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It's being reported that the arbitration asks are in related to Colton Parayko's Thursday arbitration. The Blues have submitted a 2 year, $3.5 million AAV request and Parayko has asked for a one year $4.85 million contract.
At first, the disparity in submissions may surprise some of you but remember, this isn't the old days where the arbitrator has to pick one of the two submissions. In the old days, the players and the teams generally submitted offers that were close partially at least out of fear that their submission would be seen as so far away from the market that the arbitrator would automatically pick the other party's submission.
Nothing in the two offers has me overly concerned about a long term deal not getting done other than a small nagging curiosity as to whether or not the Blues could be debating a bridge deal to help save salary cap room for this coming season. Given the roster construction as it stands, I just can't see that being a big enough desire to avoid trying to lock Parayko in to a longer term, overall more future friendly contract. As a result, I still think this gets settled by Thursday.
If it gets to arbitration or anyone else you care about, here some things to remember (at least based on what I remember to be true):
- Salaries and performance of players who signed when they were unrestricted free agents are not admissible
- The financial state of the team is not admissible
- The salary cap and the current team's payroll relative to the salary cap is not admissible
- You can use things like fan or public appeal (think TJ Oshie factor)
It’s a great day for hockey.
Fellow Hockeybuzz blogger
Minnesota Wild's Dan Wallace agreed to a 1st round, friendly charity wager. Since the Blues won, Dan will be making a donation to Dream Factory St. Louis (http://dreamfactoryincstl.org/). Dream Factory grants dreams to critically and chronically ill children from the ages of three to eighteen. They have one of the highest program expenditure ratios I have ever seen, an amazing 97% is used for actual program services. Usually, more than 3% is used for administrative and fundraising efforts but not at Dream Factory.
With the Predators win, fellow Hockeybuzz blogger
Nashville Predator's Paul McCann won our bet and I made a donation to Best Buddies of Tennessee (https://bestbuddies.org/find-programs/tennessee/). Best Buddies works to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and development capabilities.
St Louis Blues Blogger • 
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