The Offseason

[goon attack]

Was there any doubt Waukee would have is ass backwards?

[STLADOGG]

I agree that this offseason will be key. I'm not as sold on Kovalchuk especially at the price he will command. If he is the final piece to take a mediocre team to the Cup, then why didn't Atlanta accomplish more? The Blues need to focus on players that excel in the playoffs too.

My vote: Eric Staal for Berglund, Pietrangelo, and Jackman. The Blues get a strong center and a proven playoff winner, who is still young and with a decent cap hit. The Canes get some cheap young players with potential and Jackman.

I believe Kovalchuk only has had 4 postseason games(before this year) so you can't really say that

[TSUCookieMonster]

I agree that this offseason will be key. I'm not as sold on Kovalchuk especially at the price he will command. If he is the final piece to take a mediocre team to the Cup, then why didn't Atlanta accomplish more? The Blues need to focus on players that excel in the playoffs too.

My vote: Eric Staal for Berglund, Pietrangelo, and Jackman. The Blues get a strong center and a proven playoff winner, who is still young and with a decent cap hit. The Canes get some cheap young players with potential and Jackman.

I believe Kovalchuk only has had 4 postseason games(before this year) so you can't really say that

Not to mention, on the stat sheet, Kovalchuk has been involved with almost every goal New Jersey has scored thus far...

I'm not sold on the fact that he's the right guy for St. Louis, but he steps up. I just don't see him leading this Blues team... not to mention, the cost of getting him signed would be outrageous. Why would he sign with another Atlanta level team right now when he could sign with whoever he wants? The offer would have to be insane... this team needs a major overhaul before they're ready for Kovalchuk.

[Winning Unlimited]

Here, I've photoshopped our prophet in a blue note:

[SteveO]

Watch Kovalchuk go right back to Atlanta.

[glen a richter]

Watch Kovalchuk go right back to Atlanta.

Maybe if there's an Atlanta, Russia.

My money would be on either the Rangers with cablevision money or the Islanders with Charles Wang money.

[TSUCookieMonster]

Watch Kovalchuk go right back to Atlanta.

Maybe if there's an Atlanta, Russia.

My money would be on either the Rangers with cablevision money or the Islanders with Charles Wang money.

I would say no to both NY teams, but ESPECIALLY the Islanders. He'd be taking a huge step backwards from Atlanta by going to the Isles.

At some point, you have to take quality of life into account. The Isles would have to offer some Ovechkin type numbers.

He'll probably go to San Jose after they drop most of their salaries from this year's team after they lose to Colorado in round 1.... I could see him in Colorado though too since they might have the cap space.

[WaukeeBlues]

Is Kovalchuk really considering going back to Russia? Many posters here are referring to it but I've seen nothing floating around teh internetz that really leads me to believe he's considering it as a viable alternative.

[glen a richter]

Watch Kovalchuk go right back to Atlanta.

Maybe if there's an Atlanta, Russia.

My money would be on either the Rangers with cablevision money or the Islanders with Charles Wang money.

I would say no to both NY teams, but ESPECIALLY the Islanders. He'd be taking a huge step backwards from Atlanta by going to the Isles.

At some point, you have to take quality of life into account. The Isles would have to offer some Ovechkin type numbers.

He'll probably go to San Jose after they drop most of their salaries from this year's team after they lose to Colorado in round 1.... I could see him in Colorado though too since they might have the cap space.

Are you in any way implying that the quality of life on Long Island is bad?

[JWatt (formerly PMS)]

Is Kovalchuk really considering going back to Russia? Many posters here are referring to it but I've seen nothing floating around teh internetz that really leads me to believe he's considering it as a viable alternative.

It's becoming less of a viable alternative since many of the teams are in serious financial trouble and Dynamo Moscow (one of the top teams in the KHL) just folded due to finances.

[TSUCookieMonster]

Are you in any way implying that the quality of life on Long Island is bad?

Actually I was gearing that more towards the Islanders sucking, but Long Island sucks too.

Of course, I live in Kansas... so that just says how much credibility I have about where good places are to live..

Money or not, I just can't see Kovalchuk going back to a bad team when he put in his time with Atlanta for all those years.

[A-Yo!]

I think IK knows the teams who will be in the running. He has probably weighed the positives/negatives as well as how close/far away they are from being in cup contention. The Blues are a few key pieces away. Now if the Blues get Nabby, first then go after IK, it would at least show him they are serious.

All of that said, why even bring his name up, JD said that the Blues aren't going to be in the running for the expensive players so cross both Nabby and IK off. I think that is NOT the correct approach. The fans here want to see an always improving product and if the Blues don't get a top goalie (which we know can totally turn this team around) NOT named Turco, that right there could be the move that has a profound effect upon this team for a good long while.

Or who knows maybe JD is doing a little obfuscation which would be badass!

[glen a richter]

Are you in any way implying that the quality of life on Long Island is bad?

Actually I was gearing that more towards the Islanders sucking, but Long Island sucks too.

Of course, I live in Kansas... so that just says how much credibility I have about where good places are to live..

Money or not, I just can't see Kovalchuk going back to a bad team when he put in his time with Atlanta for all those years.

I'll grant you that the Isles suck, although they're not really as far away as people think. Aside from the fact that this season was really bad for them, due in part to the goaltending woes, they're probably about as far away from being playoff contenders as the Blues are. They have good pieces and some good young prospects who haven't made the club yet (I'm thinking of DeHaan, chiefly).

However, the quality of life on Long Island (if you're wealthy, which Kovalchuk would be) is fantastic. For those of us working stiffs, it's a lot tougher, but still a great place to live. Not too many Russians around these parts though.

[TSUCookieMonster]

I'll grant you that the Isles suck, although they're not really as far away as people think. Aside from the fact that this season was really bad for them, due in part to the goaltending woes, they're probably about as far away from being playoff contenders as the Blues are. They have good pieces and some good young prospects who haven't made the club yet (I'm thinking of DeHaan, chiefly).

However, the quality of life on Long Island (if you're wealthy, which Kovalchuk would be) is fantastic. For those of us working stiffs, it's a lot tougher, but still a great place to live. Not too many Russians around these parts though.

Islanders goaltending woes are almost as bad as the Blues were a few years back... why did they sign DiPietro to such a ridiculous contract? 8 years should have been the max... I couldn't even tell you who their number 1 goalie is right now...

...nor can I tell you who the Blues' number 1 will be next year...

Edit: Roloson? ...wow

[DaDitka]

All of that said, why even bring his name up, JD said that the Blues aren't going to be in the running for the expensive players so cross both Nabby and IK off. I think that is NOT the correct approach. The fans here want to see an always improving product and if the Blues don't get a top goalie (which we know can totally turn this team around) NOT named Turco, that right there could be the move that has a profound effect upon this team for a good long while.

As long as our knew goalie manages to slash Jackman in the ankle and knock him out for the year, and he can score 25 - 30 goals, we'll be in fine shape.

That said, we'll resign Mason so he can keep us in games only to blow up like a double parked car outside the Teamsters' hall in the third period, while Kerbs and Strickland continue to polish Jackman's balls, Brewer continues to carry the C, and the organization looks to Eller to replace Walt's scoring, Paulie's scoring, and and the additional 25 - 30 goals we need. JD and company will how our BIG free agent acquisition were retaining our own free agents.

[SteveO]

All of that said, why even bring his name up, JD said that the Blues aren't going to be in the running for the expensive players so cross both Nabby and IK off. I think that is NOT the correct approach. The fans here want to see an always improving product and if the Blues don't get a top goalie (which we know can totally turn this team around) NOT named Turco, that right there could be the move that has a profound effect upon this team for a good long while.

As long as our knew goalie manages to slash Jackman in the ankle and knock him out for the year, and he can score 25 - 30 goals, we'll be in fine shape.

That said, we'll resign Mason so he can keep us in games only to blow up like a double parked car outside the Teamsters' hall in the third period, while Kerbs and Strickland continue to polish Jackman's balls, Brewer continues to carry the C, and the organization looks to Eller to replace Walt's scoring, Paulie's scoring, and and the additional 25 - 30 goals we need. JD and company will how our BIG free agent acquisition were retaining our own free agents.

My guess is you're closer than you think.