Jason Millen: Downgraded roster part 1 - between the pipes Downgraded roster part 1 - between the pipes

One thing I don't think gets brought up with the goalie situation is the expansion.

All teams must leave a goalie that is under contract at least one more year unprotected. And they have to have played so many games to qualify.

I don't think anyone but Elliott and Allen qualified for the time played, but neither was signed through the following season.

Elliott wanted to be the clear number 1, and that wasn't happening with the duo. So he wasn't re-signing and asked for a trade. Hutton was brought in specifically because he was willing to sign a two year deal and will be the unprotected goalie. They wanted to test Allen this year and i see him playing around 60 regular season games or so.

Allen and his deal makes sense for this situation. They needed to commit to him and he is signed during prime years to a good rate for a starter. And if Husso or someone else steps up, they will be cheap and a duo with Allen and will still be a low cap hit.

The only real option they had besides this was to trade Allen and sign Elliott to a long deal, which would have likely cost more as all years would be ufa years. And he hasn't ever been a full time starter and thrived. So that was more risky long term IMO.

One thing I don't think gets brought up with the goalie situation is the expansion.

All teams must leave a goalie that is under contract at least one more year unprotected. And they have to have played so many games to qualify.

I don't think anyone but Elliott and Allen qualified for the time played, but neither was signed through the following season.

Elliott wanted to be the clear number 1, and that wasn't happening with the duo. So he wasn't re-signing and asked for a trade. Hutton was brought in specifically because he was willing to sign a two year deal and will be the unprotected goalie. They wanted to test Allen this year and i see him playing around 60 regular season games or so.

Allen and his deal makes sense for this situation. They needed to commit to him and he is signed during prime years to a good rate for a starter. And if Husso or someone else steps up, they will be cheap and a duo with Allen and will still be a low cap hit.

The only real option they had besides this was to trade Allen and sign Elliott to a long deal, which would have likely cost more as all years would be ufa years. And he hasn't ever been a full time starter and thrived. So that was more risky long term IMO.

If they signed Nilsson to a 2 year deal, he would have met the expansion rules... per the NHL website

"iii) One goaltender who is under contract in 2017-18 or will be a restricted free agent at the expiration of his current contract immediately prior to 2017-18. If the club elects to make a restricted free agent goaltender available in order to meet this requirement, that goaltender must have received his qualifying offer prior to the submission of the club's protected list." Is there something you have seen that would have excluded Nilsson?

My only 3 points were trying to be 1) the team is worse, 2) because of the situation the team was going to be worse and 3) taking hutton over nilsson doesn't seem like a good move imho.

If they signed Nilsson to a 2 year deal, he would have met the expansion rules... per the NHL website

"iii) One goaltender who is under contract in 2017-18 or will be a restricted free agent at the expiration of his current contract immediately prior to 2017-18. If the club elects to make a restricted free agent goaltender available in order to meet this requirement, that goaltender must have received his qualifying offer prior to the submission of the club's protected list." Is there something you have seen that would have excluded Nilsson?

My only 3 points were trying to be 1) the team is worse, 2) because of the situation the team was going to be worse and 3) taking hutton over nilsson doesn't seem like a good move imho.
- Jason Millen

Nilsson may not have wanted to sign a two year deal.

I would have preferred giving Nilsson a shot as well over Hutton.

Really my only contribution to this topic is that I have high hopes for Husso. I'm worried about this team, but perhaps we get picked on a little during the expansion draft, change over a few guys, and we're right back in it. I want to think optimistically, but I'm not expecting much out of this season.

There wpuld be some statistical skews that happened last year due to Allen playing while injured because Elliott was also injured.

Also Allen did not play for a long stretch before entering the play offs with rust during the biggest games of the season.

So those are some considerationss to make.

I completely agree with the assessment of Hutton and Nillsson as that made less than zero sense.

This might be moves to force Hitchcock tomplaying Allen more? Hutton could represent either a way to deal with the upcoming expansion draft or in a similar vein to Elliott when they were not sure how training camp would end up with Bishop and signed at the time a crappy Elliott who represented little hope of being more than an AHL back up.

I think of the two Copely would do well as a back up. Bunnington's growth was retarded last year as well. He looked like he lacked any confidence when he came into an NHL game. The year prior he looked great like he would grow to his potential which was higher than Allen in my opinion.

I would look to either Binnington or Copely likely making the club out of training camp.

The roster as it was would likely regress at forward anyway. Increased age of players be relied upon with a likely higher incidence of injury along with slower play, lower production and Hitchcock's tendency to overly rely on veteran players.

I think this season is likely to be a bit bumpy just because of the strangeness of essentially having two head coaches, one on his way out and one the future. This could lead to some issues for players. COULD....does not mean it will and that those young men are capable of being more mature than that and focusing on what is in front of them.

One thing I don't think gets brought up with the goalie situation is the expansion.

All teams must leave a goalie that is under contract at least one more year unprotected. And they have to have played so many games to qualify.

I don't think anyone but Elliott and Allen qualified for the time played, but neither was signed through the following season.

Elliott wanted to be the clear number 1, and that wasn't happening with the duo. So he wasn't re-signing and asked for a trade. Hutton was brought in specifically because he was willing to sign a two year deal and will be the unprotected goalie. They wanted to test Allen this year and i see him playing around 60 regular season games or so.

Allen and his deal makes sense for this situation. They needed to commit to him and he is signed during prime years to a good rate for a starter. And if Husso or someone else steps up, they will be cheap and a duo with Allen and will still be a low cap hit.

The only real option they had besides this was to trade Allen and sign Elliott to a long deal, which would have likely cost more as all years would be ufa years. And he hasn't ever been a full time starter and thrived. So that was more risky long term IMO.
- carcus

The last part is what I saw as well. Plus Elliott would have then had numbers and leverage to seek term and a higher salary than Allen. Perhaps it was even discussed with Elliott and he turned it down? Term and a higher cap hit for a goalie on the last year on an age 31 contract seems to represent more problems than solutions. He is approaching the age when most goaltenders performances begin to greatly wane.

This is the big issue with the cap. Backes likely would be worth the first two years and you can bite the bullet on his likely regression in year three. The same with Brouwer. The problem is after two to three years these players are more than likely to represent a huge cap hit and greatly reduced positive impact on the game.

Who got better during the offseason?

Nashville?
Chicago?
Dallas?

Certainly not Winnipeg Minnesota or Colorado

Blues will be fighting for a playoff spot for sure but they will make it in and do well.

Is Sobotka back officially yet? I was off the grid last week traveling around with the wife

Who got better during the offseason?

Nashville?
Chicago?
Dallas?

Certainly not Winnipeg Minnesota or Colorado

Blues will be fighting for a playoff spot for sure but they will make it in and do well.

Is Sobotka back officially yet? I was off the grid last week traveling around with the wife
- sycsam

Nashville - yes. Swapping Subban for Weber. Plus
Chicago - they certainly didn't go down in quality. Best top four defensive core with adding Brian Campbell but Andrew Shaw is a big loss for them.
Dallas - Not really. Their big gaping, glaring weakness the Blues exposed was goaltending.

Who got better during the offseason?

Nashville?
Chicago?
Dallas?

Certainly not Winnipeg Minnesota or Colorado

Blues will be fighting for a playoff spot for sure but they will make it in and do well.

Is Sobotka back officially yet? I was off the grid last week traveling around with the wife
- sycsam

I haven't seen anything official. Supposedly his team in Russia is still expecting him in camp. That started last week but Sobotka is recovering from an injury and supposedly wasnt expected at the start of camp. And his wife just had a baby last week i heard. So either they are still trying to keep him there and are fighting releasing his contract, or they aren't letting their fans know he is gone.

I haven't seen anything official. Supposedly his team in Russia is still expecting him in camp. That started last week but Sobotka is recovering from an injury and supposedly wasnt expected at the start of camp. And his wife just had a baby last week i heard. So either they are still trying to keep him there and are fighting releasing his contract, or they aren't letting their fans know he is gone.
- carcus

I kind of want him here so we can just be done with him next summer but does he have a spot on the blues?

Probably line 3 center with Perron and Berglund?

I kind of want him here so we can just be done with him next summer but does he have a spot on the blues?

Probably line 3 center with Perron and Berglund?
- sycsam

Yeah, probably something like this. Centering a third line and killing penalties.

I haven't really followed his KHL career since he's left, but doesn't it sound like he's been injured quite a bit to anyone else?

Yeah, probably something like this. Centering a third line and killing penalties.

I haven't really followed his KHL career since he's left, but doesn't it sound like he's been injured quite a bit to anyone else?
- bcallaway

Wish the blues would just trade him

Who got better during the offseason?

Nashville?
Chicago?
Dallas?

Certainly not Winnipeg Minnesota or Colorado

Blues will be fighting for a playoff spot for sure but they will make it in and do well.

Is Sobotka back officially yet? I was off the grid last week traveling around with the wife
- sycsam

You think Winnipeg did not get better? You will be in for one hell of a surprise then.

Their young goaltenders have more experience. Their forward depth is superior to the Blues and I would suggest any central team. Their defense is their sore spot but that is because it is average.

So as long as Ondrei does not play much or plays as well as he can then the Jets will be a lot of trouble. Both of their young goaltenders and most especially the one are enough to cover for poor defense. Their offense should more than make up for any laxes. They have good enough leadership to not become an Edmonton like team and far superior defense to any Edmonton like team.

Minnesota is a team that is strange. When they play their best they are as good as any team. Consistency is an issue. Their dmen are better than they have performed or at one time it seemed. So always be careful about such a team. Adding Eric Staal in a smaller role will help.

Colorado well they are done in by poor coaching and defense. But as we all know they are not that bad of a team. They could conceivably move a forward or two and get a dman that changes things around. But the coaching and lack of leadership seems to hurt consistency.

Chicago is the most dimished team of them all. Their depth has taken a crushing blow. Maybe if they get Vesey it changes but that is a lot for a young kid to shoulder. Any given night they can crush anyone, ver the long haul they will have issues. Campbell is not that good anymore and might look it to begin the season but will fall off quickly.

Nashville is the most improved team. Goaltending is their weakness. Their other weakness was Weber and they made a great trade in the now that fixed that issue. But in a few years when Montreal pushes him out that cap hit will come back to haunt them.

Dallas gets better period. Their youth has more experience. Is their defense good enough? Can Lehtonen ever regain his great play from some years ago? Goaltending hurts them. Is their second super star healthy, will he recover and not be injured again?

Nashville
Dallas
Winnipeg
St. Louis
Chicago
Colorado

Likely either Winnipeg or Dallas slips below the Blues from some growth issue. I would suggest Dallas is more likely. My hias forces the Blues maybe lower than they are but there is a lot of key player movement, and lots of questions concerning leadership. How will Steen respond? Can Steen ever be healthy? Will last season rookies improve or regress? Will any of the next wave of forwards step up? Will Allen stay healthy? How will he handle the mantle to start the season? Last year he started bad, Elliott came in for a while then he took the net. But does Allen respond as well without Elliott pushing him? Allen seems to have a solid mental make up. But the offense in the division will increase this year with ever more talented forwards playing.

This might be a reload season for the Blues. I see a bad period of play coming and how they respond to that down turn will be telling of where this team is at. Our depth has diminished so key injuries will likely hurt more. There is still depth but it is certainly thinner. If Sobtoka is coming back how will he fare in his reentry into the league? If you get even vintage Sobtoka that should greatly help this club.

Nashville
Dallas
Winnipeg
St. Louis
Chicago
Colorado


- BluemanGuruu

What makes you think Chicago will drop so low? There team is not much different from last year.

I think the only way that the Blues and Chicago finish out of the top 3 in the Central is if they have major injuries.

If Allen goes down for an extended time this year it could be very hurtful.

Our offense might be slightly down, but offense wasn't ever our strength. It has always been defense and goaltending and we are still good there as long as Allen is playing.

What makes you think Chicago will drop so low? There team is not much different from last year.

I think the only way that the Blues and Chicago finish out of the top 3 in the Central is if they have major injuries.

If Allen goes down for an extended time this year it could be very hurtful.

Our offense might be slightly down, but offense wasn't ever our strength. It has always been defense and goaltending and we are still good there as long as Allen is playing.
- carcus

I find it laughable that Guru you think Winnipeg will jump from a dumpster fire to elite in one year. They do not have the same fire power that Dallas has when they did that.

in no particular order

Nashville
Chicago
St. Louis
Dallas








Winnipeg
Minnesota
Colorado

ya we're tanking this year... Not worth investing in this roster unless it changes before the deadline... The current roster can MAYBE get them past the first round.

What makes you think Chicago will drop so low? There team is not much different from last year.

I think the only way that the Blues and Chicago finish out of the top 3 in the Central is if they have major injuries.

If Allen goes down for an extended time this year it could be very hurtful.

Our offense might be slightly down, but offense wasn't ever our strength. It has always been defense and goaltending and we are still good there as long as Allen is playing.
- carcus

Carcus that is exactly what I am assuming. They have ever older players specifically at their most crucial points. Other than Toews, Kane and what's his name the robot shot blocker, their most important players are hitting an the age when injuries begin to occur more frequently and last longer.

They are also going to push more weight on fewer players. Last year Crawford bailed them out much of the season.

It is an assumption. So maybe they are free from serious injuries to important cogs and then they are in the top three.

I find it laughable that Guru you think Winnipeg will jump from a dumpster fire to elite in one year. They do not have the same fire power that Dallas has when they did that.

in no particular order

Nashville
Chicago
St. Louis
Dallas








Winnipeg
Minnesota
Colorado
- sycsam

I am glad I can humor you


Winnipeg is a much better team than performed last year. Now they are adding more fire power. Unless you forgot they picked one of the best players in the draft last year who is likely to impact the game and might do so from a ird line.

Their defense is their achilles heal and if the coach uses Pavlic over his other options. The defense is capable of being better.

They will be a team strongly pushing the envelope and I think they will push further.

A lot of what I am seeing has to do with depth, talent and an ever evolving game.

We have to remember that ngeneral the parity in this league is there. Drop offs, especially concerning depth due to the cap is going to cause flux. Every year it seems some bad team with offensive talent overcomes poor possession numbers.

I find it laughable that Guru you think Winnipeg will jump from a dumpster fire to elite in one year. They do not have the same fire power that Dallas has when they did that.

in no particular order

Nashville
Chicago
St. Louis
Dallas








Winnipeg
Minnesota
Colorado
- sycsam

I believe Dallas' two best players are coming off of summer surgery. Let's be realistic here and assume that the more this occurs the more likely it is one of them struggles with that injury or it changes their game for a bit. I doubt that will be Benn. Benn is good enough to push a bad team hgher than they should be. Dallas is not a bad team at all. But they lost two of their veteran dmen from last year. Not the greatest players but that will change the make up of the team.

They have a great forward core but a few of those young players have struggled with consistency. They will be in a growth season. What I mean by that is they will likely lose some points, but how many? Who knows. Just the same it depends who they play and when they play them just as much.

Chicago is a team trending down. If they manage to pick up another good forward it could change their complexity but still I am weary of a roster with so many important aging parts. There will be drop offs the question is can they compensate for those drop offs?

The Blues would have dealt with that as well had they kept some of the older forwards that moved on. Now they will be forced to deal with it but it is their reality so the focus shifts. They will be building the entire season on that. That will have a probability of presenting spurts or uneven play. That is not saying it will happen, just it is likely. I happen to like some of the forwards getting a shot at bigger roles. I am confident at least pne will grab the reins and I suspect it could be two or three. That bodes well.

Hutton as Jammer pointed put is a serious issue.

I personally saw nothing in Nilsson that intrigued me at all. I have watched Hutton play some good games for Nashville in the past, so i was comfortable with the decision to pay a little extra for his services. When Rinne was hurt he was relied on. Nilsson had very little polish to his game/little experience IMO.

I personally saw nothing in Nilsson that intrigued me at all. I have watched Hutton play some good games for Nashville in the past, so i was comfortable with the decision to pay a little extra for his services. When Rinne was hurt he was relied on. Nilsson had very little polish to his game/little experience IMO.
- Simon_says17

That one year that cost them the play offs?

Craig Custance ‏@CraigCustance 4 hours ago
Spoke w/Blues GM Doug Armstrong here Monday. Finalizing paperwork to bring Vladimir Sobotka back: "He's ready to come over."

FYI

FYI
- carcus

Oh yippee.

Oh yippee.
- bcallaway

Parade on Market st next June for sure