Corey Harvey: Positives and Negatives of the Summer Thus Far The Blues offseason recap and analysis so far.

First...

WB Corey.

http://www.generalfanager.com/teams/st-louis-blues

Opilka got a 692.5 aav. Please tell me that doesn't start until he actually makes the AHL. Right?

Negative: continuation of no cups for the Blues you guys need one bad

looking at WOI looks to be starting this year

http://war-on-ice.com/cap/STL.html

http://www.generalfanager.com/teams/st-louis-blues

Opilka got a 692.5 aav. Please tell me that doesn't start until he actually makes the AHL. Right?
- stljam

I thought the same thing. Pretty sure it can't start until he begins playing his first pro season in the AHL.

Brouwer's stats are deceiving. He put up 20 goals with the Caps while on the 2nd line and the power play which he is ill suited for. As a 3rd liner, I would guess 10-15 goals is much more realistic at this point.

looking at WOI looks to be starting this year

http://war-on-ice.com/cap/STL.html
- bleedblue2007

Maybe they think he will play in the AHL this year? I honestly have no idea.

Maybe they think he will play in the AHL this year? I honestly have no idea.
- Corey Harvey

Per AHL By-Laws, the age limit for eligibility to compete in the American Hockey League is 18 years or over, on or before September 15 of each season of competition.

He was born on 2/27/97 so it's possible but Binnington and Copley both have to be ahead of him. No?

This makes no sense at all. It has to be misinformation, right?

I see conflicting reports. I see Opilka is committed to the University of Wisconsin in 2015-16. I also saw the Blues reported - "Opilka is set to join the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) Kitchener Rangers next season." (posted on their site on 7/3). Has to essentially be a place holder until he makes the AHL or NHL I would think.

Per AHL By-Laws, the age limit for eligibility to compete in the American Hockey League is 18 years or over, on or before September 15 of each season of competition.

He was born on 2/27/97 so it's possible but Binnington and Copley both have to be ahead of him. No?

This makes no sense at all. It has to be misinformation, right?

I see conflicting reports. I see Opilka is committed to the University of Wisconsin in 2015-16. I also saw the Blues reported - "Opilka is set to join the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) Kitchener Rangers next season." (posted on their site on 7/3). Has to essentially be a place holder until he makes the AHL or NHL I would think.
- stljam

I would think Binnington and Husso would be ahead of Copley and Opilka. You can't pay Junior or College players so I would assume that it won't kick in until he plays for the Wolves. I would also guess that it's misinformation or, like you said, a placeholder.

Opilka will likely play Major Junior for the next two years and than his NHL entry level deal will kick in in 2017–2018. Since he signed the deal already, he is not eligible to play in NCAA anymore. And because Major Junior team holds his rights (Kitchener drafted him in 2013), he is not eligible to play in the AHL until he's 20 yrs old. He is however eligible to play in the NHL right now.

It's not an error or a placeholder, that contract will slide for the next two yrs unless he makes the Blues this year or the next. That's unlikely, but possible. The contact starts in 2015 and when he's sent back to the OHL from the training camp or before the 10 game mark, it will slide and start next year.

Opilka will likely play Major Junior for the next two years and than his NHL entry level deal will kick in in 2017–2018. Since he signed the deal already, he is not eligible to play in NCAA anymore. And because Major Junior team holds his rights (Kitchener drafted him in 2013), he is not eligible to play in the AHL until he's 20 yrs old. He is however eligible to play in the NHL right now.

It's not an error or a placeholder, that contract will slide for the next two yrs unless he makes the Blues this year or the next. That's unlikely, but possible. The contact starts in 2015 and when he's sent back to the OHL from the training camp or before the 10 game mark, it will slide and start next year.
- stonefire

This is exactly what I meant by a placeholder. It holds his rights but the economics he will play under don't really start until he starts playing in either the AHL or NHL.

Thanks for the info though. No time to look it up at work right now.

Opilka will likely play Major Junior for the next two years and than his NHL entry level deal will kick in in 2017–2018. Since he signed the deal already, he is not eligible to play in NCAA anymore. And because Major Junior team holds his rights (Kitchener drafted him in 2013), he is not eligible to play in the AHL until he's 20 yrs old. He is however eligible to play in the NHL right now.

It's not an error or a placeholder, that contract will slide for the next two yrs unless he makes the Blues this year or the next. That's unlikely, but possible. The contact starts in 2015 and when he's sent back to the OHL from the training camp or before the 10 game mark, it will slide and start next year.
- stonefire

That makes much more sense. Thanks for clarifying.

Quick preface: Tarasenko's recent interview made me actually have a little optimism in this team. He wants multiple cups, he wants to be a leader, and he sounds like he wants the players to be held accountable.

I've been out of town on a ton of business and haven't been able to frequent the sight as much as I usually do. I'm not sure if this is common knowledge at this point, but a friend of mine was in the Blues' locker room and snapped a photo of the updated lines on the whiteboard. Here's how it looked:

Schwartz-Lehtera-Tarasenko
Steen-Stastny-Brouwer
Berglund-Backes-Jaskin
Ott-Brodziak-Reaves

Hitch has the STL line as the line 1. This brings up an odd scenario about the position of #1 center. I think we all believed that Stastny would center the top line upon his signing before last season started. I don't have to tell you guys that what we saw was an asinine amount of line juggling that resulted in Stastny never getting top line minutes, which I believe gave Blues' fans a skewed perspective of his production

Don't get me wrong, I have high hopes for Lehtera. Though he declined in the second half of the season, it was clear that there is potential in him to be a diamond in the rough, and his presence certainly aided Tarasenko's breakout season. However, why doesn't a player like Stastny have a more defined role? Sure, he might not be a #1C on every team in the league, but there he is a heck of a player-maker, has good vision on the ice, and a pretty high hockey IQ. Doesn't it make sense to give him some semi-elite, speedy, scoring wingers and build the top line around him?

Stastny has a hometown crowd now. With the rapid dissatisfaction of Backes as a leader, is there not a better time to shift some of that leadership to a hometown player? I'm not saying Stastny should be captain, but doesn't it make sense to give him some more responsibility on this team as a #1C, while the team tracks Lehtera's development?

I'm shooting from the hip here, but I believe the Blues have three main issues (besides leadership and accountability):

1) 1st line RW. The team basically needs a top 6 forward with top line potential. A semi-elite, scoring RW who's still growing; who will play for a deal. No idea who this is, but it's not Troy Brouwer.

2) 3rd line conundrum. I believe Backes still has value on this team as a forward, but not a captain. This is the last year of his contract; if he's proving himself, keep him or let him leave at the end of his contract; if he's not proving himself, trade him mid-season or at the deadline. We remember Backes' production as a winger, but the alternative center is Berglund...

The million dollar question (in my mind): What happens to line 3 when Fabbri is ready?

3) 2nd paring Defenseman. Gunnarsson just isn't that guy, but he could be for other teams. CBJ was rumored to be looking for a 2nd paring defenseman and I don't know why we didn't at least here notions of the Blues looking into that. Shattenkirk needs a partner and I'm honestly not 100% sold on any of our defensive prospects.

Thoughts? Criticisms? Firing squad?

A "C" is just about right.

[quote=RobShouts]Quick preface: Tarasenko's recent interview made me actually have a little optimism in this team. He wants multiple cups, he wants to be a leader, and he sounds like he wants the players to be held accountable.

Backes is rumored to be that top 6 winger you are asking for

Steen Statsny Backes
Schwartz Lehtera Tarasenko
Jaskin Berglund Brouwer
Ott Brodziak Reaves

Second Pair DMan is tougher but I could see Parayko being there by the end of the year

Trade Gunnar for whatever you can get and a vet D and play Parayko with Shatty

Im thinking something more like...

Steen-Stastny-Jaskin
Schwartz-Lehtera-Tarasenko
Berglund-Backes-Brouwer
Ott-Brodziak-Reaves

Im thinking something more like...

Steen-Stastny-Jaskin
Schwartz-Lehtera-Tarasenko
Berglund-Backes-Brouwer
Ott-Brodziak-Reaves
- WhatAboutBawb

I like.

I would swap the top two lines, if Tarasenko doesn't lead this team in ice-time this season Hitchcock is an idiot.

Im thinking something more like...

Steen-Stastny-Jaskin
Schwartz-Lehtera-Tarasenko
Berglund-Backes-Brouwer
Ott-Brodziak-Reaves
- WhatAboutBawb

I like this a lot. I got no problem with Lehtera going against the best in the league. He needs to to understand what the expectation of him is going to be. Stastny being a 2C is no problem for me. Ultimately, the line that gets the most minutes should be the line with the hot hand at the time.

As for that third line? YES!

Im thinking something more like...

Steen-Stastny-Jaskin
Schwartz-Lehtera-Tarasenko
Berglund-Backes-Brouwer
Ott-Brodziak-Reaves
- WhatAboutBawb

I actually dont mind this but I think you will get the most production out of Backes at RW

but I like where you are with these lines

That third line would be tough as heck to play against

Except for the goalie situation, Jim Nill is brilliant.....

Daley and Garbutt out; Sharp, Oduya and Johns in..... WOW!

Except for the goalie situation, Jim Nill is brilliant.....

Daley and Garbutt out; Sharp, Oduya and Johns in..... WOW!
- stljam

He's had a great summer. And remember he came from Detroit where they won Stanley Cups with virtually any ole goalie not named Curtis Joseph. Aside from Hasek, none of the others were anything worth jumping up and down about.

He's had a great summer. And remember he came from Detroit where they won Stanley Cups with virtually any ole goalie not named Curtis Joseph. Aside from Hasek, none of the others were anything worth jumping up and down about.
- bcallaway

The Seguin trade he pulled off has been pretty good too.....

I like.

I would swap the top two lines, if Tarasenko doesn't lead this team in ice-time this season Hitchcock is an idiot.
- bcallaway

The only reason he might not is because he likely won't be used to kill penalties.

But yes, if he doesn't lead the even strength + power play ice time, he is an idiot.

When you have guys like Steen & Backes that will also penalty kill, they will likely still have more total ice time.

I am surprised that Chicago has dealt with Dallas.

Last year, the difference between 3rd and last in the Central was 12 points. Chicago might be in a dog fight just to make the playoffs, and they just helped out one of those teams in the potential fight.