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Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:18 pm
by DaDitka
Restricted free agent, Chris Stewart 1 year - 3 mill.

I don't mind this deal. Only problem is if he does find his game and net 35 - 40 goals, he'll command too much for us to bring him back.

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:25 pm
by kodos
They could still be trading him.

I dont have a huge problem with it either way though.

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 12:27 pm
by dmiles2186
Not a bad deal. They didn't overpay him and if he actually decides to show up and play some hockey he'll be worth that money and then get himself paid next summer. It's another one of those 'prove it' deals the Blues are becoming known for and I like it. They are sticking to their guns and not going crazy with a long term deal.

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 1:53 pm
by DaDitka
Per Strickland..
Sources confirm the Blues and forward Chris Stewart have agreed on a one-year contract paying him $3 million for the 2012-2013 season. An official announcement is expected soon.

Stewart is coming off a down year offensively that saw his goal production dip from 28 each of the two previous seasons to 15 this past year. He scored 15 goals in 26 games with the Blues after coming over from Colorado in the Erik Johnson trade a year ago.

The Blues were likely planning to file for “cutdown arbitration” prior to Friday’s
deadline which could have cut his salary by as much as 15% which would have dropped his salary to $2.76 million. Stewart made $3.25 million last year.
Negotiating a one-year extension seems like a logical option for both sides compared to qualifying Stewart at last year’s salary.

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:15 pm
by theohall
:thumbsdown:

Whose ice time is he going to suck up next season while claiming he "gets it."

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:25 pm
by kodos
This doesn't really mean anything.

They weren't going to just let him walk away. He has some value.

Even if they plan on trading him, he was going to get signed to an offer.

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 2:44 pm
by DaDitka
I highly doubt it's any part of a sign and trade. They looked at the possible upside and they apparently want Swartz to go back down to Peoria. So they look at it as a top 6 forward for 3 mill and hopefully we have kids ready to take his place after this season.

The team was (apparently) very impressed with the way he maned up and admitted he wasn't 'committed' enough and the proactive steps he took in regards to the trainer and the nutritionist. I think it also shows responsibility and maturity that he agreed to the pay cut.

I wouldn't look any deeper into this deal then what it is...a one year, prove yourself contract.

I'm done hoping for him to be a 40 + goal scorer, but I did think he played much harder down the stretch and we know he has a knack for finding the back of the net when he's right. I for one hope he nets 35 and makes it a tough decision for the Blues next offseason.(simply because that's 20 more goals scored for the team)

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:26 pm
by BoxCar
DaDitka wrote: The team was (apparently) very impressed with the way he maned up and admitted he wasn't 'committed' enough and the proactive steps he took in regards to the trainer and the nutritionist. I think it also shows responsibility and maturity that he agreed to the pay cut.
Stewart "Maned up", done (terribly) in paint.
newstew.png
newstew.png (184.66 KiB) Viewed 3910 times

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 6:46 pm
by glen a richter
I wanted to see Schwartzy and Tank lighting it up next year. Instead, we get to see Stewart figure skating for a little bit less money and Tank shouldering the offensive load. It'll stunt his development. Screw 25.

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:17 pm
by ViPeRx007
DaDitka wrote:I highly doubt it's any part of a sign and trade. They looked at the possible upside and they apparently want Swartz to go back down to Peoria. So they look at it as a top 6 forward for 3 mill and hopefully we have kids ready to take his place after this season.

The team was (apparently) very impressed with the way he maned up and admitted he wasn't 'committed' enough and the proactive steps he took in regards to the trainer and the nutritionist. I think it also shows responsibility and maturity that he agreed to the pay cut.

I wouldn't look any deeper into this deal then what it is...a one year, prove yourself contract.

I'm done hoping for him to be a 40 + goal scorer, but I did think he played much harder down the stretch and we know he has a knack for finding the back of the net when he's right. I for one hope he nets 35 and makes it a tough decision for the Blues next offseason.(simply because that's 20 more goals scored for the team)
I still wonder what the point was of having Schwartz use up a year only to play a handful of games? Are they really planning on him being in Peoria next season?

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 7:46 pm
by glen a richter
the AP article says 25's year was "Somewhat disappointing". Are you (Franking) shitting me? Somewhat???

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 8:34 pm
by WaukeeBlues
Hey, the length was the most important thing and 1 year is perfect.

Stays par for the course on having our players earn their contracts before we hand out the big salaries.

Having said that, I think this deal, unfortunately, sets a price for Oshie and Perron to look to for longer term deals and I think that's going to make their price go way up.

:?

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 6:38 am
by DaDitka
WaukeeBlues wrote: Having said that, I think this deal, unfortunately, sets a price for Oshie and Perron to look to for longer term deals and I think that's going to make their price go way up.
Armstrong said yesterday that they are working on a long(er) term deal with Oshie, He said DP is going to have to prove he's healthy before he get's a long term deal. I still believe David is not long for this organization.

Back on Stewart, JR just tweeted that he will be restricted again next year so this deal looks even better now.

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 6:48 am
by DaDitka
Here's Army's comments I referenced above...
"I'd like to talk to T.J. Oshie about something that might have a little bit of term to it."

"David (Perron's) injury, as an organization, we want to make sure he's past that."

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:08 pm
by Oaklandblue
DaDitka wrote:
WaukeeBlues wrote: Having said that, I think this deal, unfortunately, sets a price for Oshie and Perron to look to for longer term deals and I think that's going to make their price go way up.
Armstrong said yesterday that they are working on a long(er) term deal with Oshie, He said DP is going to have to prove he's healthy before he get's a long term deal. I still believe David is not long for this organization.

Back on Stewart, JR just tweeted that he will be restricted again next year so this deal looks even better now.
Perron had the best year of his professional career last year at 21G, 21A (1G, 4A in the playoffs) and they want him to prove that he's healthy before he gets a long term deal? Perron, the guy that came back in after a concussion like a ball of fire, and they're wondering if he can still get past an injury? :shock:

If you look at Stewart's stats, 15G and 15A (2G in the playoffs), which matches his last years stats in Blue, if we're paying him one-year at 3M-ish, what are we going to offer Perron? If I was an Elite and I see this team paying 3M for 15G, 15A then yeah, I'd want 5M and rightfully so and yeah, the Note can't afford that.

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:47 pm
by DaDitka
People act as though we 'wanted' to give Stewart 3 mill.

There were only two other alternatives, let him walk or file for 'cut-down' arbitration. In which at the most we would have saved $250,000.00. It wasn't worth it.Not at the risk of alienating your players. Army notes that Stewie is very popular. A natural leader that people gravitate to.I'm sure the club decided that it wouldn't be worth the ill will it could create as well as hoping Stewart remembers this good will when time comes to negotiate again next offseason.

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:27 pm
by cprice12
I'm really, really tired of Stewart saying, once again, for like the 3rd time in a year how he is going to finally try harder this time.

Just shut up already. Those words mean nothing.

I'm pulling for him, but man he was horrible last year.

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 12:03 am
by theohall
DaDitka wrote:Army notes that Stewie is very popular. A natural leader that people gravitate to.
?????

WTF???? From a guy that skated figure 8s and didn't try for 98% of the season? That's Brewer-like leadership. :roll:

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 2:26 am
by Oaklandblue
cprice12 wrote:I'm really, really tired of Stewart saying, once again, for like the 3rd time in a year how he is going to finally try harder this time.

Just shut up already. Those words mean nothing.

I'm pulling for him, but man he was horrible last year.
Ironically, stats-wise, he has been consistant. To me, he lacks discipline and beyond brief moments of shine (The fight in LA for one and the 2 Goals he scored against the Kings), he's totally useless. For what we traded to get him, if it wasn't for Shatts, I'd say we broke even.

I would have let him walk, though. Oh well.

Re: Blues sign free agent..

Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 2:30 am
by Oaklandblue
theohall wrote:
DaDitka wrote:Army notes that Stewie is very popular. A natural leader that people gravitate to.
?????

WTF???? From a guy that skated figure 8s and didn't try for 98% of the season? That's Brewer-like leadership. :roll:
Someone needs to check Army's medication. First talking about DP like he did and now this Natural Leader crap. Okay, maybe Stewart is a nice guy with a good heart, I'll give him that. Maybe he backs up his 'friends', the team and he's that go-to guy when you got a problem and need a shoulder to cry on. Okay. I can understand that. What I can't understand is why Hitch hasn't been a force to be reckoned with on him. Hitch didn't put up with Hull, so why is he putting up with...oh....

Army's not on his meds. Ah. Ok. Makes sense! :aaaa: