Official Best Offseason Ever Thread

[theohall]

Interesting that 900k is less than the minimum RFA qualifying offer requirement. The minimum in Fabbri's case should have been 971,250 (105% of the 925k he made last season). Hopefully, he can return to his rookie form, which would get him paid next summer.

[JCShutout]

Maybe the Blues offered the minimum 2 way, or $900k one way?

Not sure if that's how it works, but why else would he accept less than the minimum?

[theohall]

Best guess elsewhere is bonuses.

[StL Dan]

Interim HC Craig Berube: 06/24, offered and signed 3 yr contract with the StL Blues

UFA
Chris Thorburn
Pat Maroon
Michael Del Zotto - signed 1 year FA deal with the Anaheim Ducks
Carl Gunnarsson: 06/27 - signed 2 yr, 3.5M contract (1.75M AAV) with the StL Blues
Jared Coreau- signed FA deal with the New York Islanders

RFA
Ivan Barbashev
Jordan Binnington (2 years from UFA status)07/09 - Arbitration hearing set for Saturday, July 20
Ville Husso 07/09 - Arbitration hearing set for Monday, July 22
Oskar Sundqvist 07/09 - Arbitration hearing set for Wednesday, July 24
Joel Edmundson 07/09 - Arbitration hearing set for Sunday, August 4
Sammy Blais: 07/01 - signed 1 yr, 850K contract with the StL Blues
Zach Sanford: 07/08 - signed 2 yr, 3M contract with the StL Blues (1.5M AAV)
Robby Fabbri07/12 - signed 1 yr, 900K contract with the StL Blues

Existing contracts with caveats
Bozak has 10-team no trade list
Perron has 5-team no trade list
Schwartz has 15-team no trade list

Full no trade clauses:
Tarasenko
Pietrangelo
Steen
Bouwmeester

**Chris Butler: 07/03 - announces retirement from the NHL

[JCShutout]

https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues/status/1149777976915124226 Other than quickly looking around the prospect forums, seems like another solid, big center the Blues love to have. His college coach commented on him working hard and basically being a defensive beast.

So, borderline top9 potential maybe? Or the Blues are probably hunting for guys like this as depth since they had so few draft picks this year.

[theohall]

AHL Connor Bleakley replacement project. Given the Blues track record with developing centers, just looking at this as a project acquisition.

[JCShutout]

Makes sense. They got him for next to nothing, so its a good move. If nothing else, someone has to play in San Antonio.

[glen a richter]

I took my kids to a carnival today, naturally wearing my championship hat and the guy at the food stand asks me where I’m from. So I said I’m from New York and he says no, where are you from originally? It’s like people actually take offense to other people being fans of teams from out of town. Oh well, sorry about your Rangers and Islanders, better luck next time.

[JCShutout]

https://twitter.com/StLouisBlues/status/1150195253741330432 Woot! Would have liked to see 3 or 4 years, but I get it. For him, enough money now, and a big payout if he plays well for 2 years. For the Blues, he and Allen are both under contract at a reasonable salary for 2 years, which should allow us to keep a lot of the band together for another run or two. Some teams spend $6 or $7m on their starter. We are spending $8.5/9 ish for both goalies.

If Binny continues to play great, he'll make $7m ish on his next deal. If he's a solid starter, he probably makes over $5m. If he tanks, he'll make $9m ish this year and next.

[StL Dan]

Interim HC Craig Berube: 06/24, offered and signed 3 yr contract with the StL Blues

UFA
Carl Gunnarsson: 06/27 - signed 2 yr, 3.5M contract (1.75M AAV) with the StL Blues
Michael Del Zotto - signed 1 year FA deal with the Anaheim Ducks
Jared Coreau- signed FA deal with the New York Islanders
Chris Thorburn
Pat Maroon

RFA
Jordan Binnington07/13 - signed 2 hr 4.4M AAV with the StL Blues
Robby Fabbri07/12 - signed 1 yr, 900K contract with the StL Blues
Zach Sanford: 07/08 - signed 2 yr, 3M contract with the StL Blues (1.5M AAV)
Sammy Blais: 07/01 - signed 1 yr, 850K contract with the StL Blues
Ville Husso 07/09 - Arbitration hearing set for Monday, July 22
Oskar Sundqvist 07/09 - Arbitration hearing set for Wednesday, July 24
Joel Edmundson 07/09 - Arbitration hearing set for Sunday, August 4
Ivan Barbashev

Existing contracts with caveats
Bozak has 10-team no trade list
Perron has 5-team no trade list
Schwartz has 15-team no trade list

Full no trade clauses:
Tarasenko
Pietrangelo
Steen
Bouwmeester

**Chris Butler: 07/03 - announces retirement from the NHL

[theohall]

Solid deal for both sides. Excellent value for the Blues. Less than were Liut started asking publicly. Not surprised at all with the 2 year term since he's a UFA when it's done.

That could make it possible to re-sign Maroon if Eddy doesn't cost 4+ which he shouldn't.

7M left for Barbashev, Sundqvist and Edmundson...

[JCShutout]

That could make it possible to re-sign Maroon if Eddy doesn't cost 4+ which he shouldn't.

I don't know. I see Edmundson trying to at least earn the same as last year. If he's at $3m, Sunny for, say $2.2, and Barbie for, say, $1.8 (I mean, Sanford made $1.5, so Ivan's got to earn a bit more, no?) that leaves like $100k-$300k under the cap... and I can see each player getting just a bit more. I think the Blues chose Gunnar and Pouliot over Eddy.

I think that's why the Blues are sticking to a one year offer for Maroon. If they can get Sunny and Barbie for $4.5m or less, they can afford Maroon at $2.5m or so and still have some wiggle room to take on a rental if needed. They don't want Maroon beyond this year so they can use that (potential salary) and Jaybo's money (and maybe a Steen buyout or trade) towards Schenn and Petro.

I think they can afford Sunny, Barbie and (Eddy or Maroon)

[theohall]

Right now, Pouliot and Schmaltz count against the cap, but they likely won't by the time the season starts putting another 1.4M available above the current 7.1M remaining number. Eddy is likely going to get somewhere in the 3.5M range... Anything more doesn't make sense. So... Eddy 3.5, Barby 1.5-2; Sunny 1.5-2; Maroon?? IMO, Maroon entirely depends on what's left and whether or not he can get a 2 or more year deal elsewhere for more. There's also MacEachern who will probably start in the minors also, making another 700K available.

Good write up from last season by a Leafs fan on Dakota Joshua. Reads like he could be an solid future bottom 6 center who would pair well with someone like Toropchenko.

[JCShutout]

Right now, Pouliot and Schmaltz count against the cap, but they likely won't by the time the season starts putting another 1.4M available above the current 7.1M remaining number. ... There's also MacEachern who will probably start in the minors also, making another 700K available.

I didn't think of that. If MacEachern, Pouliot and Schmaltz are in the minors, then the Blues should have around $9.2m to play with.

If you get Eddy for $3.5m, Sunny for $2.2m, Barbie for $1.7m, then there is just enough left over to give Maroon the same contract he had this year. That's probably about what he's worth but I'm sure he's being offered more elsewhere.

A lot of IFs in there, but its doable.

[glen a richter]

Or the combo of Pouliot/Mikkola battles it out to replace Eddy.

[JCShutout]

Or, are the Blues maybe wanting to keep Mikkola and Kyrou in San Antonio most of the year so they don't have to protect them in the upcoming expansion draft? What are the rules again? Games played? Seasons? If its like last time, (iirc, 1st and 2nd year players don't need protection) then I'm assuming even if those guys play, they're safe, as are Thomas and Macheachern.

They will already have a tough go at forward, wanting to protect Tank, Schwartz, ROR, Schenn (hopefully extended), Sunny, Barbie and one of Sanford/Blais.(I'm guessing) which exposes Steen, Bozak, Perron, Fabbri and one of Sanford/Blais. I could see Perron, Fabbri or Sanford/Blais getting taken easily, though a lot can happen in a year.

[theohall]

With the expansion draft being in 2021, Thomas will have to be protected. Thomas will be a 3rd year NHL player by 2021. MacEachern depends on if he reaches 70 NHL games played over the next two seasons, which might not happen with the Blues depth at forward. OTH, it might be worth letting him play and making him available.

[WaukeeBlues]

I think the Binner extension is perfect. He gets $8.8 million, Blues get wonderful term and AAV. Perfect.

[JCShutout]

With the expansion draft being in 2021, Thomas will have to be protected. Thomas will be a 3rd year NHL player by 2021. MacEachern depends on if he reaches 70 NHL games played over the next two seasons, which might not happen with the Blues depth at forward. OTH, it might be worth letting him play and making him available.

That would be a good reason to keep as much of the band together as possible. Keeps Kyrou, Mikkola and Blais from having to be protected.

[JCShutout]

Looks like Gloria Bud Lights are in stores as of today. (I've heard Schnucks, Randals and one or two other places) Just an FYI.