McMichael

[skilles]

I think another thing people are gonna have to get used to with all this expansion is not only prices going up but the quality of player you get for that money going down

Would 5 x 6-7 get in the way of Snuggerud or Neighbours?

Unless McM really shows us something I would rank both of them as more valuable than him.

I really think you just have to worry about that when the time comes. Just avoid bad contracts, the more good contracts the better IMO.

[skilles]

I think another thing people are gonna have to get used to with all this expansion is not only prices going up but the quality of player you get for that money going down

Would 5 x 6-7 get in the way of Snuggerud or Neighbours?

Unless McM really shows us something I would rank both of them as more valuable than him.

McMichael has outproduced Neighbours so far. I can understand valuing Neighbours more because of the intangibles he brings but as the two players stand today, McMichael would be worth more in terms of what sort of contract they could command.

And no, I don’t think a McMichael contract in the range of $6.5M gets in the way or re-signing either of those 2.

What do you think of McMichaels skills/upside?

[STL fan in MN]

I think another thing people are gonna have to get used to with all this expansion is not only prices going up but the quality of player you get for that money going down

Would 5 x 6-7 get in the way of Snuggerud or Neighbours?

Unless McM really shows us something I would rank both of them as more valuable than him.

McMichael has outproduced Neighbours so far. I can understand valuing Neighbours more because of the intangibles he brings but as the two players stand today, McMichael would be worth more in terms of what sort of contract they could command.

And no, I don’t think a McMichael contract in the range of $6.5M gets in the way or re-signing either of those 2.

What do you think of McMichaels skills/upside?

Solid 2nd line LW with speed and decent scoring touch. Has room to grow defensively. Can play C in a pinch.

[skilles]

I think another thing people are gonna have to get used to with all this expansion is not only prices going up but the quality of player you get for that money going down

Would 5 x 6-7 get in the way of Snuggerud or Neighbours?

Unless McM really shows us something I would rank both of them as more valuable than him.

McMichael has outproduced Neighbours so far. I can understand valuing Neighbours more because of the intangibles he brings but as the two players stand today, McMichael would be worth more in terms of what sort of contract they could command.

And no, I don’t think a McMichael contract in the range of $6.5M gets in the way or re-signing either of those 2.

What do you think of McMichaels skills/upside?

Solid 2nd line LW with speed and decent scoring touch. Has room to grow defensively. Can play C in a pinch.

I'm always picky on the long term left wing investments. I feel like that is where its easiest to get a lot of goals and/or cheap goals.

[kimzey59]

I think another thing people are gonna have to get used to with all this expansion is not only prices going up but the quality of player you get for that money going down

Would 5 x 6-7 get in the way of Snuggerud or Neighbours?

Unless McM really shows us something I would rank both of them as more valuable than him.

McMichael has outproduced Neighbours so far. I can understand valuing Neighbours more because of the intangibles he brings but as the two players stand today, McMichael would be worth more in terms of what sort of contract they could command.

And no, I don’t think a McMichael contract in the range of $6.5M gets in the way or re-signing either of those 2.

What do you think of McMichaels skills/upside?

He's already posted a 26 goal, 57 point season.
Leveling off in that neighborhood is a pretty safe bet and I don't think 70 points is completely unreasonable if he clicks with somebody.
He's actually been buried a bit playing behind Ovy.

[clemonsonroots]

There's been chatter about this situation in multiple threads. I think it's worth its own discussion.

McMichael was traded for on Monday of draft week. That's almost two business weeks ago at this point. The Blues knew they were trading for an RFA. They knew the deadline was 7/1 to sign him without risk of offer sheet. They didn't sign him in that window, and he still isn't signed. Now, at the moment they aren't at risk of losing him to an offer sheet cause they can match anything anybody would offer.

But it seems odd to me that the Blues have made multiple other personnel moves and there's not a bit of news about McMichael. Steen hasn't even mentioned it. Nothing to even say "with McMichael we are working on his contract."

Do people think the delay is negotiation with McMichael or do people think the Blues are considering trading him.

The Blues lineup would look a lot more balanced if McMichael was moved for say Owen Tippet.

He is probably asking for 7 mil plus. blues are probably wanting to keep it at 6 or less. I think they meet in the middle eventually. If he thinks he can get an offer sheet at that, good luck. He won't. By some miricle he did, let him take it and take the picks. That would still be trading Kyrou for Gastrin, two firsts, a second and a third. No one will offer him that much.

[Richie7]

I saw he was tendered a qualifying offer. Was that not true?

[kimzey59]

I saw he was tendered a qualifying offer. Was that not true?

He was qualified so we retained his rights. And he'll probably file for arbitration if a deal isn't reached tomorrow.

Neither prevents him from signing a long term extension.

[HighStick]

Will McMichaels be Steens first signing?

[skilles]

I think another thing people are gonna have to get used to with all this expansion is not only prices going up but the quality of player you get for that money going down

Would 5 x 6-7 get in the way of Snuggerud or Neighbours?

Unless McM really shows us something I would rank both of them as more valuable than him.

McMichael has outproduced Neighbours so far. I can understand valuing Neighbours more because of the intangibles he brings but as the two players stand today, McMichael would be worth more in terms of what sort of contract they could command.

And no, I don’t think a McMichael contract in the range of $6.5M gets in the way or re-signing either of those 2.

What do you think of McMichaels skills/upside?

He's already posted a 26 goal, 57 point season.
Leveling off in that neighborhood is a pretty safe bet and I don't think 70 points is completely unreasonable if he clicks with somebody.
He's actually been buried a bit playing behind Ovy.

Hmm I'd be happy with 26 goals 57 points, I was expecting less. I'd take that from our 2 lw spot

[tfriede2]

Will McMichaels be Steens first signing?

No, but McMichael might be.

[UMR-alum-05]

Awesome conversation. I'll try to comment on several points that were made.

On the day the Blues traded for McMichael I started a thread about the fact that he was a RFA and in that thread I said "5x7?" That's still where I think I'm at on him.

With Neighbours I'm still at more like 5x5 or maybe 5x6.

I see Snuggerud becoming the Blues highest paid player on his next deal. Like a 7x9 type of deal or even 7x10. We will see if this season proves that out.

Far as Buch and his contract. I hated it the moment he signed it. He's done nothing but decline since it happened. I'm hoping (hope is not a strategy unfortunately) that with a reconfigured roster he can get back to 55-60 points. He still has that ability.

Lastly the Blues have several deals coming up a year from now. Will be interesting how they play it.

[Younghopp1991]

On of my favorite things about mcmichael and mctavish is that they wont be eligible for trade protection until they are 27. Solid potential minus the ridiculous commitment.

[Old_Goat]

It's nice to be quibbling about so many very good players that have or should only have contracts in the $5.75MM to $8.75MM range. I'm sure it's great to have the elite jersey for $15-17MM, but there are no guarantees. That view may be awesome, but one or two injuries "slip off the cliff" without a "safety rope" of balance and depth ends the climb to the top.

[Backesdraft]

It's nice to be quibbling about so many very good players that have or should only have contracts in the $5.75MM to $8.75MM range. I'm sure it's great to have the elite jersey for $15-17MM, but there are no guarantees. That view may be awesome, but one or two injuries "slip off the cliff" without a "safety rope" of balance and depth ends the climb to the top.

Agree. Like it or not, times have changed and the Blues are going to struggle to attract the real elite players. But, the league has also proven that well constructed teams can outlast teams built on the backs of a few elite players (see Carolina this year, the 2019 Blues as examples). The Blues are being constructed in such a way that one massive injury (outside of perhaps RT) shouldn’t derail our entire season. Elite talent is fun to have (I’m definitely envious of the Colorado fanbase getting to watch McK and Makar every game, for instance) but depth can be equally as important.

[UMR-alum-05]

I like the idea of having several 5-6-7-8MM players that play a two way game with some skill.

It's kind of cool that is what our GM was. A 200' player with some bite and some skill. Steen did 30 goals and 60 points at his peak. You can go a long way with those types of players.

I think our top 6 will be a good group. Some speed. Some grit. Some skill. If McTavish can get back to what he was two seasons ago I really like this group. McMichael, McTavish and Buch is a good line. Hopefully it brings the best out of Buch.

I also like we've created some competition in the bottom 6. They ought to be able to find the right players out of Dvorsky, Suter, Stenberg, Johnston, Dube, Berggren, Neighbours, Finley, Kaski, Peterson, even Dean. There's some talent there and some speed and skill. Got to find the right guys and maybe mix and match based on the opponent.