Unless someone wants to pay a premium for Buch and Kyrou I'm not selling low right now.
^This. And this is probably what will happen. Carbonneau and Jiricek will likely start out next year in the AHL, like Stenberg and Lindstein this year. No need to rush them.
I would call up Lindstein soon, although they may wait until after the Olympic break.
I love Sunny, but he seems to be running on fumes at this point. They'll need a longer term answer for 4C.
skilles wrote: ↑15 Jan 2026 01:04 am
At this point to be honest I'm probably not doing much unless the offers a very good, selling low is a bad idea. Unless I'm getting a premium for these guys I think we are best severed by letting them help the next generation get there feet under them. Specially on d, we have a lot of young forwards developing and I think that process goes much better with the best d we can give them. If I'm selling I'm looking at Bennington and Schenn.
Unless someone wants to pay a premium for Buch and Kyrou I'm not selling low right now.
Who says this is the low point? Buch/Kyrou could go lower and Buch likely will as he ages.
The problem with just trading Binnington/Schenn is they're heart and soul guys on a team lacking in both and you're keeping the players who show a complete lack of either. This team needs a cultural shift and keeping the malcontents while trading off a couple warriors would send a horrible message. Team needs a shake up and a push towards players who bring it night in and night out. I don't want Buch or Kyrou mentoring any of our young prospects on how to play in the NHL.
101 guys were talking about there's chatter on the potential to move Thomas. They cited some sources, said Eckland was the only one not claiming the rumor.
I believe the main point here of the speculators was to make a big change to impact the lackluster play more of others than anything against Thomas. Basically, a huge team shake up.
Then they all spoke of how hard it would be to replace him. Seemed goofy to me.
dhsux wrote: ↑15 Jan 2026 12:34 pm
101 guys were talking about there's chatter on the potential to move Thomas. They cited some sources, said Eckland was the only one not claiming the rumor.
I believe the main point here of the speculators was to make a big change to impact the lackluster play more of others than anything against Thomas. Basically, a huge team shake up.
Then they all spoke of how hard it would be to replace him. Seemed goofy to me.
The return would need to be a #1 center coming back or future #1 center. You can't move he and Schenn..............Thomas hasn't been great this year but who has? He's a #1 center on all but a handful of teams so if you move him and get less back.......it's a longer rebuild IMO.
dhsux wrote: ↑15 Jan 2026 12:34 pm
101 guys were talking about there's chatter on the potential to move Thomas. They cited some sources, said Eckland was the only one not claiming the rumor.
I believe the main point here of the speculators was to make a big change to impact the lackluster play more of others than anything against Thomas. Basically, a huge team shake up.
Then they all spoke of how hard it would be to replace him. Seemed goofy to me.
The return would need to be a #1 center coming back or future #1 center. You can't move he and Schenn..............Thomas hasn't been great this year but who has? He's a #1 center on all but a handful of teams so if you move him and get less back.......it's a longer rebuild IMO.
Thomas+ for McDavid, who would do it because Broberg and Holloway recommended STL.
Bluesfan1978 wrote: ↑15 Jan 2026 11:01 am
Many good points in this thread, glad I'm not the GM.
This might be showing my old school mentality but I'd want to know what Blues didn't attend the HOF ceremony honouring Chase, Jackman, Steen and Arbour. If there wasn't a good reason for them not to be there then I'd probably be shipping them out. Couldn't think of 4 people that represented the Blues more than those 4.
Need to correct myself. Apparently there was only 15 tickets available for the players and others wanted to go. I guess I can’t use this to decide what players to trade.
dhsux wrote: ↑15 Jan 2026 12:34 pm
101 guys were talking about there's chatter on the potential to move Thomas. They cited some sources, said Eckland was the only one not claiming the rumor.
I believe the main point here of the speculators was to make a big change to impact the lackluster play more of others than anything against Thomas. Basically, a huge team shake up.
Then they all spoke of how hard it would be to replace him. Seemed goofy to me.
Like Ive been saying the unfortunate part is the big shake up that is needed is big changes among the people that decide what shake ups to make and that probably doesn't end well.
If they don't move Faulk, Schenn and Binnington then they are doomed.
Those guys are all tradeable. I wouldn't be so concerned with the return, although of course would like to get as much as possible but with the cap space those moves would create, they could get a real difference maker.
Spend the rest of this year letting the younger guys continue to develop. While I haven't seen much in the way of star power I do see guys that have room to grow and are NHL caliber contributors. And a few really intriguing prospects in the pipeline.
By moving the younger guys into more prominent roles this year and after moving the three listed above, that should result in a premium pick.
Thomas goes nowhere. They have no centers as it is so trading a guy that at a minimum is a great 2c is foolish. You add around him.
And somebody tell Monty that Snuggy plays every da#n shift with Thomas the rest of the year.
Of course I would love to ditch Fowler and Buch as well but that will be tougher if even possible.. Suter, Bjukstadt and some of those types can go as well.
You make a final determination on Kyrou. If they want to move him that's fine with me. If they decide not too, come out and say he is here to stay and will play so there is no point in discussing it further.
Do this, and this doesn't have to be a 5 year "rebuild". That of course assumes they make the right draft pick with their premium pick and spend the free agent cap space money wisely. Spend the cap space on another Buch and this becomes a long-term mess.
skilles wrote: ↑15 Jan 2026 01:04 am
At this point to be honest I'm probably not doing much unless the offers a very good, selling low is a bad idea. Unless I'm getting a premium for these guys I think we are best severed by letting them help the next generation get there feet under them. Specially on d, we have a lot of young forwards developing and I think that process goes much better with the best d we can give them. If I'm selling I'm looking at Bennington and Schenn.
Unless someone wants to pay a premium for Buch and Kyrou I'm not selling low right now.
Who says this is the low point? Buch/Kyrou could go lower and Buch likely will as he ages.
The problem with just trading Binnington/Schenn is they're heart and soul guys on a team lacking in both and you're keeping the players who show a complete lack of either. This team needs a cultural shift and keeping the malcontents while trading off a couple warriors would send a horrible message. Team needs a shake up and a push towards players who bring it night in and night out. I don't want Buch or Kyrou mentoring any of our young prospects on how to play in the NHL.
Its about contracts neither of Buch or Kyrou are likely logical deadline moves while Binnington and Schenn are and at this point Binny is as much whats wrong with this team as anything.
IF you want to move Kyrou you quit dogging on him all the time, put him in a prime position, let him play his game and score points then you trade him.
Kyrou has been handled just terribly by this organization
Talking to a friends who is a diehard Canucks fan -- he posited an interesting hockey trade -- Thomas and Kyrou for Elias P and Brock Boeser. Vancouver would come out with a slight two mil cap advantage while the teams and player would all have a fresh start. Leaving aside issues like movement clause etc. an actually interesting proposal. Maybe trading one culture issues with another though.
IsDurbanodoingtime wrote: ↑22 Jan 2026 12:22 pm
Talking to a friends who is a diehard Canucks fan -- he posited an interesting hockey trade -- Thomas and Kyrou for Elias P and Brock Boeser. Vancouver would come out with a slight two mil cap advantage while the teams and player would all have a fresh start. Leaving aside issues like movement clause etc. an actually interesting proposal. Maybe trading one culture issues with another though.
Van can keep peterson. We want their #1. Wont happen but if thomas goes to van we need that.
IsDurbanodoingtime wrote: ↑22 Jan 2026 12:22 pm
Talking to a friends who is a diehard Canucks fan -- he posited an interesting hockey trade -- Thomas and Kyrou for Elias P and Brock Boeser. Vancouver would come out with a slight two mil cap advantage while the teams and player would all have a fresh start. Leaving aside issues like movement clause etc. an actually interesting proposal. Maybe trading one culture issues with another though.
Van can keep peterson. We want their #1. Wont happen but if thomas goes to van we need that.
That would be very interesting. Their first and boeser or debrusk to make the money work? Don't see them giving up their first given its likely a top three pick.
Move at the Deadline: Schenn
Faulk
Kyrou - would love to think we could keep him and he'd excel; unfortunately the truth is this bridge just feels too burnt between player, coach, GM and fans. It would be a disservice to team and player to play this out much longer. This is the Arenado situation of the Blues org.
Thomas - oh boy... I think Thomas is a great player. I want to keep him on this team. HOWEVER, I don't think he's ever going to be the #1 center that bridges the gap between this Blues team and the true contenders. I think he's the type of #2 center that makes the right team an instant threat. I don't think the Blues are the right team for several reasons but more importantly because I think the Blues ultimately need to bring in a true #1 center and I don't think that will ever sit well with Thomas here. So, I know it will destroy the compete on this team for a season or two, but I think to truly move this organization forward you have to part ways sooner than later with Thomas.
If you can get assets, move them; otherwise, play out their contracts: Bjugstad
Fabbri
Joseph
Sundqvist
Walker
Fowler
Kessel
Tucker
Binnington
Buchnevich - what an enigma. If anyone will take him, do it. Otherwise, he has one more offseason to come back and prove he's a top six worth his contract. If he fails next season you eat whatever [shirt] sandwich you have to and pull the cord quick and early.
What I'm targeting to acquire:
- 1+ legit young center prospect
- an aging (even if expensive) veteran center capable of filling 1C duties for a year or two
- at least one top six capable player with real physicality and size
- at least one bottom six thumper with acceptable speed (a better Lucic)
- a top 4 RD with primary skillset being stay at home defensive dman
- 2 serviceable LDs with at least one being a defensive dman
- load up on the best top six pick/prospects we can get in trade and draft
The basis I'm working off of for 2026 with changes depending on what I'd be able to acquire via trade, draft, FA:
Holloway - C - Snuggerud
Neighbours - Dvorsky - Buchnevich
Stenberg - Suter - Berggren
Walker - Sundqvist - Torophchenko
