Jeff Quirin: Would the Blues be Wise to Pay Oshie Now? As TJ Oshie and the St. Louis Blues head towards arbitration, should GM Doug Armstrong just "pay up" for No. 74's UFA years?

Let him go to arbitration, refuse to pay, let him walk... so the Leafs can sign him.

Scratch that he wouldn't sign with Leafs. Sign him... then trade him to Leafs.

Jeff Quirin: Would the Blues be Wise to Pay Oshie Now?
As TJ Oshie and the St. Louis Blues head towards arbitration, should GM Doug Armstrong just "pay up" for No. 74's UFA years?
- Jeff Quirin

I wouldn't be surprised if he signed a two year deal and then becomes a UFA. He'll then come to Toronto to play with his good friend, Kessel.

I wouldn't be surprised if he signed a two year deal and then becomes a UFA. He'll then come to Toronto to play with his good friend, Kessel.
- thomas81

Good friend?

Good friend?
- Le_Moderateur

Life-long best friend of course.

Seems like 5 years at 4.5 per is reasonable for both sides.

I'd move Petro to the left side and put him with Polak before the Shattenkirk/Jackman pair gets split up.

Good friend?
- Le_Moderateur

Yup

4 yrs 15 million sounds about right.

They need to get this done before arbitration.

And no, he is not going to the Leafs. So just stop it.

And no, he is not going to the Leafs. So just stop it.
- carcus

I'd be scared too. It's fine.

I wouldn't be surprised if he signed a two year deal and then becomes a UFA. He'll then come to Toronto to play with his good friend, Kessel.
- thomas81

Just like Shultz did to play with his BFF Gardiner, right?

Just like Shultz did to play with his BFF Gardiner, right?
- KelRocket

I didn't want him. Our D is fine.

I'd be scared too. It's fine.
- thomas81

Yes, I am really scared.

I hope the Blues sign him for 4-5 years, with a cap hit around 4.25 per year.

I think it will end up in arbitration, it will be interesting if the Blues ask for 1 year or two. One year makes him an RFA next year and they keep his rights... but they already have a lot of raises to give next year, biggest being AP. 2 years makes him an UFA and it's going to be harder to lock him up long term right before he would be a UFA than it will be when he's a year away.

Seems like 5 years at 4.5 per is reasonable for both sides.

I'd move Petro to the left side and put him with Polak before the Shattenkirk/Jackman pair gets split up.
- staloyt26

Well they aren't going to pay him as much as Backes so that won't happen. More likely closer to 4M per.

I didn't want him. Our D is fine.
- thomas81

4 yrs 15 million sounds about right.

They need to get this done before arbitration.
- carcus

Agreed. I would never let him even think about arbitration, offer sheets or other teams think about getting him. Unless that team is Boston

They would be wise to trade him to the Pens for Martin and a pick.

I think he'd look great in a Canucks sweater!