2009 UFA Race

[strocklen083]

*Disclaimer*
I'm not a believer of nor do I support Eklund or Hockeybuzz.com
*End Disclaimer*

That being said...I was doing a once over of his "Rumour Chart" today regarding available UFAs and I found it quite disheartening that we aren't even listed as being players for any of the high or mid level UFAs of any type. The first player who we are showning as being "in" on is Brad Winchester!

Know I know that we aren't expected to make any big splahes regarding UFAs and we're relying mainly on returning talent. And yes, I realize adding a healthy Kariya will hopefully be the equivalent of adding a UFA. And I also realize adding Johnson will be a huge step forward as well. But we barely squeezed into the playoffs and I feel that while others around us are improving we should concentrate on improving from the outside just a bit.

Am I wrong in thinking this way? Are the rest of you just a little more patient than I am in terms of upgrading the team? I just feel after watching the Cardinals go through this whole "wait and see" approach, I fear the Blues will get stung by it. I'd much rather have a proactive team, rather than one that sits back and waits for the so called "low haning fruit".

Thoughts?

[ProngerBlues44]

I thought Checketts said at some point during last season that we would be active this summer.

I also hate the approach of: "Well this guy has been hurt, so getting him back is just as good as bringing someone else in." That's BS LaRussa talk. To me, that translates to, "We don't want to spend the money nor the time to get someone worthwhile."

[Plagers4Ever]

If you remember, the Blues were not "in the running" for Kariya, at least according to the experts.

[WaukeeBlues]

If we make any noteworthy signings this year, I don't think a single one of them needs to be an offensive player. I think our offense is going to be downright scary next year barring another tidal wave of injuries. Only UFA signing on offense I would like to see is Tkachuk. I say bring him back till he's done, he should retire a blue IMO.

Bishop/Holt/Allen aren't quite there yet and if Mason goes to hell as quickly as he went to the top, the Blues are f*cked. We need another veteran goalie. Again.

Defense- once the cornerstone of this team and even with Johnson back in the fold- makes me nervous. It will be far more experienced but I still would like to see another veteran added to its ranks.

[ksbluesfan]

If we make any noteworthy signings this year, I don't think a single one of them needs to be an offensive player. I think our offense is going to be downright scary next year barring another tidal wave of injuries. Only UFA signing on offense I would like to see is Tkachuk. I say bring him back till he's done, he should retire a blue IMO.

Bishop/Holt/Allen aren't quite there yet and if Mason goes to hell as quickly as he went to the top, the Blues are f*cked. We need another veteran goalie. Again.

Defense- once the cornerstone of this team and even with Johnson back in the fold- makes me nervous. It will be far more experienced but I still would like to see another veteran added to its ranks.

From the interviews with JD and Murray, it sounds like you'll get your wish about Tkachuk retiring with the Blues.

[Winning Unlimited]

How can letting the young team develop and play possibly be disappointing? They just made the playoffs, and I wouldn't give up on them now! They deserve the primary roles. I only expect that the Blues would be aggressive towards adding NHL goalie depth, preferably through free agency.

However, I'd like to think that we'd be able to get enough depth so that if the injuries continue to be a problem, it doesn't take us out of the playoff race.

[WaukeeBlues]

How can letting the young team develop and play possibly be disappointing? They just made the playoffs, and I wouldn't give up on them now! They deserve the primary roles. I only expect that the Blues would be aggressive towards adding NHL goalie depth, preferably through free agency.

However, I'd like to think that we'd be able to get enough depth so that if the injuries continue to be a problem, it doesn't take us out of the playoff race.

Last year it wasn't so much just that we had man games lost to injury as it was WHO. Paul Kariya, Erik Johnson, Andy McDonald- you can't have names like that out of the lineup for that long and still expect to make the playoffs... which we did anyway cause we're just awesome but yea- under normal circumstances

For all we know- another high end playmaker is signed and a bunch of our 3rd and 4th liners get injured. Okay, now what? You can never tell.

[theohall]

Looking at that list, the guy I'd really like the Blues to acquire is Mattias Ohlund.

1st would be Bouwmeester, but we all know that isn't happening. Bouwmeester is going to wind up on a team that is willing to spend money to win now.

So looking at realistic options...

Ohlund would be a veteran presence who doesn't suck like Brewer and could push Brewer back into a 3rd/4th D-man role where he wouldn't kill the Blues with his incredible lack of presence in front of his own goal.

Johnny Oduya as an Offensive D-man would be a good acquisition only if Pietrangelo isn't ready.

After that, I don't really see anybody moving as D-man who aren't a) really old or b) probably going to stay with their current teams.

[Mellanby_equals_grit]

I like the thought of Ohlund as well.