Saint Louis Blues: Armchair GM
Posted 10:51 AM ET | Comments 1
After an up and down season, coupled withorganizational cap restrictions, and a lot of gaping holes this is an offseason to be smart. There are a handful of high end, high cost projected UFA's this summer (Kovalchuk, Marleau, and Nabokov, among others) that could compliment the Blues' line up, but may be too risky long term.
The fans have fallen in love with the youth movement, and with none of the players playing like regular NHL all-stars it may be just possible to keep the whole core together for a good time. While there is no emerging all-star, there is plenty of reason to be excited. The scoring potential, heart and depth this roster already has in its young players is astounding, and there is no reason to begin to jump ship because of one rough season.
So far the biggest problem has been fixed: Firing Andy Murray. The mind games he played with the players, Berglund was this years biggest sufferer of it, hindered the play of the team. With this team, the difference was night and day when comparing Murray to Payne.
Payne brought in a relaxed system that the players seemed to enjoy. The kids were allowed to make mistakes, and not get benched in crucial minutes or X amount of games. He also fell just short of getting this team to the playoffs. Had he been inserted as the coach by mid-November the likelihood the Blues make the playoffs is quite good.
Going into this off season this team is shedding a large amount of payroll in Kariya, Tkachuk, and Mason (6mil, 2.550 mil, and 3 mil), but will also be adding payroll for raises/new contracts for their RFA's: Johnson (4+ per), Perron ( around 3), Steen (around 3) (these three will be getting raises), Strachan, D'agostini, and King (taking similar contracts they have now). With Perron I could see a long term contract (6 years/20mil) back-loaded, Steen a bit of a shorter term contract (4 years/12mil) and EJ getting a 4 year deal at Brewer's salary so he can cash in when he hits his prime. Immidiately after re-signing these FA's, the team will be around its cap hit it was for this season with the need of 1 or 2 forwards, a goalie, and a defenseman.
Upfront will definately be an interesting situation. This could be a season to make offer sheets/trade for RFA's. Many good teams have RFA's they will have no cap room for and will have to get rid of them. If Bobby Ryan is still unsigned by draft day Management should burn a pair of first round picks and a D-prospect, or a package of a 1st, High end defensive prospect (Runblad, ideally), and a 3rd round pick/undersized D prospect (Fairchild/Berglund).
Bobby Ryan is an amazing player. He has size, finishing touch, gets dirty, and plays a solid full rink game. He would immidiately balance this team in the offensive zone.
Another RFA, or two, that should be looked at are Thomas Fleischmann and Eric Fehr. Both put up 20 goal seasons in Washington this year on the 2nd/3rd line. Acquiring either of these from Washington would balance the forward attack with scoring and 2 way play. Trading with Washington would be interesting, they are in need of a gritty defenseman, Jackman comes to mind, but lack the cap to take such a thing on. Here some more picks may have to be burned, but there is a plethora of defensive prospects in this system that may intrigue Washington.
On the Blueline, nothing much can be done at this point in time. Jackman and Brewer will be here next year, pending a cap swap trade for one. Polak and Johnson will be on the opening day roster, Carlo should be looked at, and Weaver should be re-signed, as well as Strachan and Pie looking to make the jump to the NHL next year.
In the crease, Mason is not a bad call, but is it time to get creative and shake things up a bit? Tim Thomas is wasting away on Boston's bench and they have no need or want for his cap hit, and could use some defense. My shake it up idea: Jackman to Boston for Thomas and their 1st. While normally a team may laugh at such an offer, in a capped world a price is payed for one team to take on extra salary, and Boston can make such an offer seeing as they get Hall or Seguin this year and likely another top 10 pick next year. It is possible
As putting the pieces together, the "kid line" from 08/09 should be re-united. Outside of getting caught up in the Defensive zone once every 4 or 5 games they were sharp as could be in both ends, and their offensive numbers raised expectations 10 fold. Backes has played a solid roll as the first line center this past season, he is definately a dominate 2nd line center, and compliments Andy McDonald very well.
Going into the depth postions (lines 3 and 4) this team is studly: Steen, Eller, McClement, Crombeen, and D'agostini provide solid depth.
Ideal look out:
Perron/Berglund/Oshie (with Oshie and Berglund splitting time at the center postion)
McDonald/Backes/Ryan*
Steen/Eller/Boyes**
Crombeen/McClement/D'agostini
King
EJ/Brewer
Pie/Polak
Strachan/Coliacovo
Weaver
Thomas***/Conklyn
*: Ryan acquired for 2010 first rounder, 2011 first rounder, and Fairchild or 2010 first rounder, David Runblad, and Fairchild
**: Pending no trade for Bobby Ryan, move Boyes onto line 2, and fill out line three with RFA signing/trade with Fehr or Fleischmann
***: Acquire Thomas and Boston's 2010 1st round draft pick for Barret Jackman
Realistic Opening Day line up:
McDonald/Backes/Oshie
Perron/Berglund/Steen
Boyes/Eller/FA
Crombeen/McClement/D'agostini
King
EJ/Brewer
Pie/Jackman
Strachan/Cola
Weaver
Mason/Conklyn
The fans have fallen in love with the youth movement, and with none of the players playing like regular NHL all-stars it may be just possible to keep the whole core together for a good time. While there is no emerging all-star, there is plenty of reason to be excited. The scoring potential, heart and depth this roster already has in its young players is astounding, and there is no reason to begin to jump ship because of one rough season.
So far the biggest problem has been fixed: Firing Andy Murray. The mind games he played with the players, Berglund was this years biggest sufferer of it, hindered the play of the team. With this team, the difference was night and day when comparing Murray to Payne.
Payne brought in a relaxed system that the players seemed to enjoy. The kids were allowed to make mistakes, and not get benched in crucial minutes or X amount of games. He also fell just short of getting this team to the playoffs. Had he been inserted as the coach by mid-November the likelihood the Blues make the playoffs is quite good.
Going into this off season this team is shedding a large amount of payroll in Kariya, Tkachuk, and Mason (6mil, 2.550 mil, and 3 mil), but will also be adding payroll for raises/new contracts for their RFA's: Johnson (4+ per), Perron ( around 3), Steen (around 3) (these three will be getting raises), Strachan, D'agostini, and King (taking similar contracts they have now). With Perron I could see a long term contract (6 years/20mil) back-loaded, Steen a bit of a shorter term contract (4 years/12mil) and EJ getting a 4 year deal at Brewer's salary so he can cash in when he hits his prime. Immidiately after re-signing these FA's, the team will be around its cap hit it was for this season with the need of 1 or 2 forwards, a goalie, and a defenseman.
Upfront will definately be an interesting situation. This could be a season to make offer sheets/trade for RFA's. Many good teams have RFA's they will have no cap room for and will have to get rid of them. If Bobby Ryan is still unsigned by draft day Management should burn a pair of first round picks and a D-prospect, or a package of a 1st, High end defensive prospect (Runblad, ideally), and a 3rd round pick/undersized D prospect (Fairchild/Berglund).
Bobby Ryan is an amazing player. He has size, finishing touch, gets dirty, and plays a solid full rink game. He would immidiately balance this team in the offensive zone.
Another RFA, or two, that should be looked at are Thomas Fleischmann and Eric Fehr. Both put up 20 goal seasons in Washington this year on the 2nd/3rd line. Acquiring either of these from Washington would balance the forward attack with scoring and 2 way play. Trading with Washington would be interesting, they are in need of a gritty defenseman, Jackman comes to mind, but lack the cap to take such a thing on. Here some more picks may have to be burned, but there is a plethora of defensive prospects in this system that may intrigue Washington.
On the Blueline, nothing much can be done at this point in time. Jackman and Brewer will be here next year, pending a cap swap trade for one. Polak and Johnson will be on the opening day roster, Carlo should be looked at, and Weaver should be re-signed, as well as Strachan and Pie looking to make the jump to the NHL next year.
In the crease, Mason is not a bad call, but is it time to get creative and shake things up a bit? Tim Thomas is wasting away on Boston's bench and they have no need or want for his cap hit, and could use some defense. My shake it up idea: Jackman to Boston for Thomas and their 1st. While normally a team may laugh at such an offer, in a capped world a price is payed for one team to take on extra salary, and Boston can make such an offer seeing as they get Hall or Seguin this year and likely another top 10 pick next year. It is possible
As putting the pieces together, the "kid line" from 08/09 should be re-united. Outside of getting caught up in the Defensive zone once every 4 or 5 games they were sharp as could be in both ends, and their offensive numbers raised expectations 10 fold. Backes has played a solid roll as the first line center this past season, he is definately a dominate 2nd line center, and compliments Andy McDonald very well.
Going into the depth postions (lines 3 and 4) this team is studly: Steen, Eller, McClement, Crombeen, and D'agostini provide solid depth.
Ideal look out:
Perron/Berglund/Oshie (with Oshie and Berglund splitting time at the center postion)
McDonald/Backes/Ryan*
Steen/Eller/Boyes**
Crombeen/McClement/D'agostini
King
EJ/Brewer
Pie/Polak
Strachan/Coliacovo
Weaver
Thomas***/Conklyn
*: Ryan acquired for 2010 first rounder, 2011 first rounder, and Fairchild or 2010 first rounder, David Runblad, and Fairchild
**: Pending no trade for Bobby Ryan, move Boyes onto line 2, and fill out line three with RFA signing/trade with Fehr or Fleischmann
***: Acquire Thomas and Boston's 2010 1st round draft pick for Barret Jackman
Realistic Opening Day line up:
McDonald/Backes/Oshie
Perron/Berglund/Steen
Boyes/Eller/FA
Crombeen/McClement/D'agostini
King
EJ/Brewer
Pie/Jackman
Strachan/Cola
Weaver
Mason/Conklyn
in your realistic Opening day roseter where is Polak? We have him signed next year I think the blues dont resign weaver and Strachan is our extra d man. insert Polak instead of pie and put pie with cola