Armstrong open to Faksa returning to Blues next season

[Spyro Gyra]

In all the chaos of free agency's opening days last summer, there was one move that was under-the-radar. The St. Louis Blues made a trade, finalized on July 2, to acquire forward Radek Faksa from the Dallas Stars in exchange for future considerations.

It turned out to be a quiet acquisition with a big impact. The forward quickly established himself on his new team and became an integral part of the fourth line, bringing a strong veteran presence on the ice and in the locker room.

--snip--

"He and I had a good conversation," Armstrong said after the season. "It's something that I want to reflect back on. We want to grow, we have young players that we want to grow, but we don't want to disregard what he meant to us... That line was our identity. I've seen what an identity line can do."

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I'd love to see Faksa and the entire WTF line together again next season.

[Harry S Deals]

In all the chaos of free agency's opening days last summer, there was one move that was under-the-radar. The St. Louis Blues made a trade, finalized on July 2, to acquire forward Radek Faksa from the Dallas Stars in exchange for future considerations.

It turned out to be a quiet acquisition with a big impact. The forward quickly established himself on his new team and became an integral part of the fourth line, bringing a strong veteran presence on the ice and in the locker room.

--snip--

"He and I had a good conversation," Armstrong said after the season. "It's something that I want to reflect back on. We want to grow, we have young players that we want to grow, but we don't want to disregard what he meant to us... That line was our identity. I've seen what an identity line can do."

MORE

I'd love to see Faksa and the entire WTF line together again next season.

Good post this would make a lot of sense in this case the Blues would need a good UFA 3rd center

Buch Thomas Snuggs
Holloway Schenn Kyrou
Neighbours Gourde Bolduc
Walker Faksa Torop

Fowler Parayko
Broberg Faulk
Tucker Kessel

[Blue Sabbath]

In all the chaos of free agency's opening days last summer, there was one move that was under-the-radar. The St. Louis Blues made a trade, finalized on July 2, to acquire forward Radek Faksa from the Dallas Stars in exchange for future considerations.

It turned out to be a quiet acquisition with a big impact. The forward quickly established himself on his new team and became an integral part of the fourth line, bringing a strong veteran presence on the ice and in the locker room.

--snip--

"He and I had a good conversation," Armstrong said after the season. "It's something that I want to reflect back on. We want to grow, we have young players that we want to grow, but we don't want to disregard what he meant to us... That line was our identity. I've seen what an identity line can do."

MORE

I'd love to see Faksa and the entire WTF line together again next season.

Ditto

[HighStick]

I think they should bring Faksa back. He made the most of his opportunity here and did what he was brought in to do. That whole line developed a chemistry and identity. They shouldnt ruin that just so DD can get minimal minutes. The team is better with Faksa doing what he does than they will be with DD getting big league experience on the 4th line. Bring Faksa back for 2 more years. By then Bolduc, Snuggy and Dvorsky should all be ready to take fulltime spots.

[a smell of green grass]

Why is it that Faksa and Fowler are on 1-year deals, while Joseph and Texier are on 2-year deals?

Clearly Armstrong predicted wrong about who would help, and who would be helpless.

[aslord]

That line played well, but Im ok with a fresh body getting a chance to come up and take that spot. Either or.

[DawgDad]

A case can be made the Blues have arrived as a "viably competitive" team, a team where tolerance for development of underperforming players at the NHL level will be minimal or short term, "short leash" in Army's vernacular.

That doesn't mean young players cannot be groomed, it means they might spend more time in the A or as healthy scratches. it means fringe players likely won't be brought in or retained as roster filler, they will need to earn their keep. All players with the current exceptions at center and depth RD have other players ready to step up and step in while maintaining similar team performance [Parayko and Holloway injuries evidenced this]. It is now harder to justify hanging onto retread and turnaround project players as they are blocking prospects and more productive players.

This is good news, in spades, but it represents a new phase in the development of the team.

In that context Faksa's contributions at center and on the dot scream for extension while Joseph and Texier currently appear to be blocking potentially better options. We'll see how this plays out but I believe the Blues have passed the point of turning Faksa's job over to a greenhorn prospect solely on the basis of youth and potential. There are team playoff aspirations now that demand to be served, not punted down the timeline.

[smilinjoefission]

Team was a garbage .500 club except for 12 games during the regular season...we keep too much of it together. Yes Snuggy, Bolduc, Holloway, etc, are one year older but so are Leddy and Faulk and Sunny. Faksa is replaceable...Blues need to fix the Faulk problem, the Leddy problem, 1/3 of our D isn't good.

[TheJackBurton]

Why is it that Faksa and Fowler are on 1-year deals, while Joseph and Texier are on 2-year deals?

Clearly Armstrong predicted wrong about who would help, and who would be helpless.

this can't be a serious question.

[a smell of green grass]

Why is it that Faksa and Fowler are on 1-year deals, while Joseph and Texier are on 2-year deals?

Clearly Armstrong predicted wrong about who would help, and who would be helpless.

this can't be a serious question.

Help me understand 2 things....
1) Why didn't they sign up Faksa and Fowler for 2 years if they needed them for 2 years?

2) Why did they sign up Joseph and Texier for 2 years? Now they want to trade them if they can... Why did they think that they would be needed for 2 years to begin with? Did they OVERESTIMATE their worth to the team?

[TheJackBurton]

Why is it that Faksa and Fowler are on 1-year deals, while Joseph and Texier are on 2-year deals?

Clearly Armstrong predicted wrong about who would help, and who would be helpless.

this can't be a serious question.

Help me understand 2 things....
1) Why didn't they sign up Faksa and Fowler for 2 years if they needed them for 2 years?

2) Why did they sign up Joseph and Texier for 2 years? Now they want to trade them if they can... Why did they think that they would be needed for 2 years to begin with? Did they OVERESTIMATE their worth to the team?

You can't be serious.

They were already under contract, he didn't sign them to [shirt].

[DawgDad]

Why is it that Faksa and Fowler are on 1-year deals, while Joseph and Texier are on 2-year deals?

Clearly Armstrong predicted wrong about who would help, and who would be helpless.

this can't be a serious question.

Help me understand 2 things....
1) Why didn't they sign up Faksa and Fowler for 2 years if they needed them for 2 years?

2) Why did they sign up Joseph and Texier for 2 years? Now they want to trade them if they can... Why did they think that they would be needed for 2 years to begin with? Did they OVERESTIMATE their worth to the team?

Texier and Joseph were signed June 28 and July, 2, 2024. Broberg and Holloway weren't signed until late August. Thus, Texier and Joseph were signed when the Blues were scraping for NHL forwards with speed at affordable prices. The high-end roster transformation triggered by the offer sheets was at best a pipe dream at that point.

That's it. If you're digging for deeper meaning call when you get to China.

[DawgDad]

Why is it that Faksa and Fowler are on 1-year deals, while Joseph and Texier are on 2-year deals?

Clearly Armstrong predicted wrong about who would help, and who would be helpless.

this can't be a serious question.

Help me understand 2 things....
1) Why didn't they sign up Faksa and Fowler for 2 years if they needed them for 2 years?

2) Why did they sign up Joseph and Texier for 2 years? Now they want to trade them if they can... Why did they think that they would be needed for 2 years to begin with? Did they OVERESTIMATE their worth to the team?

Texier and Joseph were signed June 28 and July, 2, 2024. Broberg and Holloway weren't signed until late August. Thus, Texier and Joseph were signed when the Blues were scraping for NHL forwards with speed at affordable prices. The high-end roster transformation triggered by the offer sheets was at best a pipe dream at that point.

That's it. If you're digging for deeper meaning call when you get to China.

To be technically correct Joseph and Texier were acquired, under contract, not signed. Thanks to whoever posted that above.

[MikoTython]

A case can be made the Blues have arrived as a "viably competitive" team, a team where tolerance for development of underperforming players at the NHL level will be minimal or short term, "short leash" in Army's vernacular.

That doesn't mean young players cannot be groomed, it means they might spend more time in the A or as healthy scratches. it means fringe players likely won't be brought in or retained as roster filler, they will need to earn their keep. All players with the current exceptions at center and depth RD have other players ready to step up and step in while maintaining similar team performance [Parayko and Holloway injuries evidenced this]. It is now harder to justify hanging onto retread and turnaround project players as they are blocking prospects and more productive players.

This is good news, in spades, but it represents a new phase in the development of the team.

In that context Faksa's contributions at center and on the dot scream for extension while Joseph and Texier currently appear to be blocking potentially better options. We'll see how this plays out but I believe the Blues have passed the point of turning Faksa's job over to a greenhorn prospect solely on the basis of youth and potential. There are team playoff aspirations now that demand to be served, not punted down the timeline.

Makes total sense. Hopefully there is a demand for J & T out in the league, they can be gotten off the books. Progress. Traditionally Faksa was a 30 pt guy, he's evolved as a defensive terrier.

[seattleblue]

One thing to note, if you watched the year end press conference, they are basically doing a day by day series of articles where the piece is that question. All the quotes are taken from that conference. So Elise's next piece will be one of the other questions from the conference and the quotes will be from it too.

As for Faksa they are in a position where he was a perfect fit on the 4th line and I really appreciated him as a player. One thing to consider is his mentorship of Czech players. He's a pro's pro now and we have a few Czechs (Stancl, Jiricek, Jecho, Kos) where he could kind of be the professional north star they need in terms of their easing into the league as young players. It's a super minor thing to consider but one that fans like the ones who post here tend to dig into.

[smegma]

One thing to note, if you watched the year end press conference, they are basically doing a day by day series of articles where the piece is that question. All the quotes are taken from that conference. So Elise's next piece will be one of the other questions from the conference and the quotes will be from it too.

As for Faksa they are in a position where he was a perfect fit on the 4th line and I really appreciated him as a player. One thing to consider is his mentorship of Czech players. He's a pro's pro now and we have a few Czechs (Stancl, Jiricek, Jecho, Kos) where he could kind of be the professional north star they need in terms of their easing into the league as young players. It's a super minor thing to consider but one that fans like the ones who post here tend to dig into.

Minor things can become major things.