Jason Millen: The Parayko Problem The Parayko Problem

Pietrangelo for Marner?

Getting Parayko for under $5M/year is a pipe dream. Heck, getting him for Ristolainen's contract would be a steal. You have an opportunity to lock up a star-defenseman-in-the-making--at worst an excellent #2--for his entire prime. Don't screw it up.

Qualifying offers announced. About as we all expected, Parayko, PRV, Sundqvist, & Binnington. Yakupov & Rattie look like they'll be UFA.

Not sure why they bothered with Paajarvi.

I just know based on Blues history that Yakupov will go elsewhere and win 3 cups.

The first line in the Blog is "follow me on twitter" without a link or twitter handle anywhere I can find.

I hope they bring Yak back and let him learn on the fourth line next year

Parayko I can see an 8 year for $40 million deal

I don't think he is going to be a difficult sign

I hope they bring Yak back and let him learn on the fourth line next year

Parayko I can see an 8 year for $40 million deal

I don't think he is going to be a difficult sign
- sycsam

Uhh. Thats the issue with players like Yak. They dont learn anything on the 4th line. Thats exactly why hes in the situation hes been in since EDM.

Uhh. Thats the issue with players like Yak. They dont learn anything on the 4th line. Thats exactly why hes in the situation hes been in since EDM.
- poisondhearts37

he was actually playing pretty well before he got hurt last season

not great but better

The first line in the Blog is "follow me on twitter" without a link or twitter handle anywhere I can find.
- Cephalopods

Blue bar right next to the "follow me on twitter" @stlgoalie

Uhh. Thats the issue with players like Yak. They dont learn anything on the 4th line. Thats exactly why hes in the situation hes been in since EDM.
- poisondhearts37

This is exactly right. Hitch is a great coach but he also falls victim to the "ice time must be earned" absurdity, this makes great sense for a defensive specialist.

With scorers even in the best case scenario you are wasting the players best year in terms of points per minute (typically 24 years of age) while they are "earning" their ice time. A player like Yakupov needs to be on the 1st or 2nd line, otherwise he is useless, no amount of elite playmaking is going to make 4th line goobers score enough, and expecting Yakupov to be a checker is just asinine. Its like being angry at a cat for not being a filing cabinet.

Hopefully he gets a chance on a team that can use him correctly.

The first line in the Blog is "follow me on twitter" without a link or twitter handle anywhere I can find.
- Cephalopods

hmm shows up in my firefox version...

https://twitter.com/stlgoalie

Qualifying offers announced. About as we all expected, Parayko, PRV, Sundqvist, & Binnington. Yakupov & Rattie look like they'll be UFA.
- Antilles

Just because they weren't given QOs, doesn't mean they still can't sign them.

I hope you are right Parayko is an easy sign. But I think his side could look at the money Bouwmeester is making for for a lot less offensive production and argue he should be above that figure, especially if he gives up some UFA years.

Ristolainen contract is not a perfect example since he's the best defenseman in Buffalo, and Pietro is that guy here, but I would think Risto and Parayko are the closest players from the ones mentioned, with both skill and size.

I feel really important right now. I made it in the blog!

I feel really important right now. I made it in the blog!


- carcus

I hope you are right Parayko is an easy sign. But I think his side could look at the money Bouwmeester is making for for a lot less offensive production and argue he should be above that figure, especially if he gives up some UFA years.

Ristolainen contract is not a perfect example since he's the best defenseman in Buffalo, and Pietro is that guy here, but I would think Risto and Parayko are the closest players from the ones mentioned, with both skill and size.
- Firebrand

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.

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

should be a quick match by Army or at least it should be

This is exactly right. Hitch is a great coach but he also falls victim to the "ice time must be earnbbed" absurdity, this makes great sense for a defensive specialist.

With scorers even in the best case scenario you are wasting the players best year in terms of points per minute (typically 24 years of age) while they are "earning" their ice time. A player like Yakupov needs to be on the 1st or 2nd line, otherwise he is useless, no amount of elite playmaking is going to make 4th line goobers score enough, and expecting Yakupov to be a checker is just asinine. Its like being angry at a cat for not being a filing cabinet.

Hopefully he gets a chance on a team that can use him correctly.
- Cephalopods

Look at the Rangers. I think you move pieces around in the line up when you understand the players properly. A fourth line does need to just check. That said every line on the Blues checks. Yak's biggest issue is his hockey IQ without the puck. He takes the most absurd routes to pressure the defense. But his defensive play got significantly better.

The thing is the game is played in three places. If you can only play one you better snipe like you're Hull or you will be worthless. If you have elite speed then a great back check should lead take aways. There was some evidence he was starting to do this.

As for earning the ice time I am not a huge fan but there is much people do not see behind the scenes that might lead to such things as a way ofnspirng discipline.

The Blues have about $11.6 in cap space right now. Let's just say Parayko takes $5.5 of that, though I hope it's just a tad less. That gives the Blues just over $6 mil to work with. Given what the Habs are asking for to deal Galchenyuk, and what the Islanders, who are the biggest suitors right now, are rumored to be offering, why isn't it feasible that the Blues take a shot?

Walman or Dunn, Steen, and a later pick isn't any better than what NYI is rumored to be offering. Steen clears enough salary that resigning Galchenyuk next summer isn't a problem, and we become very dangerous down the middle.

Is it me that's crazy, or does Armstrong not have the gall to try to pull that off?

The Blues have about $11.6 in cap space right now. Let's just say Parayko takes $5.5 of that, though I hope it's just a tad less. That gives the Blues just over $6 mil to work with. Given what the Habs are asking for to deal Galchenyuk, and what the Islanders, who are the biggest suitors right now, are rumored to be offering, why isn't it feasible that the Blues take a shot?

Walman or Dunn, Steen, and a later pick isn't any better than what NYI is rumored to be offering. Steen clears enough salary that resigning Galchenyuk next summer isn't a problem, and we become very dangerous down the middle.

Is it me that's crazy, or does Armstrong not have the gall to try to pull that off?
- RobShouts

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

- bcallaway

Thanks!

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.

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

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

Thanks!


- carcus

Don't eat any pies the clown bakes for you