I think that one or two of those Sharks fans who were trolling and harrassing after every Sharks win got the long suspension on here. I have not seen them on either blog in the comments.

Hockeybuzz can do something right after all.

I am hoping for a Sharks win tonight……………..Just so the Penguins do not clinch the cup at home, again!!!

Pens will win the series but i want them to raise the cup in San Jose and kind of rub it in the players and the fans faces. Defeated on home ice would be great to watch. Game 6 is on Sunday that stinks. Wish it was on Saturday.

That's fine

Build from within

Trade up to get Logan Brown and hope he makes it

Blues have a lot of prospects and it might be time to see what we have

Rumor is Stevens turned the blues down

I am not worried about two years from now yet

Next year is the key and I think we could see a few one year contracts to see where the team is in 2017

Expansion is coming so who knows who will even be on the blues in 2017-2018
- sycsam

Expansion is going to be fascinating...the next several weeks will probably give tons of hockey nuts like us plenty to debate once the rules get finalized. I know I've been jotting names on scraps of paper already and who I'd shop to see if I could balance out my protecteds better.

Would have loved to have Stevens as an assistant, but if I were handicapping the Blues' next coach, I would put Claude Julien high on the list. Has the Team Canada connection and Boston seems well on their way to becoming a dumpster fire this season with the poor front office decisions in previous years really unraveling and CJ paying the price. It looks like he has one more year on his extension after '16-17, so I don't think that's too crazy they might want to go another direction, esp. if Neely is truly not a Julien fan as rumored.

Expansion is going to be fascinating...the next several weeks will probably give tons of hockey nuts like us plenty to debate once the rules get finalized. I know I've been jotting names on scraps of paper already and who I'd shop to see if I could balance out my protecteds better.

Would have loved to have Stevens as an assistant, but if I were handicapping the Blues' next coach, I would put Claude Julien high on the list. Has the Team Canada connection and Boston seems well on their way to becoming a dumpster fire this season with the poor front office decisions in previous years really unraveling and CJ paying the price. It looks like he has one more year on his extension after '16-17, so I don't think that's too crazy they might want to go another direction, esp. if Neely is truly not a Julien fan as rumored.
- Firebrand

If they want to ditch Julien I would take him. But so far cooler heads have prevailed. At the same time you have to wonder because that is not that bad of a team. It certainly is not a team out east that shpuld be missing the play offs.

With the expansion rules announced, here is my prediction of Blues roster:

Draft Immune:
Parayko
Fabbri
Schmaltz
Barbarshev

If going to extend, wait until after draft:
Steen
Berglund
Sobotka
Shattenkirk
Bortuzzo
Elliott

Protect:
Tarasenko
Schwartz
Lehtera
Statsny
Backes or Brouwer
Rattie
Jaskin
Pietrangelo
Bouwmeester
Edmundson
Allen


Reaves and PRV or Brodziak, depending on who gets contracts this summer, count as 2 forwards with qualifying games exposed. Gunnarson counts as the defenseman.

I think Edmundson has to have a good season to get protected, if he takes a step back swap him and Gunnarson.

Obviously, I doubt someone like Shattenkirk will be here next year, let alone the year after. Just put them there to show right now, the Blues are looking amazing for the expansion draft. Losing only 4th liners. And if we trade Shattenkirk, it's no heartbreak to protect who we acquire over Rattie, Jaskin, or Edmundson.

With the expansion rules announced, here is my prediction of Blues roster:

Draft Immune:
Parayko
Fabbri
Schmaltz
Barbarshev

If going to extend, wait until after draft:
Steen
Berglund
Sobotka
Shattenkirk
Bortuzzo
Elliott

Protect:
Tarasenko
Schwartz
Lehtera
Statsny
Backes or Brouwer
Rattie
Jaskin
Pietrangelo
Bouwmeester
Edmundson
Allen


Reaves and PRV or Brodziak, depending on who gets contracts this summer, count as 2 forwards with qualifying games exposed. Gunnarson counts as the defenseman.

I think Edmundson has to have a good season to get protected, if he takes a step back swap him and Gunnarson.

Obviously, I doubt someone like Shattenkirk will be here next year, let alone the year after. Just put them there to show right now, the Blues are looking amazing for the expansion draft. Losing only 4th liners. And if we trade Shattenkirk, it's no heartbreak to protect who we acquire over Rattie, Jaskin, or Edmundson.
- Antilles

I would not protect JBo. I don't hate him as much as many seem to, but it would likely be a help to the Blues long term if he was taken.

Rattie won't be protected either unless he has a really good season. There are going to be too many players to pick from to have someone take Rattie. And that isn't a big loss.

Edmundson will definitely be protected on D.

It is too hard to really pinpoint until next years roster is set. Likely some moving parts this off-season and the roster will look very different before the expansion draft.

I would not protect JBo. I don't hate him as much as many seem to, but it would likely be a help to the Blues long term if he was taken.

Rattie won't be protected either unless he has a really good season. There are going to be too many players to pick from to have someone take Rattie. And that isn't a big loss.

Edmundson will definitely be protected on D.

It is too hard to really pinpoint until next years roster is set. Likely some moving parts this off-season and the roster will look very different before the expansion draft.
- carcus

Obviously there will be roster changes in the next 12 months. But what changes Blues make will be informed by their current protection forecast and how it will be effected. So looking at where they stand now makes sense.

Blues don't have a better player needing to be protected than Rattie right now. Have to leave some guys who play 40+ games next year and are under contract for 17-18 unprotected. So if all the top 9 are protected, and you can't protect all the 4th liners, best forward prospect who needs protection gets it.

How would losing JBo help the Blues long term? It's not like his contract is money we could be spending elsewhere. If not JBo, that money is going to someone else who can play first pairing minutes on the left side. And he is only under contract for 2 years after the expansion draft. It's not some long term albatross where we'll be paying him after he can't play.

I disagree Edmundson will definitely be protected. If he takes a step forward next year, he is a cheaper Barret Jackman. If he takes a step back, he is in the AHL. If it's the latter, no need to waste protection on him anymore than we would on Lindbohm.

Obviously there will be roster changes in the next 12 months. But what changes Blues make will be informed by their current protection forecast and how it will be effected. So looking at where they stand now makes sense.

Blues don't have a better player needing to be protected than Rattie right now. Have to leave some guys who play 40+ games next year and are under contract for 17-18 unprotected. So if all the top 9 are protected, and you can't protect all the 4th liners, best forward prospect who needs protection gets it.

How would losing JBo help the Blues long term? It's not like his contract is money we could be spending elsewhere. If not JBo, that money is going to someone else who can play first pairing minutes on the left side. And he is only under contract for 2 years after the expansion draft. It's not some long term albatross where we'll be paying him after he can't play.

I disagree Edmundson will definitely be protected. If he takes a step forward next year, he is a cheaper Barret Jackman. If he takes a step back, he is in the AHL. If it's the latter, no need to waste protection on him anymore than we would on Lindbohm.
- Antilles

I agree, there is no need to "rid" yourself of J bo. If he were left exposed he would definitely be one of the first D men taken. If they do decide to move on from J bo, better to trade him before the expansion draft and at least get some form of compensation. And for that to happen, guys like Edmundson, Lindbohm, Schmaltz, ect will have to progress into quality NHL D men.

As it stands right now I think Edmundson will continue to progress and will end up being protected. He may not have been ready to take on that many minutes in the playoffs but don't forget, he closed out the last handful of regular season games playing alongside Petro on the top pair.

I agree, there is no need to "rid" yourself of J bo. If he were left exposed he would definitely be one of the first D men taken. If they do decide to move on from J bo, better to trade him before the expansion draft and at least get some form of compensation. And for that to happen, guys like Edmundson, Lindbohm, Schmaltz, ect will have to progress into quality NHL D men.

As it stands right now I think Edmundson will continue to progress and will end up being protected. He may not have been ready to take on that many minutes in the playoffs but don't forget, he closed out the last handful of regular season games playing alongside Petro on the top pair.
- fattyboubatty

I agree Edmundson will probably be protected over Gunnar too, just think it's far from definite. He has to have a decent year for it to happen.

Edmundson was paired with Petro for a little bit, but only when JBo was injured. He didn't look terrible, but it didn't impress either. And I think we are kidding ourselves to suggest he or Lindbohm's development will effect what we do with JBo. They are Jackman type players at best. They are never going to be first pairing options long term. Schmaltz and Vanelli are right handed. The guys in the system that might eventually be paired with Petro, like Dunn or Walman, are several years away... which is why I think JBo will play out his contract with the Blues. Because unless we trade someone like Shattenkirk for another option on the left; our best hope at taking his minutes are a long ways off.

With the expansion rules announced, here is my prediction of Blues roster:

Draft Immune:
Parayko
Fabbri
Schmaltz
Barbarshev

If going to extend, wait until after draft:
Steen
Berglund
Sobotka
Shattenkirk
Bortuzzo
Elliott

Protect:
Tarasenko
Schwartz
Lehtera
Statsny
Backes or Brouwer
Rattie
Jaskin
Pietrangelo
Bouwmeester
Edmundson
Allen


Reaves and PRV or Brodziak, depending on who gets contracts this summer, count as 2 forwards with qualifying games exposed. Gunnarson counts as the defenseman.

I think Edmundson has to have a good season to get protected, if he takes a step back swap him and Gunnarson.

Obviously, I doubt someone like Shattenkirk will be here next year, let alone the year after. Just put them there to show right now, the Blues are looking amazing for the expansion draft. Losing only 4th liners. And if we trade Shattenkirk, it's no heartbreak to protect who we acquire over Rattie, Jaskin, or Edmundson.
- Antilles

Farewell to Mr. Hockey, who passed away I guess earlier today. I was shocked to see that on ESPN this afternoon. I thought he had been doing much better with his stem cell treatments. Seems to me he had a lot in common with Stan the Man.

Did something come out finalizing the expansion draft criteria I missed? I thought it was not entirely worked through with NMC/NTC clauses, and that will make a huge difference. The way I read the reports in March I also thought a player completing 2 years of an ELC was eligible, meaning Parayko, Fabbri, Schmaltz, for example, would have to be protected.

Not a hater of J-Bo the player, but hated that contract from day 1. It looks like a buyout after next year is not so bad from the cap perspective, but not sure that is something Blues management would consider if he didn't waive NTC. No way I protect him willingly over an Edmundson.

Farewell to Mr. Hockey, who passed away I guess earlier today. I was shocked to see that on ESPN this afternoon. I thought he had been doing much better with his stem cell treatments. Seems to me he had a lot in common with Stan the Man.

Did something come out finalizing the expansion draft criteria I missed? I thought it was not entirely worked through with NMC/NTC clauses, and that will make a huge difference. The way I read the reports in March I also thought a player completing 2 years of an ELC was eligible, meaning Parayko, Fabbri, Schmaltz, for example, would have to be protected.

Not a hater of J-Bo the player, but hated that contract from day 1. It looks like a buyout after next year is not so bad from the cap perspective, but not sure that is something Blues management would consider if he didn't waive NTC. No way I protect him willingly over an Edmundson.
- Firebrand

JBo is making what a good second pairing defenseman gets as a UFA right now. I'm not sure we can expect Armstrong to do any better contract wise for someone for the first pairing. And why would Blues buyout a contract they could easily trade? Why would Blues trade a player they would have to turn around and trade a lot of assets to get an equivalent replacement for, let alone an upgrade?

Edmundson is, at best, a Jackman in the making. JBo is an average top pairing guy. The love for the former and hate for the latter is baffling.

NMC's have to be protected unless expiring June 30, 2017. NTC's don't have to be protected. Two seasons of pro play or less are exempt.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...otential-expansion-draft/

I would not protect JBo. I don't hate him as much as many seem to, but it would likely be a help to the Blues long term if he was taken.

Rattie won't be protected either unless he has a really good season. There are going to be too many players to pick from to have someone take Rattie. And that isn't a big loss.

Edmundson will definitely be protected on D.

It is too hard to really pinpoint until next years roster is set. Likely some moving parts this off-season and the roster will look very different before the expansion draft.
- carcus

Just fyi, I do not hate JayBo. I just know he is better than what he has shown the past two years. I do not know he has backed up and contained far more often that he used to do. Saw some glimpses of him play heated and physical and it was good. Saw him make some great offensive plays.

I think him and Petro together is the problem. But he is getting oldr he shasbstarted to get injured more and more and his skating has begun to decline. His skating was his strong suit.

But to be honest almost every time he took a player to the boards it seemed he could be called for holding.

But I agree I would expose him in the draft for the significant cap removal.

I agree, there is no need to "rid" yourself of J bo. If he were left exposed he would definitely be one of the first D men taken. If they do decide to move on from J bo, better to trade him before the expansion draft and at least get some form of compensation. And for that to happen, guys like Edmundson, Lindbohm, Schmaltz, ect will have to progress into quality NHL D men.

As it stands right now I think Edmundson will continue to progress and will end up being protected. He may not have been ready to take on that many minutes in the playoffs but don't forget, he closed out the last handful of regular season games playing alongside Petro on the top pair.
- fattyboubatty

I am not so sure you could get much return for JayBo because his contract is a bit heavy with term and hit plus you can see elements of his game already eroding.

But he is smart so he will likely figure out a way to compensate.

I agree, there is no need to "rid" yourself of J bo. If he were left exposed he would definitely be one of the first D men taken. If they do decide to move on from J bo, better to trade him before the expansion draft and at least get some form of compensation. And for that to happen, guys like Edmundson, Lindbohm, Schmaltz, ect will have to progress into quality NHL D men.

As it stands right now I think Edmundson will continue to progress and will end up being protected. He may not have been ready to take on that many minutes in the playoffs but don't forget, he closed out the last handful of regular season games playing alongside Petro on the top pair.
- fattyboubatty

Also there are quite a number of LD in the system and many of them are promising players. It is likely at least one of those players emerges. Jake Wallman(sp?), I think will likely be one of those guys but it will be unlikely to happen next season.

I am not even counting Lindbohm here. I believe Schmaltz is rd, yes?

JBo is making what a good second pairing defenseman gets as a UFA right now. I'm not sure we can expect Armstrong to do any better contract wise for someone for the first pairing. And why would Blues buyout a contract they could easily trade? Why would Blues trade a player they would have to turn around and trade a lot of assets to get an equivalent replacement for, let alone an upgrade?

Edmundson is, at best, a Jackman in the making. JBo is an average top pairing guy. The love for the former and hate for the latter is baffling.

NMC's have to be protected unless expiring June 30, 2017. NTC's don't have to be protected. Two seasons of pro play or less are exempt.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...otential-expansion-draft/
- Antilles

Hadn't seen a (recent) article like that, thanks for sharing. Guess I've just been waiting for something issued from the league, but this seems reasonably credible.

I suggest they might consider buying out J-Bo if his play shows more signs of decline next season and they would like to free up some cap room, as well as protect a younger player if expansion happens. He happens to have a full no trade clause according to multiple sources I've viewed, so if he doesn't want to go elsewhere, that may be your only option. It makes more sense to me to turn the page prior to an expansion draft. And yes, salaries will continue to escalate, but that was inked 3 years ago basically now, so that's a little apples/oranges to my way of thinking to what guys have gotten in the last 12 months. In the last 2 seasons, he's played 144 regular season games and produced 32 points, 26 playoff games, 4 points. I think that's pretty mediocre production on a 5.4 million cap hit for a guy who isn't a big hitter, crease-clearer, physically imposing defender either.

JBo is making what a good second pairing defenseman gets as a UFA right now. I'm not sure we can expect Armstrong to do any better contract wise for someone for the first pairing. And why would Blues buyout a contract they could easily trade? Why would Blues trade a player they would have to turn around and trade a lot of assets to get an equivalent replacement for, let alone an upgrade?

Edmundson is, at best, a Jackman in the making. JBo is an average top pairing guy. The love for the former and hate for the latter is baffling.

NMC's have to be protected unless expiring June 30, 2017. NTC's don't have to be protected. Two seasons of pro play or less are exempt.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/h...otential-expansion-draft/
- Antilles

Edmundson has shown flashes of being far better than Jackman. Yes he does do the over the top cross checking crap to be sure, but look how well thatnplays out for Burns.

But he has a much better shot than Jackman ever had, he has shown at times good first passes for break outs, but not in the play offs...lol. He plays the lines well when he was playing with confidence.

I think Parayko skews the perception a bit here because Edmundson was a rookie and played maybe a half a season after missing a season with a back injury. So really that was a highly impressive showing if you think about it.

He looked good with Petro despite what some are saying and he was playing with Petro while JayBo was healthy. JayBo played with Shattenkirk then and that pairing looked a lot better.

Don't just take my word for it go look at the games and you will see a healthy JayBo in the lineup and Petro paired with Edmundson.

You could see it early on that Edmundson was steuggling with the big games. That is what usually happens in play off games with rookies. Fabbri and Parayko were the exception.

But I think there is a lot of over valuing of JayBo going on here. You might be able to move him and he might still fetch some valie but this is a cap world with a cap that has remained relatively static. That is still big money for a dman.

When the Blues extended Gunnarsson that pretty much tells the story of his value in the eyes of management. His low cost and solid play means he is likely protected.

Hadn't seen a (recent) article like that, thanks for sharing. Guess I've just been waiting for something issued from the league, but this seems reasonably credible.

I suggest they might consider buying out J-Bo if his play shows more signs of decline next season and they would like to free up some cap room, as well as protect a younger player if expansion happens. He happens to have a full no trade clause according to multiple sources I've viewed, so if he doesn't want to go elsewhere, that may be your only option. It makes more sense to me to turn the page prior to an expansion draft. And yes, salaries will continue to escalate, but that was inked 3 years ago basically now, so that's a little apples/oranges to my way of thinking to what guys have gotten in the last 12 months. In the last 2 seasons, he's played 144 regular season games and produced 32 points, 26 playoff games, 4 points. I think that's pretty mediocre production on a 5.4 million cap hit for a guy who isn't a big hitter, crease-clearer, physically imposing defender either.
- Firebrand

I agree. He can contain well but as the league goes back towards more and more speed his containing ability is limited by his skating being the main factor of his decline. That means speed is going to kill him and we saw that happen a number of times. Plus giving all that space and time and not being able to correct and step up and take the man versus becoming a screen for a shot is not a good way to play anymore.

Also there are quite a number of LD in the system and many of them are promising players. It is likely at least one of those players emerges. Jake Wallman(sp?), I think will likely be one of those guys but it will be unlikely to happen next season.

I am not even counting Lindbohm here. I believe Schmaltz is rd, yes?
- BluemanGuruu

If rosters and other sources are correct, Schmaltz and Vanelli shoot right, Walman and Dunn left, as well as Lindbohm. No idea if any of them are adept at playing on their off-side, it seems that's a real issue with the current Blues d-corps.

Hadn't seen a (recent) article like that, thanks for sharing. Guess I've just been waiting for something issued from the league, but this seems reasonably credible.

I suggest they might consider buying out J-Bo if his play shows more signs of decline next season and they would like to free up some cap room, as well as protect a younger player if expansion happens. He happens to have a full no trade clause according to multiple sources I've viewed, so if he doesn't want to go elsewhere, that may be your only option. It makes more sense to me to turn the page prior to an expansion draft. And yes, salaries will continue to escalate, but that was inked 3 years ago basically now, so that's a little apples/oranges to my way of thinking to what guys have gotten in the last 12 months. In the last 2 seasons, he's played 144 regular season games and produced 32 points, 26 playoff games, 4 points. I think that's pretty mediocre production on a 5.4 million cap hit for a guy who isn't a big hitter, crease-clearer, physically imposing defender either.
- Firebrand

What guys have gotten in the last 12 months would be what Blues would need to spend to replace him, if not more. What is the point of buying out JBo if you are going to have to spend the same amount of money to get someone who wouldn't be any better?

Any talk of leaving JBo exposed, trading him, or buying him out, is pointless if you don't look at how we replace him.

Edmundson has shown flashes of being far better than Jackman. Yes he does do the over the top cross checking crap to be sure, but look how well thatnplays out for Burns.

But he has a much better shot than Jackman ever had, he has shown at times good first passes for break outs, but not in the play offs...lol. He plays the lines well when he was playing with confidence.

I think Parayko skews the perception a bit here because Edmundson was a rookie and played maybe a half a season after missing a season with a back injury. So really that was a highly impressive showing if you think about it.

He looked good with Petro despite what some are saying and he was playing with Petro while JayBo was healthy. JayBo played with Shattenkirk then and that pairing looked a lot better.

Don't just take my word for it go look at the games and you will see a healthy JayBo in the lineup and Petro paired with Edmundson.

You could see it early on that Edmundson was steuggling with the big games. That is what usually happens in play off games with rookies. Fabbri and Parayko were the exception.

But I think there is a lot of over valuing of JayBo going on here. You might be able to move him and he might still fetch some valie but this is a cap world with a cap that has remained relatively static. That is still big money for a dman.

When the Blues extended Gunnarsson that pretty much tells the story of his value in the eyes of management. His low cost and solid play means he is likely protected.
- BluemanGuruu

JBo was given a longer extension than Gunnar. Using extensions as evidence, JBo is clearly more valued. Using ice time as evidence, again, JBo is clearly more valued. Using what it cost to acquire the two players, JBo is around the league clearly more valued.

Losing JBo doesn't clear any cap space if we have to turn around and spend it on a replacement. Which, if we want to keep competing for the division, let alone the Cup, we would immediately have to do. We have 0 LHD in the system who look to be ready for first pairing minutes in the next 3 years. We cannot replace what JBo brings for cheaper than what we pay him with the UFA market. Thus losing JBo does not free up cap space.

Edmundson had very few starts with Petro when JBo was healthy. Every single one at home, against weak teams, and JBo ended up back on the top pairing for the third period. And let's not forget, Jackman looked ok on the first pairing at times too.

I think you might want to compare stats between Jackman and Edmundson before bringing up who is better offensively. Edmundson's offensive numbers compare poorly to Jackman's in Juniors, the AHL, and the NHL. Jackman never put up as few points for the Blues at Emundson did, outside the year he only played 15 games.

I'm not against Edmundson. There's a reason I'm guessing he gets protected over Gunnarson. But he has done nothing to suggest he will be any better than Jackman; and did nothing this year that Lindbohm didn't do the year before.

Is there a single first pairing defensemen in the league who's career numbers were similar as Edmundson's have been up to this point? Obviously I haven't done an exhaustive search, but I really doubt it. I know the majority were not.

I appreciate Edmundson for what he is. A young, cheap, heir apparent to former Blues like Jackman and Polak. I've seen nothing but wishful thinking to suggest expecting him to be anything more.

With the expansion rules announced, here is my prediction of Blues roster:

Draft Immune:
Parayko
Fabbri
Schmaltz
Barbarshev

If going to extend, wait until after draft:
Steen
Berglund
Sobotka
Shattenkirk
Bortuzzo
Elliott

Protect:
Tarasenko
Schwartz
Lehtera
Statsny
Backes or Brouwer
Rattie
Jaskin
Pietrangelo
Bouwmeester
Edmundson
Allen


Reaves and PRV or Brodziak, depending on who gets contracts this summer, count as 2 forwards with qualifying games exposed. Gunnarson counts as the defenseman.

I think Edmundson has to have a good season to get protected, if he takes a step back swap him and Gunnarson.

Obviously, I doubt someone like Shattenkirk will be here next year, let alone the year after. Just put them there to show right now, the Blues are looking amazing for the expansion draft. Losing only 4th liners. And if we trade Shattenkirk, it's no heartbreak to protect who we acquire over Rattie, Jaskin, or Edmundson.
- Antilles

Did they change the expansion rules from what was previously announced? Because the players listed under draft immune would need to be protected as they would all have 2 years of pro experience after next year.

I agree, there is no need to "rid" yourself of J bo. If he were left exposed he would definitely be one of the first D men taken. If they do decide to move on from J bo, better to trade him before the expansion draft and at least get some form of compensation. And for that to happen, guys like Edmundson, Lindbohm, Schmaltz, ect will have to progress into quality NHL D men.

As it stands right now I think Edmundson will continue to progress and will end up being protected. He may not have been ready to take on that many minutes in the playoffs but don't forget, he closed out the last handful of regular season games playing alongside Petro on the top pair.
- fattyboubatty

Actually I feel the opposite. I think you can safely leave him unprotected and use that protection on someone else and risk little chance of him being taken.

His contract is too high and his game is rapidly declining.

I don't think there's any way a building expansion team would want him.

JBo was given a longer extension than Gunnar. Using extensions as evidence, JBo is clearly more valued. Using ice time as evidence, again, JBo is clearly more valued. Using what it cost to acquire the two players, JBo is around the league clearly more valued.

Losing JBo doesn't clear any cap space if we have to turn around and spend it on a replacement. Which, if we want to keep competing for the division, let alone the Cup, we would immediately have to do. We have 0 LHD in the system who look to be ready for first pairing minutes in the next 3 years. We cannot replace what JBo brings for cheaper than what we pay him with the UFA market. Thus losing JBo does not free up cap space.

Edmundson had very few starts with Petro when JBo was healthy. Every single one at home, against weak teams, and JBo ended up back on the top pairing for the third period. And let's not forget, Jackman looked ok on the first pairing at times too.

I think you might want to compare stats between Jackman and Edmundson before bringing up who is better offensively. Edmundson's offensive numbers compare poorly to Jackman's in Juniors, the AHL, and the NHL. Jackman never put up as few points for the Blues at Emundson did, outside the year he only played 15 games.

I'm not against Edmundson. There's a reason I'm guessing he gets protected over Gunnarson. But he has done nothing to suggest he will be any better than Jackman; and did nothing this year that Lindbohm didn't do the year before.

Is there a single first pairing defensemen in the league who's career numbers were similar as Edmundson's have been up to this point? Obviously I haven't done an exhaustive search, but I really doubt it. I know the majority were not.

I appreciate Edmundson for what he is. A young, cheap, heir apparent to former Blues like Jackman and Polak. I've seen nothing but wishful thinking to suggest expecting him to be anything more.
- Antilles

The Blues have LD in the system that will be ready in less than three years.

JayBo has been declining at an accelerated pace.

When Edmundson was paired with Petro those games mattered and what is a bad team? One that is good enough to win any night or just misses the play offs?

You can say Colorado sucks but you cannot say that they lack offensive punch that can hurt you real quick.

Maybe JayBo has just been dealing with injuries? Or maybe he is getting injured because he is getting older and is getting slower.

JayBo sans his contract might be attractive to teams now. Add in his contract and his value versus Gunnarsson on a trade market vastly declines. But do I think JayBo is better yes. Do I think the Blues value Gunnarsson, yes.

Your points are not too far of the mark when talking about replacements. But your evaluation of Edmundson appears to be mistaken. For one thing you cannot easily compare stats from junior and the AHL to decades prior, especially production stats. Not all players blossom or follow the same trends otherwise there would be more of the junior players who score over a 100 points in junior playing in the NHL and suceeding, and neither of these things occur.

I merely was pointing out Edmundson was a rookie who missed a key developmental year of playing hockey because of a back injury. What he showed was highly impressive considering he played less than half a season of AHL hockey before making the team out of training camp.

I watch how players read for time and space. He shows some positive signs that his game has the potential to reach more dimensions. Hell JayBo has the potential to produce more points and yet.....

Perhaps a new defenseman coach will change things? Perhaps not. But here we can pnly speculate and so in the end nearly every statement we make unless we point to a specific event is speculation. Edmundson has a better frame,his skating is plus, but not the greatest, and he has shown both confidence and positioning issues. All these things can be taught, except confidence.

I don't like Bouwmeester. We do not have someone to replace his minutes yet. Trade him if i could? YES. It would allow us to get cap room and maybe put someone like Edmundson up with Petro. Petro is the backbone of this team and proved his worth in these playoffs. If Backes leaves Petro for captain.

We need a new blog.

You could even do a fake rumor blog.......