Follow @stlgoalie As somewhat expected, the Blues didn’t do anything in the trade market today. I realize that this may disappoint a lot of fans. Given the cap management or lack thereof, the lack of action today doesn’t disappointment or surprise me.
When you look at who moved today, which players do you suggest the Blues should have acquired? Let’s review some of the players that moved today and the return they fetched.
Jamie McGinn and his almost $3 million AAV contract went for a conditional 3rd round pick that turns into a 2nd potentially. A deal that the Blues couldn’t fit in their cap structure even if they wanted.
Lee Stempniak went for a 2nd and a 4th round pick. Seems pretty pricey for a rental player that would be hard pressed to crack the Blues top 6. I’d pass.
Pat Maroon went for a 4th round pick and a prospect. This might have been an option but would Pat put you over the top? I suggest not given the Ducks moved him.
Mikkel Boedker never felt like a good fit for the Blues. Essentially the Coyotes got a second round pick (if they don’t sign Bleackley), a prospect and a somewhat serviceable UFA to ride out the season. I don’t think the Blues really had the ability to make a comparable offer even if they wanted short of trading Brouwer + for him. I’m not sad this deal didn’t happen.
Versteeg, Ladd, Hudler, Purcell and Staal all went for picks and prospects so the cap dollars wouldn’t have worked even if you were ok with what it would take to get the players (Ladd and Staal were expensive rentals imho).
Brandon Pirri went for a 6th round pick. I think it would be reasonable to take a flyer on Pirri for this low of a cost but a number of teams have already moved on from him and this wouldn’t likely change your current year result.
I might wish they took a flyer on Sergei Plotnikov but I don’t see that as a real difference maker this season.
As a result of the cap situation, Doug Armstrong was forced to try and consummate like dollar hockey trades or overpay for salary retention. This would have meant things like trading Robby Fabbri or Colton Parayko for Jonathan Drouin. The cap situation was a big impediment. Armstrong said “my belief is you leave yourself between 5-7% of the cap for acquisitions and injuries. The problem is this year we got into long term injuries. Then you add in just the day to day bumps and bruises of guys missing and you just get into a difficult spot. We’re one of probably 20 teams that are in that situation too. Our just happened because of the number of injuries we had.… While I don’t fully agree with parts of his statement or think that his strategy is exactly what I would implement, he is right in that the long term injuries did handcuff the organization. If they knew for certain that Ott and Elliott would be on LTIR through the end of the season, they would have been free to make some moves. Given they might not be on LTIR through the rest of the season, they could not add salary without subtracting it as well.
For me, the cap management regarding the centers seems to suggest an issue. Paul Stastny and Jori Lehtera both can’t play with Vladimir Tarasenko. I really think they have to find a winger to play with Stastny and let Lehtera play with Tarasenko, especially if Steen is your other center. Once Lehtera comes back, I think I might try something like – the STL line, Fabbri/Stastny/Backes, Jaskin/Berglund/Brouwer.
It’s a great day for hockey.