Jeff Quirin: Bluenotes: Ramblings on Stewart, Conklin, & More Some random ramblings about the St. Louis Blues and their payroll, Chris Stewart's future, Ty Conklin's purpose, and more.

I like Stewart. But dont think NJ gives up Henrique for Stewart alone. Just based on the potential alone. Josefson is a 4th liner maybe a 3rd liner with solid line mates. Which NJ is really thin now. Loktionov is gonna fall back to earth real hard. He isnt gonna get free assists now that Kovi is gone. Moving Henrique for Stewart is gonna leave them with a much bigger void.

Seems like an obvious way to reduce salary while not disrupting your team (too much) would be to retain half of J-Bo's cap hit and trade him for assets. He would bring in a good amount with half his cap hit and while Hitch loves his D first, and JBo is a good player, J-BO is a luxury on that team. He only has 1 season left on his contract and who knows where he will run off to next year. Recoup your 1st rounder. Or you could keep all your players, ditch Halak, and be even more of a contender.

I like Stewart. But dont think NJ gives up Henrique for Stewart alone. Just based on the potential alone. Josefson is a 4th liner maybe a 3rd liner with solid line mates. Which NJ is really thin now. Loktionov is gonna fall back to earth real hard. He isnt gonna get free assists now that Kovi is gone. Moving Henrique for Stewart is gonna leave them with a much bigger void.
- poisondhearts37

NJ is in a seriously sh$%y place. They have little assets to trade and big big needs. I can't imagine them giving up a young Henrique in any trade right now unless it brings back several young assets in return. They have little to no alternative but to look to UFA to fill their needs (Forwards and D). At least their Goalie situation is looking, well, amazing.

As for Stewart? I don't see his trade return as much more then a 2nd and a good (not great) prospect. I think they look somewhere else to shed salary if they do at all.

I don't follow the Blues closely, but is Oshie really a third liner now? I thought he was top 6? Has his progress just slowed or is there something big I'm missing from not watching many of their games?

For the sake of out of control contracts, I hope Pietrangelo signs a reasonable deal. Especially for the Blues as their not known for being a high spending team. It's a good thing the Flyers are maxed out for cap space or they might toss a crazy offer sheet at him.

A line of MPS-Roy-Stewart could be deadly or it could flop. I'd love to see those 3 just dominate next year

I feel like you ignored an important aspect of the financials... perception. For Blues to trade 2 of their 3 leading goal scorers to bring back someone who spent last season in the AHL, and someone who basically had basically half as many points as either of the, just isn't going to sit well. People accepted the Perron trade because it got us an acceptable return AND opened up cap space to sign Stewart. Fans aren't going to accept multiple salary dumps in the same season. If Stillman isn't willing to put out more money, the Blues just shouldn't have signed Roy.

Financially, the Blues can't afford to alienate part of their fan base by making it seem like we are going to suffer through players development years then trade them away for more developing players when they start fully putting it together.

I don't follow the Blues closely, but is Oshie really a third liner now? I thought he was top 6? Has his progress just slowed or is there something big I'm missing from not watching many of their games?

For the sake of out of control contracts, I hope Pietrangelo signs a reasonable deal. Especially for the Blues as their not known for being a high spending team. It's a good thing the Flyers are maxed out for cap space or they might toss a crazy offer sheet at him.
- SmielmaN

Blues basically roll 3 lines equally for ES. We don't have a top 6, we have a top 9 that are all expected to produce offensively.

Blues basically roll 3 lines equally for ES. We don't have a top 6, we have a top 9 that are all expected to produce offensively.
- Antilles

Love that Hitchcook

Not sure NJ would trade Henrique for Stewart.

However, Montreal is probably looking for size up front. Stewart certainly fit that bill.

Would you trade Stewart for Plekanec?

Not sure NJ would trade Henrique for Stewart.

However, Montreal is probably looking for size up front. Stewart certainly fit that bill.

Would you trade Stewart for Plekanec?
- sEb_666

In a New York minute!!

Um, not to be rude, but Clarkson is no longer a Devil. Secondly, Lou has made it clear that there is no way he trades Henrique. Thirdly, there is a ggod chance, Loktionov will not start with the big boys this year. I would like to think that Chris Stewart gets a little more realistic with his salary expectations; since he is so inconsistent, it would be very hard to get a decent return for him. I really like the Blues and hope that they can cover the salaries of those they want to keep onboard.

Most fans around the NHL will remember Brendan Shanahan for his time in Detroit or in the greater New York City area. But Blues fans will remember him for different things. How will you?
- Jeff Quirin

Back to back 50 goal seasons

Getting his bottom lip nearly sliced off by Keith Tkachuk, geting stitched up and coming back into the game and beating the ever loving snot out of him.

Back to back 50 goal seasons

Getting his bottom lip nearly sliced off by Keith Tkachuk, geting stitched up and coming back into the game and beating the ever loving snot out of him.
- bcallaway

Easier to score 50 when the other teams best defensive players have to match up against Hullie.

I remember him for the same reasons though. And of course for throwing Janney over a fence. And when Lee Norwood dropped the Harley on himself in Shanny's driveway and broke his leg.

Offer sheets usually don't work, but imagine if say you re-signed Stewart and then only had 9 million in cap space, then someone threw a 2 year contract at Pietrangelo that's 15 million in the first year or something. They would either be giving up three firsts or the Blues would have to trade players to fit him under the cap. It would be a real Richard move. I'm sure St. Louis has considered a scenario like that and plan to sign him before other RFAs though.

Not sure NJ would trade Henrique for Stewart.

However, Montreal is probably looking for size up front. Stewart certainly fit that bill.

Would you trade Stewart for Plekanec?
- sEb_666

I think that'd be a very solid trade for both sides.

In regards to chicago and the wolves..can they carry 3 goaltenders? Wolves have Matt Climie as their #1 goaltender. I think binnington will be in Evansville or wherever our echl affiliate is. Still don't like Allen being in chicago, because he won't get more than 20 or 25 games.

Offer sheets usually don't work, but imagine if say you re-signed Stewart and then only had 9 million in cap space, then someone threw a 2 year contract at Pietrangelo that's 15 million in the first year or something. They would either be giving up three firsts or the Blues would have to trade players to fit him under the cap. It would be a real Richard move. I'm sure St. Louis has considered a scenario like that and plan to sign him before other RFAs though.
- Avs-Ice

Max salary is 12.8mil. Second year would have to be for around 9mil. I don't see any team affording over 10mil for one players cap hit. Or risking 4 first round draft picks.

i would do this trade without a second thought if backes was actually the versatile top line talent a lot of you seem to believe he is. he's a glorified third liner slotted into our top line. he has value, but he needs to be disruptive in front of the net instead of hanging around the slot waiting to fire off an errant shot. and he's much more effective on the backcheck and forecheck at the center position, so why move him off of that? his skill and creativity are limited, but his strength, positioning and smarts are excellent so why put him in a situation that doesn't make the most of what he's best at?

Easier to score 50 when the other teams best defensive players have to match up against Hullie.

I remember him for the same reasons though. And of course for throwing Janney over a fence. And when Lee Norwood dropped the Harley on himself in Shanny's driveway and broke his leg.
- gobluenotes

Got your story mixed up. Shanahan got beat up by Denis Chasse and tossed over a fence on a road trip to Florida because he is a no good snake of a human being.

We'll see what moves are made, but something will be done to keep the Blues closer to their "Have Not" status and historical payroll levels rather than pretending to be a "Have" franchise.
- Jeff Quirin

I am not sure why you feel this way. This is a new ownership group. I don't believe that they made some of the moves that they have made, and then dump salary to get back to a lower level. (JBo trade, Leopold, Roy)

I have a feeling that the Blues are going to basically go all in for a couple of years, and then go from there. Stillman wants to win the Cup, and this team is primed to do it in the next couple of years. After that, we may see them go back down to "Have Not" status.

Just my opinion, no need to be so down on this ownership group. At least until they give us a reason to do so.

Seems like an obvious way to reduce salary while not disrupting your team (too much) would be to retain half of J-Bo's cap hit and trade him for assets. He would bring in a good amount with half his cap hit and while Hitch loves his D first, and JBo is a good player, J-BO is a luxury on that team. He only has 1 season left on his contract and who knows where he will run off to next year. Recoup your 1st rounder. Or you could keep all your players, ditch Halak, and be even more of a contender.
- coffee junkie

i can't tell if you're trolling or not. are you trolling? replace j-bo with a plug to save 2.5 million?

you undervalue j-bone and his fit with this team. a leopold dump would be a better course of action if all that was needed was to shave a few million.

Good read Jeff.

Army didnt trade for J-Bo to just dump him this year. If the blues are out of it they might move him at the deadline but I dont see J-bo going anywhere.

Stewart for Henrique might need some more pieces involved but I think it would be a good start.

I like your lines but I would put Porter in over reaves.

just my $.02