Free agents to get

[Cahokanut]

Army says he likes his top 4 defenseman for next year. I can't imagine the defense will be changing. I think the team will look pretty much the same as we finished this year.

Defense played fine under Monty's system. They made their big run without Parayko. What they need is quality depth to fill out the top 8.

Who needs upgraded in the top 8.

[Hockey Pete]

The thing people are forgetting is that the Blues aren't the only team whose cap is going up. All teams have more to spend. That causes inflation. You might be surprised how much someone like Ekblad gets.
On another note, if they were looking at a splash, and Krug knows he is done, maybe he would approve a trade to someone that has the cap space so the Blues would have it all to play with in the off season. That has happened in the past.

Why would a team trade for Krug? Yeah, that’s happened in the past but that was mostly Arizona trying to play payroll gymnastics. They’d acquire a LTIR contract with a big AAV and ideally low salary…with most of the salary covered by insurance. This way they could meet the Cap minimum while their actual real world payroll was much much less. Now that they’re not a dumpster fire anymore, there’s really no incentive to take on a LTIR contract like that anymore.

Why would anyone trade with anyone? Because what is offered is worth more to them than what they give up. If a team was going to be under the cap by over 6.5 mil to start the season, and the Blues offered an asset that said team deemed worth taking Krug's contract to acquire, a deal is done. Not likely, but only because the Blues wouldn't offer what it would take.

Right. There’s no incentive for the Blues to attach a lock to Krug at this point. Just LTIR him and he’ll be gone in 2 years.

Krug does have value to some in the league.
He doesn’t have to play a game to have value. A team acquiring Krug can then go over the cap by 6.5 million. Vegas has been doing that for years. For example, if Colorado is up against the cap next season and really wants a player to put them over the top…then they can slide the Blues a 4th or 5th round pick for Krug and then they open up 6.5 million in cap space to acquire another key player.

OK, not sure you quite understand how the CAP works in Krug's situation.

Example...If the CAP is say $90 Million and the Av's are there, THEN they acquire Krug at $6.5 Million, they're now OVER the CAP by $6.5 million. Even if they place Krug on LTIR, they're still at the limit at $90 million.

What Vegas and Tampa were doing was parking healthy players on LTIR to gain CAP space (detracting from their overall limit), THEN making trades at the deadline to spend the new-found CAP space, then when the playoffs kicked off (CAP doesn't count come playoff time) ice a team that is MILLIONS over the CAP...

Krug would have to be healthy AND the team would have to be CAP compliant with him on the roster to make that work...

[seattleblue]

How many of you think the Blues are Cup contenders if they fill that 2C need?

I think the Bues are Cup contenders if they replace Faulk with someone at least as good as Parayko.
That to me is a Cup contender.

[Bubble4427]

The thing people are forgetting is that the Blues aren't the only team whose cap is going up. All teams have more to spend. That causes inflation. You might be surprised how much someone like Ekblad gets.
On another note, if they were looking at a splash, and Krug knows he is done, maybe he would approve a trade to someone that has the cap space so the Blues would have it all to play with in the off season. That has happened in the past.

Why would a team trade for Krug? Yeah, that’s happened in the past but that was mostly Arizona trying to play payroll gymnastics. They’d acquire a LTIR contract with a big AAV and ideally low salary…with most of the salary covered by insurance. This way they could meet the Cap minimum while their actual real world payroll was much much less. Now that they’re not a dumpster fire anymore, there’s really no incentive to take on a LTIR contract like that anymore.

Why would anyone trade with anyone? Because what is offered is worth more to them than what they give up. If a team was going to be under the cap by over 6.5 mil to start the season, and the Blues offered an asset that said team deemed worth taking Krug's contract to acquire, a deal is done. Not likely, but only because the Blues wouldn't offer what it would take.

Right. There’s no incentive for the Blues to attach a lock to Krug at this point. Just LTIR him and he’ll be gone in 2 years.

Krug does have value to some in the league.
He doesn’t have to play a game to have value. A team acquiring Krug can then go over the cap by 6.5 million. Vegas has been doing that for years. For example, if Colorado is up against the cap next season and really wants a player to put them over the top…then they can slide the Blues a 4th or 5th round pick for Krug and then they open up 6.5 million in cap space to acquire another key player.

OK, not sure you quite understand how the CAP works in Krug's situation.

Example...If the CAP is say $90 Million and the Av's are there, THEN they acquire Krug at $6.5 Million, they're now OVER the CAP by $6.5 million. Even if they place Krug on LTIR, they're still at the limit at $90 million.

What Vegas and Tampa were doing was parking healthy players on LTIR to gain CAP space (detracting from their overall limit), THEN making trades at the deadline to spend the new-found CAP space, then when the playoffs kicked off (CAP doesn't count come playoff time) ice a team that is MILLIONS over the CAP...

Krug would have to be healthy AND the team would have to be CAP compliant with him on the roster to make that work...

Boy, I did not think that though all the way. My bad.
I know how LTIR works and still screwed it up. Excuse me While I wipe the egg off my face.

[Hockey Pete]

The thing people are forgetting is that the Blues aren't the only team whose cap is going up. All teams have more to spend. That causes inflation. You might be surprised how much someone like Ekblad gets.
On another note, if they were looking at a splash, and Krug knows he is done, maybe he would approve a trade to someone that has the cap space so the Blues would have it all to play with in the off season. That has happened in the past.

Why would a team trade for Krug? Yeah, that’s happened in the past but that was mostly Arizona trying to play payroll gymnastics. They’d acquire a LTIR contract with a big AAV and ideally low salary…with most of the salary covered by insurance. This way they could meet the Cap minimum while their actual real world payroll was much much less. Now that they’re not a dumpster fire anymore, there’s really no incentive to take on a LTIR contract like that anymore.

Why would anyone trade with anyone? Because what is offered is worth more to them than what they give up. If a team was going to be under the cap by over 6.5 mil to start the season, and the Blues offered an asset that said team deemed worth taking Krug's contract to acquire, a deal is done. Not likely, but only because the Blues wouldn't offer what it would take.

Right. There’s no incentive for the Blues to attach a lock to Krug at this point. Just LTIR him and he’ll be gone in 2 years.

Krug does have value to some in the league.
He doesn’t have to play a game to have value. A team acquiring Krug can then go over the cap by 6.5 million. Vegas has been doing that for years. For example, if Colorado is up against the cap next season and really wants a player to put them over the top…then they can slide the Blues a 4th or 5th round pick for Krug and then they open up 6.5 million in cap space to acquire another key player.

OK, not sure you quite understand how the CAP works in Krug's situation.

Example...If the CAP is say $90 Million and the Av's are there, THEN they acquire Krug at $6.5 Million, they're now OVER the CAP by $6.5 million. Even if they place Krug on LTIR, they're still at the limit at $90 million.

What Vegas and Tampa were doing was parking healthy players on LTIR to gain CAP space (detracting from their overall limit), THEN making trades at the deadline to spend the new-found CAP space, then when the playoffs kicked off (CAP doesn't count come playoff time) ice a team that is MILLIONS over the CAP...

Krug would have to be healthy AND the team would have to be CAP compliant with him on the roster to make that work...

Boy, I did not think that though all the way. My bad.
I know how LTIR works and still screwed it up. Excuse me While I wipe the egg off my face.

LOL, no egg-wiping needed on this forum...

In the twenty years I've been on this forum, I've had more than a few "DOH" posts.... Welcome to the Club.

[Harry S Deals]

How many of you think the Blues are Cup contenders if they fill that 2C need?

I think the Bues are Cup contenders if they replace Faulk with someone at least as good as Parayko.
That to me is a Cup contender.

Not with Sunny as their 3rd center contending teams can roll three scoring lines and a very good 4th line which we already have. Blues need more a playmaking center for Bolduc and Neighbours, love Sunny, bleeds blue should retire here but hes out of position

[seattleblue]

How many of you think the Blues are Cup contenders if they fill that 2C need?

I think the Bues are Cup contenders if they replace Faulk with someone at least as good as Parayko.
That to me is a Cup contender.

Not with Sunny as their 3rd center contending teams can roll three scoring lines and a very good 4th line which we already have. Blues need more a playmaking center for Bolduc and Neighbours, love Sunny, bleeds blue should retire here but hes out of position

I look at it like the top end RHD is THE piece, and we also need a Bozak as opposed to an ROR, and that you can be a Cup contender needing a Bozak midway through your season and add someone. Notice how many current "cup contenders" need more at C but they are still "contenders." I just see the 2C issue as solvable in multiple ways that the RHD is not.

[STL fan in MN]

The Blues have A LOT of players entering the last year of their contract.

Barring an extension between now and then, the following players will be UFAs after the 2025-26 season:
Fowler
Leddy
Sundqvist
Joseph
Walker
Toropchenko - fun fact: had Toropchenko been born 6 days later, he’d be a RFA for 1 more year.

These players will be RFAs:
Holloway
Broberg
Bolduc
Texier

The year after that, Binnington and Tucker will be UFAs and Neighbours and Snuggerud will be RFAs.

Some of these guys will be welcome exits. Thanks for your time but bye bye now! The others will be guys we’ll want to keep though and will be due rather large raises, some more than others.

TBH, it’s really hard to project out the Blues roster beyond this coming season as there’s just so much potential fluidity.

[LGB73]

The Blues have A LOT of players entering the last year of their contract.

Barring an extension between now and then, the following players will be UFAs after the 2025-26 season:
Fowler
Leddy
Sundqvist
Joseph
Walker
Toropchenko - fun fact: had Toropchenko been born 6 days later, he’d be a RFA for 1 more year.

These players will be RFAs:
Holloway
Broberg
Bolduc
Texier

The year after that, Binnington and Tucker will be UFAs and Neighbours and Snuggerud will be RFAs.

Some of these guys will be welcome exits. Thanks for your time but bye bye now! The others will be guys we’ll want to keep though and will be due rather large raises, some more than others.

TBH, it’s really hard to project out the Blues roster beyond this coming season as there’s just so much potential fluidity.

Besides Fowler, I'm not too concerned about next years players that are rolling off as UFAs as they are replaceable and not core pieces although like to retain Toropchenko. Really like to see contracts get done this summer for Fowler, Broberg and Holloway so the team can get a better handle on cap space for other needs. Can deals be done with Holloway and Broberg before Free Agency? Thought there might be a rule limiting when they can be extended.

[STL fan in MN]

How many of you think the Blues are Cup contenders if they fill that 2C need?

I think the Bues are Cup contenders if they replace Faulk with someone at least as good as Parayko.
That to me is a Cup contender.

Not with Sunny as their 3rd center contending teams can roll three scoring lines and a very good 4th line which we already have. Blues need more a playmaking center for Bolduc and Neighbours, love Sunny, bleeds blue should retire here but hes out of position

I look at it like the top end RHD is THE piece, and we also need a Bozak as opposed to an ROR, and that you can be a Cup contender needing a Bozak midway through your season and add someone. Notice how many current "cup contenders" need more at C but they are still "contenders." I just see the 2C issue as solvable in multiple ways that the RHD is not.

This makes perfect sense. A top-4 RD, particularly one that would be considered a true #1 guy is the unicorn of unicorns in this league. We don’t need a true 1RD to be a Cup contender but I think it’s pretty clear we need someone better than Faulk. There’s just so few of them though. But agree this piece is the harder of the 2 to fill. 2C isn’t an easy position to fill but it is easier than a top RD, that’s for sure.

Army should be actively trying to fill both holes. My guess is he’s on it. I’ll be interested to see what all he’s able to accomplish this summer.

[STL fan in MN]

The Blues have A LOT of players entering the last year of their contract.

Barring an extension between now and then, the following players will be UFAs after the 2025-26 season:
Fowler
Leddy
Sundqvist
Joseph
Walker
Toropchenko - fun fact: had Toropchenko been born 6 days later, he’d be a RFA for 1 more year.

These players will be RFAs:
Holloway
Broberg
Bolduc
Texier

The year after that, Binnington and Tucker will be UFAs and Neighbours and Snuggerud will be RFAs.

Some of these guys will be welcome exits. Thanks for your time but bye bye now! The others will be guys we’ll want to keep though and will be due rather large raises, some more than others.

TBH, it’s really hard to project out the Blues roster beyond this coming season as there’s just so much potential fluidity.

Besides Fowler, I'm not too concerned about next years players that are rolling off as UFAs as they are replaceable and not core pieces although like to retain Toropchenko. Really like to see contracts get done this summer for Fowler, Broberg and Holloway so the team can get a better handle on cap space for other needs. Can deals be done with Holloway and Broberg before Free Agency? Thought there might be a rule limiting when they can be extended.

Neither would be eligible for an extension until July 1st. So no, they can’t be extended prior to free agent frenzy.

[bluetunehead]

Something everyone needs to remember is we can not spend to the cap this year due to the contract extensions we have to look at next year to Broberg & Holloway & Fowler. If we sign a guy to a 3 x 8 mil this offseason, it greatly effects what we have to spend on extensions for 26/27.

I expect no UFA signings until after July 1st extensions to those three to know what flexibility we have in future seasons $$$ availability.

Just my 2 cents......

Keep in mind that the cap is going to 95M this year and then slated to jump to 104M and 113M the following two seasons per the agreement between the league and NHLPA. That will also coincide with Faulk's deal ending in two seasons, Schenn's in 3, etc. There will be flexibility for the Blues in the coming seasons. Obviously that coincides with a rise in salaries, but the Blues aren't going to have anybody making insane money. They should be fine.

[seattleblue]

How many of you think the Blues are Cup contenders if they fill that 2C need?

I think the Bues are Cup contenders if they replace Faulk with someone at least as good as Parayko.
That to me is a Cup contender.

Not with Sunny as their 3rd center contending teams can roll three scoring lines and a very good 4th line which we already have. Blues need more a playmaking center for Bolduc and Neighbours, love Sunny, bleeds blue should retire here but hes out of position

I look at it like the top end RHD is THE piece, and we also need a Bozak as opposed to an ROR, and that you can be a Cup contender needing a Bozak midway through your season and add someone. Notice how many current "cup contenders" need more at C but they are still "contenders." I just see the 2C issue as solvable in multiple ways that the RHD is not.

This makes perfect sense. A top-4 RD, particularly one that would be considered a true #1 guy is the unicorn of unicorns in this league. We don’t need a true 1RD to be a Cup contender but I think it’s pretty clear we need someone better than Faulk. There’s just so few of them though. But agree this piece is the harder of the 2 to fill. 2C isn’t an easy position to fill but it is easier than a top RD, that’s for sure.

Army should be actively trying to fill both holes. My guess is he’s on it. I’ll be interested to see what all he’s able to accomplish this summer.

It's an endless battle to convince people who are attached to a known player at a position far easier to fill than RHD that RHD is turning into a unicorn position and so you might have to make what looks like a lopsided trade to fill it. Just intuitively when you look at a roster there are half the spots for D as there are for forwards, and almost always the top few D play the team's most minutes. Same reason why it's so maddening for a team like Edmonton to be held hostage by the relative NHL unicorn of solid playoff goaltender.

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

Looking at potential 2c stopgaps - what about Claude Giroux on a one year deal (especially if schenn may not return) ? Savings on salary for probably a lateral move. Not excited to overspend on money and term for a meh candidate like gourde. Bennet will be an overpay by whomever signs him. Duchene /Granlund would be better candidates but will come at a premium and look likely to stay in Dallas.

[STL fan in MN]

How many of you think the Blues are Cup contenders if they fill that 2C need?

I think the Bues are Cup contenders if they replace Faulk with someone at least as good as Parayko.
That to me is a Cup contender.

Not with Sunny as their 3rd center contending teams can roll three scoring lines and a very good 4th line which we already have. Blues need more a playmaking center for Bolduc and Neighbours, love Sunny, bleeds blue should retire here but hes out of position

I look at it like the top end RHD is THE piece, and we also need a Bozak as opposed to an ROR, and that you can be a Cup contender needing a Bozak midway through your season and add someone. Notice how many current "cup contenders" need more at C but they are still "contenders." I just see the 2C issue as solvable in multiple ways that the RHD is not.

This makes perfect sense. A top-4 RD, particularly one that would be considered a true #1 guy is the unicorn of unicorns in this league. We don’t need a true 1RD to be a Cup contender but I think it’s pretty clear we need someone better than Faulk. There’s just so few of them though. But agree this piece is the harder of the 2 to fill. 2C isn’t an easy position to fill but it is easier than a top RD, that’s for sure.

Army should be actively trying to fill both holes. My guess is he’s on it. I’ll be interested to see what all he’s able to accomplish this summer.

It's an endless battle to convince people who are attached to a known player at a position far easier to fill than RHD that RHD is turning into a unicorn position and so you might have to make what looks like a lopsided trade to fill it. Just intuitively when you look at a roster there are half the spots for D as there are for forwards, and almost always the top few D play the team's most minutes. Same reason why it's so maddening for a team like Edmonton to be held hostage by the relative NHL unicorn of solid playoff goaltender.

Only part of this I'd quibble with is that RHD is “turning into” a unicorn position. IMO, it’s been that way for a long time now. Remember years ago when people lambasted EDM for trading Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson “one for one”? Hall had a Hart Trophy but what was Adam Larsson? A RHD! And who would teams rather have today? Probably Larsson.

But yes, the simple truth is that for the Blues to take the steps they need to take to become a Cup caliber team again, it almost certainly will involve saying goodbye to some good soldiers and quality players. Not because they’re bad or no good but just that we need the “right” pieces in the right positions to take that next step. And we are overloaded at LW and LD in particular (organizationally) so that’s the ideal area to try to deal from.

[Bluesfan1978]

I’m fine if the Blues stay away from the high priced UFA’s unless it’s for a depth type player. Not big on the 6-8 year contracts for 29 plus year old players. As far as RD goes I’m sure they will look to upgrade Faulk if there’s a trade to be made. I think for now we need to be happy with a legitimate shutdown RHD that can transition the puck similar to Parayko’s performance prior to this year and play in the top 4.