Blues fans have been poking a little fun at Doug Armstrong over the last few weeks, possibly as a bit of a nervous defense mechanism. Over a month ago now, Doug Armstrong stated that signing RFA Jaden Schwartz was the focus of the off-season. In the last month, Armstrong has re-signed Ken Hitchcock for a finale season, was spurned by assistant coaches Brad Shaw and Kirk Muller, rejected by potential assistant coach Scott Stevens, hired head-coach-in-waiting Mike Yeo, hired additional assistant coaches Rik Wilson and Steve Thomas, re-signed Kyle Brodziak, Dmitri Jaskin, and Scottie Upshall, appointed Jake Allen as the number one goalie by trading Brian Elliott and made qualifying offers to Magnus Paajarvi, Ty Rattie, and Anders Nilsson. The only thing he has done regarding Schwartz other than have discussions with his agent is to extend him a qualifying offer. He’s been busy over the last month but the jokes and all of the activity pokes fun at Schwartz being the focus of the off-season.
According to various sources, one being Jeremy Rutherford ofstltoday.com, Schwartz is believed to be seeking a contract that will pay him over $6 million a year AAV, perhaps one that is just shy of Vladimir Tarasenko’s $7.5 million AAV deal. Unfortunately for Schwartz, the data suggests that he isn’t even a $6 million man before you even consider the Blues cap situation and his injury history.
Based on Schwart’z ask, he would get a better contract than Blake Wheeler ($5.6 million AAV), Mats Zuccarello ($4.5 million AAV), and Filip Forsberg ($6 million AAV). Take a look at the player comparisons (based on contract year to contract year comparisons):
Wheeler
Zuccarello
Forsberg
His ask is greater than the deals signed by Matt Duchene, Brad Marchand, James Neal and Max Pacioretty who both put up substantially better numbers before their contract extensions and more akin to Jeff Skinner. In reviewing the data, it seems pretty compelling that Schwartz should be in the low to mid $5 million range for a 5-6 year contract. Given the situation, I would have turned my attention to other things that needed accomplishment as well. Hopefully, the reports we have seen are mostly posturing and a low to mid $5 million deal will be reached though the Blues may not be that unhappy with a 1 year deal born out of arbitration.
As a reminder, this isn’t the first time Schwartz and the Blues appear to have been significantly apart in contract talks. Reports in early September of 2014 suggested the two sides were far apart though they later agreed to a two year deal before the end of the month. How long this deal takes remains to be seen and likely hinges more on Schwartz bringing his contract expectations more in line with other players.
It’s a great day for hockey.
St Louis Blues Blogger • 
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