Join Blues beat writer Jim Thomas for his live chat at 1 p.m. Wednesday
Get your questions ready and join in at 1 p.m. Wednesday for our weekly Blues chat.
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The Rangers have only $2.6 million in cap space - although it's not inflated by LTIR money since they have no one currently on LTIR. For myself I think Tarasenko and Bolduc is too much for Lafreniere. Also Lafreniere is an RFA after this season, so even with his struggles in NY he's probably due for a raise.
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Jim, I guess it's a foregone conclusion that Tarasenko & O'Reilly will be traded, possibly even Barbashev. We should be able to get some substantial draft picks, and young players with a definite upside. Who would be your untouchables? What kind of haul would Parayko get in return? I think it's time to give Tucker a full time roll.
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Jim, in the third period of the Lightning game did you think the Blues waved the white flag and knew they were outmatched? Jon Cooper said in his post game interview his boys didn't have to break a sweat in the third to close out the win. Man, the Lightning are fast, I like them as the Cup winner this season.
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Well, there certainly wasn't much of a push by the Blues that's for sure. Yeah, that Cooper quote was interesting that's for sure. And he's not the type to generally talk smack.Brayden Point really caught my eye in that game. You talk about a fast player. I never count the Bolts out of the Cup picture.
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JT, have you heard the rumor the Maple Leafs, aka the 'make believes", want to trade for O'Reilly as their third line center? I don't know what Army would get in return, I don't think the Leafs have much in the way of high draft picks. Maybe young guns in the minors?
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Yeah, I've heard that Toronto rumor. But I don't know how the Leafs make that work. They're about $2 million under the cap but have about $7 million in LTIR money, which you figure will go away at some point. (I'm not familiar with how long those Leafs will be out.)Yeah, without the high draft picks, it would have to be some top prospects in the minors.
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I saw an article out of Red Deer where Brian Sutter has just retired from coaching a AAA team for many years. He mentioned honoring his commitment to that team as a reason why he hasn't come back for more events. Sounds like he's just enjoying the life he has now. Still my all time favorite Blue all these years later.
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I think we Blues fans must come to the realization the only way Army can move 90, 91, even 49 and get something for them is he must trade for players with same cap money. Unless the other team has players out for the season and therefore said team has the cap space. Am I correct, oh wise one?
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I've done it again, accidentally clicked 2 questions. For Tom, thanks for that insight and info on Sutter. Makes sense.As for my friend Barry in Orlando - you make a very good point. People, even some in the media, seem to be forgetting about the cap situation. So yeah, either they go dollar for dollar, or have to trade for draft picks/prospects - in other words - young cheap labor.That's assuming Berube is unable to move some money, that is, players under contract next season or beyond (such as Scandella and Krug)
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Jim, There is still a lot of season left for some changes. Sometimes however it's just a down season. Trying to see it half full and with a lot of decisions needed about the roster do you see a benefit when making those difficult decisions following a season with struggles vs lets bring back as many of the boys as possible to keep the band together.
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For Armstrong, I think the decisions are a lot easier in a season like this, which certainly looks like a down year and potentially - if my math is right - only the 10th non-playoff season in Blues history. I think it was a lot tougher last offseason, after you pile up 109 points and come within a second-round upset of Colorado of perhaps making a deep playoff run.
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How is Mr. DeFranks getting integrated at the P-D? He does not yet seem to be a regular contributor. I enjoyed him on last week's Net Front Presence podcast. I enjoyed the comparisons with the Stars. It's good to hear of perspectives regarding other NHL teams as we tend to be in our "Blues bubble".
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Yeah, he's working his way in. As it's worked out on this homestand, I've done most of the game coverage and he's done most of the off-day stories. As you can tell, he's been on the NetFront the past couple of weeks with Tom Timmermann switching over to soccer. I'll be on the road next Wednesday starting the Blues' next trip, so Matt will make his Blues chat debut.And he's scheduled to make his debut road trip next month when the Blues travel to to Ottawa and Carolina.
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Yeah, he looks pretty good. Berube said as much after practice, but also added that Tarasenko hasn't given him a date when he thinks he can return. (Obviously pending approval by the medical people as well.) I think there's still a chance he could return before this trip is out.
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His jersey # was already among those retired by the team - and those 8 were automatically inducted into the first Blues HOF Class. Federko, Hull, MacInnis, Barclay Plager, Bob Plager, Pronger, Sutter.The only ones voted in with input from the selection committee were: Berenson, Bowman, Hall, Unger.
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Tyler Tucker needs to stay with the big club. Trade Perenovch, he is too small, we need big, strong d-men who will lay the lumber on opposing players who step into the crease. No way anyone will trade for Krug given his huge contract. Colt 55, take note, PLEASE. What a waste of a 6'6" hockey player.
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For Rob… I typically call Centene around 10:00 and ask if the Blues are practicing… when you walk in ask the person sitting up front which rink they’re practicing on. And Jim’s not kidding when he says dress warm. I made the mistake of not wearing socks last summer during the prospects camp & almost froze my feet off
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The Hall of Fame event was really a nice event. I tip my hat to those who conceived and organized the evening. A team's identity is tied up with its history, and events like these serve to celebrate everything that that team means to the fans, even more than whatever they mean to the players.
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Great point. And with 55 seasons in the books, the Blues have more than enough of a history and legacy to celebrate. It's also a way to recognize players who had great careers in hockey but maybe not quite great enough to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.
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Again, I think O'Reilly, Tarasenko, Krug, Scandella, Barbashev, Mikkola all could be potential trade bait. If you think you have a chance to trade Krug or Scandella, that could free up enough money to keep O'Reilly if Doug Armstrong is so inclined.O'Reilly, Tarasenko, Barbashev, Mikkola all have contracts that expire after this season. I would think if they were going to be re-signed, it would've happened by now.
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Right now the Panthers and Blue Jackets are out of the playoffs, and the Flames are barely in a wild card spot. Suffice it to say, with regards to success, the offseason transactions have not really benefitted any of those three teams. But,all the players involved got what they wanted with regards to off-ice matters. How do you think the fans, coaches, owners, and GMs of those teams feel now?
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Fans and media members like to play fantasy hockey. But often times, the trades just don't work out. And that certainly seems to be the case with all three teams you mentioned, at least for Year 1. (Although Calgary could very well make the playoffs this year.)But your overall point is well-taken. Trading for a high-end player often isn't the elixir it's supposed to be.
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Yeah, it is. This is a guy who averaged 41 assists per year in his first four seasons with St. Louis. Obviously not having Perron at right ring has affected that total. But O'Reilly - and he has admitted this himself - just wasn't generating much for his teammates. I didn't think he was winning as many puck battles as usual, either, which leads to more possession time and more opportunities for assistsBut yeah, it does make you wonder if he was playing with an injury.
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