Trade Gunnar as part of a deal for Kovalchuk and hope his salary is not that much

6 for 33 is what I see for Parayko

Pipedream by me is 8 at 40
- sycsam

The AAV goes up as the years go up as he is giving up UFA years. 8 would be higher than 45.

Don't eat any pies the clown bakes for you
- Jason Millen

The AAV goes up as the years go up as he is giving up UFA years. 8 would be higher than 45.
- Jason Millen

Yeah, if it goes 8 years, I am expecting almost 6 per if the deal is that long. $46/8yr I would do. He would probably want more if he goes 8 years though. Probably around $50.

I don't think he is willing to move Steen

I would looking at his production slipping the last few years

Montreal says no all day on that

They would likely want a Fabbri included
- sycsam

Fabbri is highly tradeable. I think Steen ain't going anywhere.

But wingers that get you centers will go and the Blues need to cash in on some of their defensive prospects. But salary has to go somehow.

I was considering could JayBo and a defensive prospect get you Duchense? Yeah, yeah, JayBo is important but man we have the lefties coming up. I'd deal a righty. Hell give them Bortz, play Schmaltz and end up with over a million in cap savings to boot.

Ok, so what will Parayko get if it goes to Arb and he gets a 1 or 2 year deal?

I'm looking for a 6+ year deal, probably somewhere around 5-5.5M cap hit.

After signing the remaining RFAs, only leaves around $3M left. I still say make a trade to shed some more $$ and get Kovalchuck. Maybe as part of a Kovalchuck deal, send back Sobotka/Berglund or Gunnarson......

We have the 3rd line forwards to fill in for a move there, and Edmundson I believe is ready for 2LD and have one of our young LD step up and play the 3LD position.

Edit: Didn't realize that Berglund has a full NMC this year.
- carcus

If only they could trade Gunnar.

But would rather net one of the young centers rumored to be getting moved.

If only they could trade Gunnar.

But would rather net one of the young centers rumored to be getting moved.
- BluemanGuruu

I'm thinking you guys are being optimistic. I'm expecting Parayko to be 5.75 to 6 mil/year cap hit.

I hate to rain on the parade of the Blues acquiring a #1 center, but Galchenyuk hasn't been that guy in Montreal. They think he's a winger. And their center depth is worse than the Blues.

I'm not saying he's not talented, and he could certainly pan out, but thus far he's been a bit of a disappointment.

And how can you trade Bouwmeester with his NMC?

I think Parayko is better than Risto. At least how he is used on your team in comparison to Risto on mine. I would be amazed if nobody offer sheeted him. I understand this does not happen often, and for good reason, but he seems like the ideal candidate for it.
- staples

Had Myers stuck around, or Bogosian lived up to his draft billing, Risto would be the #2 d-man in Buffalo and in a much more similiar spot as Parayko. But Risto has had to shoulder a much heavier load...certainly a great piece to build around with McCabe--just need more there to go with the talent up front.

The Blues aren't totally cap-strapped, so not especially worried about an offer sheet.

I'm thinking you guys are being optimistic. I'm expecting Parayko to be 5.75 to 6 mil/year cap hit.

I hate to rain on the parade of the Blues acquiring a #1 center, but Galchenyuk hasn't been that guy in Montreal. They think he's a winger. And their center depth is worse than the Blues.

I'm not saying he's not talented, and he could certainly pan out, but thus far he's been a bit of a disappointment.

And how can you trade Bouwmeester with his NMC?
- Firebrand

I don't know...how could they trade Doug Weight even though he didn't want to go?

The read is Montreal hasn't used Galchenyuk properly. You can say the same for Schenn as he was often used as a winger. Backes was a winger before being moved back to center. Oshie was also a center moved to the wing.

I guess my thought is load up on talented "natural" centermen and one is bound to pan out, or shoot you already have enough. I still think Barbashev has a good chance to be a solid to plus second line center. I am a bit bullish on Sobtoka right now and I should temper those hopes.

Duchense also primarily plays the wing. It is often the case young players start as wingers then move back to center. Sometimes they never move back. I doubt Fabbri ever moves back to center though I know Hitch was eager to try him there.

Blues are in a position to trade some pieces to free up space for a rookie or possible FA signing

I expect them to be relatively quiet though

Still have quite the logjam in the bottom 6 but we shall see

I mean who saw Schenn and the Reaves trades coming

Berglund sidelined until December

there is a spot for a rookie to claim

Berglund sidelined until December

there is a spot for a rookie to claim
- sycsam

Well there goes at least three goals.

Berglund sidelined until December

there is a spot for a rookie to claim
- sycsam

And his other shoulder. Great, two bad shoulders isn't good......

And his other shoulder. Great, two bad shoulders isn't good......
- carcus

This just keeps getting worse haha

hopefully this is it otherwise the blues will have a nice cap hit they will hide in the minors soon

Berglund sidelined until December

there is a spot for a rookie to claim
- sycsam

Apparently it was a difficult workout What was he doing MMA?

Apparently it was a difficult workout What was he doing MMA?
- BluemanGuruu

He must have been showing the boys his new move where he skates the puck up to the blue line and then shoots it back into the corner

Apparently it was a difficult workout What was he doing MMA?
- BluemanGuruu

Supposedly he was doing a sled push and slipped.

This isn't the first off-season accident he has had that required surgery. Maybe he just needs to take a vacation and come back a little out of shape next year.....

According to Lou Korac on Twitter:

Armstrong on Paryako: "Last time I talked to him, he wasn't ready to play for the love of the game anymore." #stlblues $$$$$

Ummmm, not exactly what you want to say out loud to the media during negotiations.

Fabbri is highly tradeable. I think Steen ain't going anywhere.

But wingers that get you centers will go and the Blues need to cash in on some of their defensive prospects. But salary has to go somehow.

I was considering could JayBo and a defensive prospect get you Duchense? Yeah, yeah, JayBo is important but man we have the lefties coming up. I'd deal a righty. Hell give them Bortz, play Schmaltz and end up with over a million in cap savings to boot.
- BluemanGuruu

The return for Fabbri would have to be sky high and be a player that had a below market value AAV (cost controlled). The odds of Fabbri going somewhere are very small.

According to Lou Korac on Twitter:

Ummmm, not exactly what you want to say out loud to the media during negotiations.


- carcus

Smells like a smart-a$$ response to a dumb reported question to me. Lou should have shared the question that elicited the response. Anyone see it?

FWIW, I talked to someone who knows Nail and their comment to me was that Nail left town this spring without really any clue as to what the team was going to do or what their plan was with him.

My guess is he realized he was unlikely to receive a QO and that they didn't really have a discussion about this coming season. This is likely because Army wanted to see how the expansion and entry drafts went and what trades looked liked. My guess and hope is that they touched base this week or maybe beginning last week but my contact hadn't spoken to Nail in a while.

Based on my read, I'd lower the probability he is back a little bit but you never know.

FWIW, I talked to someone who knows Nail and their comment to me was that Nail left town last year without really any clue as to what the team was going to do or what their plan was with him.

My guess is he realized he was unlikely to receive a QO and that they didn't really have a discussion about this coming season. This is likely because Army wanted to see how the expansion and entry drafts went and what trades looked liked. My guess and hope is that they touched base this week or maybe beginning last week but my contact hadn't spoken to Nail in a while.

Based on my read, I'd lower the probability he is back a little bit but you never know.
- Jason Millen

If hes back great

if he moves on ok

not a huge deal for me

I hope the blues make a run at a Justin Williams

I expect them to resign their own RFA and that is it

Supposedly he was doing a sled push and slipped.

This isn't the first off-season accident he has had that required surgery. Maybe he just needs to take a vacation and come back a little out of shape next year.....


- carcus

What a clod.

If hes back great

if he moves on ok

not a huge deal for me

I hope the blues make a run at a Justin Williams

I expect them to resign their own RFA and that is it
- sycsam

Too old too much. He might be decent in the east without much travel. Go young not old unless you get a Thorton. Then even though he is slower than paint drying on a humid day you consider it if it is one year and cheap. That won't happen.


Jammer, I agree only if the return was good for Fabbri. I would like to see another play offs by him and a full season of health which for me is 78 plus games.

If you could get Ganger for a couple seasons some where in the threes that would be a solid move. But much more than that is gambling. Blues have had interest in him and Williams in the past and Armstrong said he had been speaking with afew free agents but seemed to be low key and not necessarily expecting anything.

There aren't any worthwhile dmen and no need to add an veterans imho.

Heck I still love this team as of right now. it is a ton better than last year already. plus you have to think you will get growth from a lot of younger players which should be greater than any loss for the older ones. I expect a great season from Stastny if he is healthy. He seemed to bristle under Hitchcock. Yeo seems more keen to be an attacking team.

Too funny

I had this as an excerpt from a working draft blog -

As to the other Blues free agents, it will be interesting to see who comes back. Assuming Parayko comes to terms, the Blues already have 2 goalies and 6 defensemen roster spots spoken for. Expect Jordan Schmaltz, Thomas Vanelli, Vince Dunn, and Lindbohm to compete hard for a roster spot but I also think Armstrong will look to sign another experienced defenseman, maybe someone like Nikita Nesterov, Cameron Guance, Brian Strait or even Brian Campbell. At most it will be a depth defensemen if they add any at all. I expect it to be more the Chris Butler type than someone who will slot into the five spot.