Paajarvi files salary arbitration, could "Sobotka" to SHL

[APOD]

I wouldn't give him a one way contract either, not untill he proves something. I'm guessing the Blues are going to try and shop him now but the return is going to suck with the current situation.

By Jeremy P. Rutherford

The Blues' Magnus Paajarvi was one of 23 players to file for salary arbitration on Sunday.


Paajarvi, who is a restricted free agent, will now be scheduled for a hearing in Toronto sometime between July 20-August 4. The exact date of that hearing should be announced soon. The Blues and Paajarvi can negotiate a new deal until then and possibly avoid arbitration.


Paajarvi, 24, played in only 10 games with the Blues last season before being assigned to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League. He had just one assist with the Blues, but posted 11 goals and 29 points in 36 games with the Wolves. There he showed some nice chemistry with Ty Rattie. Paajarvi demonstrated enough that Doug Armstrong indicated that he’d like to give the forward another look.

Paajarvi, who was acquired in a trade with Edmonton for David Perron, is coming off a two-year, $2.4 million contract with the Blues. There are reports that Paajarvi is seeking a one-way contract and could elect to play in Sweden if he does not receive one from the club.

Vladimir Tarasenko, who remains a restricted free agent without a contract, does not hold arbitration rights this summer.

[gaijin]

One assist in 10 games with the Blues? Arbitration could go in our favor...

[glen a richter]

If that trade was intended as anything other than a straight up salary dump, it was the most pointless trade ever. As a salary dump, good job. As a trade for a guy who could help the team? Nice trying.

[ecbm]

If that trade was intended as anything other than a straight up salary dump, it was the most pointless trade ever. As a salary dump, good job. As a trade for a guy who could help the team? Nice trying.

Don't worry, glen. It was a salary dump, though Blues fans never wanted to admit it and the FO played on that by not talking about it much at all. The guy we gave up for him was flipped for a better pick a year later. Paajarvi was pretty much a failed prospect when we acquired him.

[Oaklandblue]

MPS wants to go to arbitration?

HAHAHAHAHAAA

[cprice12]

I'm not even sure why this is happening.

Tank is the priority. Everything should be on hold and not happen at all until he gets signed.

Come on Army. Get your priorities in order.

[WaukeeBlues]

Can't we just cut him? Send him to waivers or something?

No NHL team wants to give us a set of water bottles and a bag of pucks for this guy?

cmonnnnnnn Army...

[ecbm]

Well he got a one-way deal for $700K. This, I don't get. Not even a point-a-game player in the AHL.

There had better be a trade coming.

[cardsfan04]

700K is pretty dirt cheap. I guess it's a one-way deal, but if somebody claims him, oh well.

[tjk002]

Well he got a one-way deal for $700K. This, I don't get. Not even a point-a-game player in the AHL.

There had better be a trade coming.

What a waste! They'd be better off paying me $100K. They'd get the same production. Why do they continue to make stupid moves!!!

[theohall]

All that 700K one-way contract means is Paajarvi will never join the NHL team and count against the cap. (did some reading). One-way means he gets paid the same salary regardless of whether he is in the NHL or any lower level league. So the Blues don't promote him ever and he never counts against the Cap. Too bad they have to pay him that at all, though.

[WaukeeBlues]

Most expensive Chicago Wolf evar

[ecbm]

Most expensive Chicago Wolf evar

Yep. Whatever, it's not my money but I just don't see the need.

[glen a richter]

Well that's great news, I was starting to get worried...

[dmiles2186]

If Paajarvi could find some consistency to his game and be willing to play a checking/energy style, I wouldn't be opposed to him on the 4th line. He'd add a little element of speed to that line.

[glen a richter]

Perhaps, just perhaps, Paajarvi is slated into a potential completely redone 4th line.

Imagine Brouwer/Brodziak/Paajarvi comprising the 4th line. For starters, they sure as hell can't be worse than our current 4th line. Secondarily, they'd actually be a hell of a lot better. I could actually live with that. I like Reaves, but we could absolutely do without him, and we all know where most of us stand on Ott. Dump 'em both for a bucket of pucks. That would just leave line 3 as the question mark: Jaskin yes, Berglund probably, and who else?

[glen a richter]

http://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/7/1 ... 6#comments

This line of thinking is in the same general direction as my line of thinking though I'd eliminate Reaves from the roster altogether and chuck Brouwer onto that fourth line. I don't really get why the hell Schwartz is moved to the 2nd line and away from Tarasenko and Lehtera, but I'll let that slide because the reasoning kind of makes sense. Schwartz and Stastny could put up a shitload of points together. I'm just reluctant to split up a line that really worked beautifully last season.

What I don't like about this is that it ignores a couple of key things, namely how do we plan to ditch Ott? They're (Hitch) not going to let him and his hefty contract just sit in the pressbox every night, and I doubt they'll find a taker for him. Also, I'd prefer Chris Butler never plays another game in the Note. I'm sure this is petty, but I can't imagine any amount of long or short term value to keeping a guy who went -4 in a game the team won on the roster.

[theohall]

http://www.stlouisgametime.com/2015/7/1 ... 6#comments

Defensive pairings. They clearly did not pay attention to which side each defenseman plays on their regular shifts. Gunnarson and Bouwmeester are both right defenseman while Pietrangelo and Shattenkirk are both left defenseman. Those defensive pairings don't work for that reason alone. It's not always about the player's skill level, as mentioned in the article, but how which hand they use impacts the defense and the offense. If both guys from the point shoot with the same hand in the offensize zone, it creates problems for the offense - not the defense. At the same time, it's harder to cross your body with your stick hand and stop someone defensively. This is just stupid pairing without thought at all other than - "these guys are so good, they should play together." It reads like a Blues Facebook page post irt the defense.