Trades & Speculations

[cprice12]

Had a dream last night we traded Backes for Nash straight up.

That was a sign to start this thread.

[gaijin]

I don't think the Rangers part with Nash at this point.

Unless you're talking about Tyson Nash.

[glen a richter]

I think he's talking about Johnny Nash

[theohall]

Great! The Blues get raped by Edmonton again.

[cardsfan04]

ESPN has a rumor that we could trade Stewart for a defenseman. My first reaction is to not trade him because he has been playing so well. However, he's a RFA probably due a pretty big raise. His value is about as high as it's going to get. And, he has a history of regressing after playing well for awhile. I'd like to think the current version of Stewart is here to stay, but I wouldn't fault the Blues for selling high on him.

[gaijin]

ESPN has a rumor that we could trade Stewart for a defenseman. My first reaction is to not trade him because he has been playing so well. However, he's a RFA probably due a pretty big raise. His value is about as high as it's going to get. And, he has a history of regressing after playing well for awhile. I'd like to think the current version of Stewart is here to stay, but I wouldn't fault the Blues for selling high on him.

That's always the dilemma. Buy low, sell high, and with Stewart's lackluster play in previous years, I could see trying to get maximum return for him now. On the other hand, his production is one of the reasons we're still in 4th place...

[cardsfan04]

ESPN has a rumor that we could trade Stewart for a defenseman. My first reaction is to not trade him because he has been playing so well. However, he's a RFA probably due a pretty big raise. His value is about as high as it's going to get. And, he has a history of regressing after playing well for awhile. I'd like to think the current version of Stewart is here to stay, but I wouldn't fault the Blues for selling high on him.

That's always the dilemma. Buy low, sell high, and with Stewart's lackluster play in previous years, I could see trying to get maximum return for him now. On the other hand, his production is one of the reasons we're still in 4th place...

Yeah, that's what makes it interesting. I definitely wouldn't trade him just for the sake of selling high. But, if there was a potentially good deal on the table, I might factor in his history of inconsistency when considering what we're losing.

[Oaklandblue]

Why have I started having nightmares with Jerome Iginla wearing the blue note?

Trading Stew right now with so much in the air would be outright suicide. One thing this year has been has been ridiculously unpredictable. Who'd have expected to have our season saved by Allen, Stew and a handful of others? Anyone who posted that 3 months ago would have been considered insane. Now?

Bad as this sounds, I hope we don't make a single trade. If we need to do anything, I'd rather us bring someone like Ty Rattie up and work on geling this team.

[sseagle]

[gaijin]

Yeah yeah. Everyone's going to Toronto...

[Oaklandblue]

Suddenly the reason of why we have 20m in capspace and the front office isn't signing anyone makes perfect sense.

If anything, we have the best chance of keeping our team together when the cap changes.

[WaukeeBlues]

ESPN has a rumor that we could trade Stewart for a defenseman. My first reaction is to not trade him because he has been playing so well. However, he's a RFA probably due a pretty big raise. His value is about as high as it's going to get. And, he has a history of regressing after playing well for awhile. I'd like to think the current version of Stewart is here to stay, but I wouldn't fault the Blues for selling high on him.

I would say if the Blues trade Stewart (IF), that I would hope they'd wait for the offseason and get the full year out of him. I agree with another post above that it'd be suicidal to do it right now. He's an RFA; worst case scenario he wants way too much and we trade him for something then. Granted the return won't be as high but it's not like we're faced with the dilemma of keeping or trading him right now.

[AlsWoodenStick]

Yeah yeah. Everyone's going to Toronto...

This, all day. I'll believe it when I see it.

[glen a richter]

Weren't Phil Housley and Al MacInnis RFA's when they were traded for each other? I'd say that deal worked out in our favor.

[DaDitka]

Ask yourself.....Are you comfortable giving Stewert a 4 years 22 million dollar deal?

Of course you're not, trade him now.

If the dude wins the scoring title and we when the cup, your still not comfortable doing that. Not only are you not comfortable doing that, but if you did it would also cost you two of the other RFA Petro, Shatty, and Bergie.

I know many here refuse to believe what the team tells us, but they have been quite clear that they are not going above the current salary level...they are not going to spend more then 55 mill.

You have to allocate that money accordingly, and be very very careful with each and every dollar.

The question here is "Would Stewart be willing to sign a two year 8 million dollar deal" if so, he could stick around....I just don't think he's going to be receptive of that idea. He's playing some great hockey and probably want's to cash in. Stranger things have happened and maybe he really wants to be here.....but Army has to get a pretty good feel on what Stewarts demands are going to be now.

Both JR and Strickland touched on the subject of trading Stewart last week and both suggested it's going to come down two how quickly Steen, MacD, Tank, and Oshie could get back. Well, after tomorrow night, everyone will be back but Oshie......I would expect the rumor mills to start turning in earnest.

Let me clarify....I would love to see everyone back next year (Pie, Shatty, Bergie, Stewart and everyone else that is already under contract) ....except Andy Mac, too expensive...but if that's going to happen and you're going to address your need for a left defensman you're looking at adding 5 - 10 million in payroll (minimum) and ownership has been adamant that that is not an option.

If you let Andy Mac walk, have Elliot claimed on waivers move Halak and his contract....that would free up some jack and you'd have nearly 28 mill to spend to get to the 52 million dollar level..BUT...you have to replace Andy, get a back up goaltender, and then you have to resign or replace the following list of FAs...Allen, Stewart, Bergie, Dags,Nichol, Porter, Pie, Shatty, Russel, Cole, and Redden.

That's 13 players out of 27 mill....you can't have many 4 - 6 million dollar year contracts contracts there.

Oh...and if you keep Halak, you've only got 12 to sign, but you'd have nearly 4 mill less to work with.

All I know is it's going to be interesting and my best guess is at least one 'name' won't be back.

[Shanahan19]

Toronto

The goalie issue is the first to be solved. But what happens when Allen becomes human?

[sseagle]

[WaukeeBlues]

Ask yourself.....Are you comfortable giving Stewert a 4 years 22 million dollar deal?

Of course you're not, trade him now.

If the dude wins the scoring title and we when the cup, your still not comfortable doing that. Not only are you not comfortable doing that, but if you did it would also cost you two of the other RFA Petro, Shatty, and Bergie.

I know many here refuse to believe what the team tells us, but they have been quite clear that they are not going above the current salary level...they are not going to spend more then 55 mill.

You have to allocate that money accordingly, and be very very careful with each and every dollar.

The question here is "Would Stewart be willing to sign a two year 8 million dollar deal" if so, he could stick around....I just don't think he's going to be receptive of that idea. He's playing some great hockey and probably want's to cash in. Stranger things have happened and maybe he really wants to be here.....but Army has to get a pretty good feel on what Stewarts demands are going to be now.

Both JR and Strickland touched on the subject of trading Stewart last week and both suggested it's going to come down two how quickly Steen, MacD, Tank, and Oshie could get back. Well, after tomorrow night, everyone will be back but Oshie......I would expect the rumor mills to start turning in earnest.

Let me clarify....I would love to see everyone back next year (Pie, Shatty, Bergie, Stewart and everyone else that is already under contract) ....except Andy Mac, too expensive...but if that's going to happen and you're going to address your need for a left defensman you're looking at adding 5 - 10 million in payroll (minimum) and ownership has been adamant that that is not an option.

If you let Andy Mac walk, have Elliot claimed on waivers move Halak and his contract....that would free up some jack and you'd have nearly 28 mill to spend to get to the 52 million dollar level..BUT...you have to replace Andy, get a back up goaltender, and then you have to resign or replace the following list of FAs...Allen, Stewart, Bergie, Dags,Nichol, Porter, Pie, Shatty, Russel, Cole, and Redden.

That's 13 players out of 27 mill....you can't have many 4 - 6 million dollar year contracts contracts there.

Oh...and if you keep Halak, you've only got 12 to sign, but you'd have nearly 4 mill less to work with.

All I know is it's going to be interesting and my best guess is at least one 'name' won't be back.

I would say AMac is definitely gone but the Blues hang on to Halak. Who else do we have? Allen is young and unproven, if playing very well right now. So it's trade or sign a new #1 (not backup until Allen proves he's got it). Personally I think that might be more expensive and/or risky than just hanging onto Halak.

I know the dollars are what they are and there's only so far we can stretch them. In my mind, Shatty and Pietrangelo MUST be re-signed. Obviously for as good of a bargain as we can get but those two guys are #1 and #2 priorities. Forwards next.

edit: And after crunching some numbers I see what you mean and it's not looking so hot. Assuming we let go Amac, D'Agostini (not happy about it but I think we have to), Porter (unless he's a really low re-sign which is totally possible), Nichol, Langenbrunner, Redden, and Elliott, we're left with (counting the salaries the re-signed guys made this year) at:

$20.5 (roughly) million for: Berglund, Stewart, Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, Russell, Allen and Cole. So I got slightly different numbers than you got. Or, roughly $2.9 million per guy if we retained them all. Personally it wouldn't break my heart to see Russell go (even though he's probably the cheapest of all those guys) but you're right: Pietro and Shatty are going to command hefty contracts which drops the average that the other 5 can realistically expect to get from us, IF we don't spend anything additional. Looks like someone is going to walk/ get traded

[DaDitka]

I would say AMac is definitely gone but the Blues hang on to Halak. Who else do we have? Allen is young and unproven, if playing very well right now. So it's trade or sign a new #1 (not backup until Allen proves he's got it). Personally I think that might be more expensive and/or risky than just hanging onto Halak.

I know the dollars are what they are and there's only so far we can stretch them. In my mind, Shatty and Pietrangelo MUST be re-signed. Obviously for as good of a bargain as we can get but those two guys are #1 and #2 priorities. Forwards next.

I pretty much agree with you on Halak, Pie, Shatty...

So..let's conservativly throw out 11 mill for Pie(6.5) and Shatty (4.5) and knock Halak's 4 mill..

Now you've got 10 players and 12 mill....can we add that defenseman we're looking for and sign Bergie and Stewie? I just don't see how.

Furthermore.....they say they need a top 4 left defenseman. So we have Polak and Jacks signed and counting 6 mill combined, throw in 11 for Pie and Shatty....now you're at 17 mill in defense still needing to add 3 and you want one of them to be top 4?

For arguments sake say we fill two of those spots with 1 mill a year guys and we can nab that top 4 guy for 4 mill. That puts you defensive payroll 23 mill throw in Halak's 4 mill and figure a mill for Allen...we're at 28 mill.

You have 19 mill under contract in Backes, Oshie, DP, Steen, Vlady, Tank, Swartz, and Reeves.

That leaves around 5 - 6 mill.

Bring back a cheap Porter and replace Nichol with similar player - 1.5 mill

We have 1.25 mill in bonus money against the cap next year too

So your looking to replace Andy Mac, and resign or replace Bergie and Stewie with right about 3 mill which may not be enough to sign one let alone both.

I'm not crying 'the sky is falling at all' I just think it's going to be very fun to watch Army do his magic and see how he works this out.

Another question.....if the Blues in fact sell the Riverman, does that open up a little more flexibility at the NHL level?

Spending 55 mill is a lot different then 52 mill current project I was working off of....and out current payroll is 50.28 mill.

[Oaklandblue]

God, this could go anywhichway, I think the better question at this point is WHAT could we possibly get if they go this route? Losing players is kind of part of any professional team, I'm more curious what (or rather who) we stand to gain for losing say, Halak, Stew, whoeverhaveyou.