Oshie Traded to Caps for Brouwer, Prospect & Pick

[Krigloch the Furious]

I love the first two lines.
20 26 42
17 12 91

The other two, not so much.
Still hate Berglund.
I want to see Jaskin play with some decently skilled players.
How good is this Barbashev kid? Looks like he was #4 in goals last year in the QMJHL.

[glen a richter]

Barbashev is the real article. I wouldn't doubt he could pot in the neighborhood of 30 per season starting right away.

[Oaklandblue]

Barbashev is the real article. I wouldn't doubt he could pot in the neighborhood of 30 per season starting right away.

I think Barbs will have a breakout year once he touches ice in the Note.

[Kerfuffle]

First reaction when I heard the Saad trade... "What morons. They [expletive] that up." With every passing few hours and the more and more I read/hear about it, and look at your cap situation... the more it seems like a smart move. The gamble, as always, is what kind of a player Saad becomes. Assuming he ultimately signs that kind of a deal with SOMEone (6 yrs, $6.5 per), it could be the worst contract evar or could be the steal of the century.

Time will well, as it so often does with these types of things. I still think Saad is going to become a phenomenal player but to ask for Johansen money... in a not quite as comparable situation... ehhh

Now if I was Brad Richards I would've offered to stay on board for $1 million bucks. Not sure what happened there...

Saad has high value only cause we won the cup. 2 years ago Bickell was the craving of every GM solely because of his playoff performance with us - and we gave him a 4 year deal @$4M and he's been completely his old self since signing it - which is useless. So I see how teams are drooling over Saad but in reality he's not a superstar and no guarantee he will be one. He wanted a huge contract and got it - now I'm hoping he flops without having Toews/Kane/Hossa/Sharp on lines with him.

Richards as well has always gone for the money to the highest bidder. He did okay for us for only $2M but his stats continue to decline. I can't believe Detroit gave him $3M with an easy chance to hit $4M with incentives. See ya.

As for Troy Brouwer he was 'okay' when he won the cup with us in 20090-2010. He wasn't great by any means and he definitely takes a lot of nights off. I think Armstrong got bamboozled in this trade - it seems to be a trade made more just to change things up than to get equal return in value. I don't get Armstrong.

[glen a richter]

Some dipshit on a Yahoo comment section suggested that Schwartz be traded because he heard he hates St. Louis. I don't know where the hell he dug that shit up from, it's news to me.

[glen a richter]

Barbashev is the real article. I wouldn't doubt he could pot in the neighborhood of 30 per season starting right away.

I think Barbs will have a breakout year once he touches ice in the Note.

It's amazing what kind of luck we've had with the commies falling into our hands at the draft. If Tarasenko wasn't a Russian, he would have been taken much higher up in the draft, and as for Barbashev, he could have just as easily been a 1st rounder himself--probably top half of the 1st round. I'm excited about a lot of the prospects in the pipeline, I just hope they come to fruition at the NHL level with us instead of with some other team when Armstrong decides to go all in on another trade that backfires in April. I wish Descheneau would get a chance, he put up some sick numbers the past couple seasons, but he's small so there's that size bias.

[ecbm]

I really liked this trade at first, but that was looking at Brouwer's salary ($2.25M) rather than his cap hit ($3.65M). I don't get it in those terms unless Brouwer actually was a player they wanted. Now that worries me-not because Oshie's great and Brouwer sucks but because it seems Hitch has actually gone further back in hockey's history for tactical inspiration and indeed plans to:

make a sort of "Broad Street Bully" version of the Blues and try to, and this is a very ineloquent and inaccurate word for it, try to "goon" our way to a Cup

...which is to say, repeat what hasn't worked the last few seasons, which won't work next season either.

I do hope this means they move Backes to the wing and Stastny up but man, the bottom two lines are going to be totally dependent on kids being able to play and Hitchcock being willing to play them or they're going to produce no offense at all.

So I see how teams are drooling over Saad but in reality he's not a superstar and no guarantee he will be one. He wanted a huge contract and got it

I agree with all your conclusions about Saad but I do think one has to put the responsibility for this development at the door of the Blackhawks' FO who singlehandedly redefined

huge contract

...by handing out historic ones to two guys at the same time. Surely you knew there would be consequences...

I don't get Armstrong.

I don't care for his trades and don't think he's very good at them. He does have a knack for getting guys on good contracts so far but that rep rides fully on what happens with Tarasenko at this point.

[Kerfuffle]

I agree with all your conclusions about Saad but I do think one has to put the responsibility for this development at the door of the Blackhawks' FO who singlehandedly redefined

...by handing out historic ones to two guys at the same time. Surely you knew there would be consequences...

re: Armstrong - I don't care for his trades and don't think he's very good at them. He does have a knack for getting guys on good contracts so far but that rep rides fully on what happens with Tarasenko at this point.

Saad wanted $6.5M per for 6 years - these are the bridge deals Kane and Toews got back in 2010 (albeit 5 years) and Saad wanted the same. No way he's worth that and the Hawks rightly so had to dump him. In the end he got $6M per for 6 years once he realized he was stuck in Columbus. The place he wanted to be was in Pittsburgh.

I'm not happy with the Kane/Toews big contracts now either but what was the alternative - let them walk? Hell no. So we pay them, keep them happy and have to reset again.

Here's where the Saad deal hurts other teams though - Tarasenko sees what Saad got and will want that money if not more since his numbers are higher than Saad's. And earlier clues during the season that were discussed here suggest Tarasenko wants to get paid - I think that's why he's not signed yet.

[Kerfuffle]

dup

[ecbm]

Saad wanted $6.5M per for 6 years - these are the bridge deals Kane and Toews got back in 2010 (albeit 5 years) and Saad wanted the same. No way he's worth that and the Hawks rightly so had to dump him. In the end he got $6M per for 6 years once he realized he was stuck in Columbus. The place he wanted to be was in Pittsburgh.

Again, I think the Blackhawks made the right decision. I want to be clear that I agree about that.

But what if you're Brandon Saad, and you have confidence not to think there's a universe of difference between yourself and T&K? Should you accept an offer below what those guys got in the same situation half a decade ago? Especially when, as it turns out, the market actually supports what you want ($6M-ish per for 6 years)?

As far as Pittsburgh v Columbus? Meh. I think he may have dodged a bullet there. I'm sure $36M makes it go down easier regardless.

I'm not happy with the Kane/Toews big contracts now either but what was the alternative - let them walk? Hell no.

Understood, and again one can't argue it as those guys brought you at least one more cup. But the real alternatives would have been to let one walk (cap space for a second center or Leddy?) or try to talk them both into taking discounts so as to keep the squad together. The point is that there will always be some pain from such a decision. You'll never convince me your FO didn't want to keep Saad. But, omelets and eggs and all that.

Here's where the Saad deal hurts other teams though - Tarasenko sees what Saad got and will want that money if not more since his numbers are higher than Saad's. And earlier clues during the season that were discussed here suggest Tarasenko wants to get paid - I think that's why he's not signed yet.

Possibly hurts. Again, I could see teams liking the market being set for them. Less guesswork. I think Liut was always going to wait and see at least for a while as Tank is pretty much the crown jewel of RFAs this off season. Nobody at the Blues should be surprised by a $6M starting point. I think Armstrong's statement of priorities was probably an attempt to pressure #91. A silly one, too, as Tank is the one and only member of this organization to come out of last season smelling of roses...

[Kerfuffle]

But what if you're Brandon Saad, and you have confidence not to think there's a universe of difference between yourself and T&K? Should you accept an offer below what those guys got in the same situation half a decade ago? Especially when, as it turns out, the market actually supports what you want ($6M-ish per for 6 years)?

I understand any player looking for the best deal he can get but the part that soured a lot of Chicago fans on Saad is him proclaiming at a microphone for the parade how much he wanted to stay here. And also he was quoted as saying that the money will come and go but what's important to him is winning championships and staying in Chicago. And of course that was all BS. Just tell the truth. He could have said I'd like to stay but I also want to do what's best for myself and my family and thus I want a competitive offer.

As far as Pittsburgh v Columbus? Meh. I think he may have dodged a bullet there. I'm sure $36M makes it go down easier regardless.

He's from Pittsburgh and it was well known he wanted to play there at some point. His parents still live there (dad is rich btw) and they wanted him to get back home.

Understood, and again one can't argue it as those guys brought you at least one more cup. But the real alternatives would have been to let one walk (cap space for a second center or Leddy?) or try to talk them both into taking discounts so as to keep the squad together. The point is that there will always be some pain from such a decision. You'll never convince me your FO didn't want to keep Saad. But, omelets and eggs and all that.

I was fine letting Leddy walk - he wasn't that great. He was even benched during the SCF against Boston late in games cause he was a defensive liability. Yeah he'd been better than our 5th and 6th D-men this past season but it worked out even without him.

[cardsfan04]

I'm not sure if the Saad deal will hurt us very much or not. I was thinking like $7.5MM for Tarasenko. So, Saad getting $6MM is probably not a very bad thing.

[Kerfuffle]

I'm not sure if the Saad deal will hurt us very much or not. I was thinking like $7.5MM for Tarasenko. So, Saad getting $6MM is probably not a very bad thing.

$7.5M for Tarasenko is still really high for a guy with only one breakout year in the NHL. That's a big risk and you don't know if that was a career year of if he's gonna be a superstar. That's why bridge deals that are short and give a nice raise without the realy big dollars are the right thing for RSAs.

[ecbm]

I'm not sure if the Saad deal will hurt us very much or not. I was thinking like $7.5MM for Tarasenko. So, Saad getting $6MM is probably not a very bad thing.

$7.5M for Tarasenko is still really high for a guy with only one breakout year in the NHL. That's a big risk and you don't know if that was a career year of if he's gonna be a superstar. That's why bridge deals that are short and give a nice raise without the realy big dollars are the right thing for RSAs.

He's had two full-ish seasons of 64 and 77 games and scored 21 and 37 while increasing his D-zone starts and possession stats. You know he played in the KHL at 17, right? This isn't just one breakout year and he already is a star. Six years ago, Kane got $6.5M per after 162 games, 46G and 142 points while starting 49% of shifts in the D-zone. Tank has played 179 games, has 66G and 135 points while starting 51.3% of his shifts in his defensive zone. Given that most of a decade has passed with increase in the cap and inflation, I think $7M-ish is about right and I think he'll get it. I'd sign him up for 6/$45 right now-if I were the GM of any team.

[Toasted Oates]

I'm not sure if the Saad deal will hurt us very much or not. I was thinking like $7.5MM for Tarasenko. So, Saad getting $6MM is probably not a very bad thing.

$7.5M for Tarasenko is still really high for a guy with only one breakout year in the NHL. That's a big risk and you don't know if that was a career year of if he's gonna be a superstar. That's why bridge deals that are short and give a nice raise without the realy big dollars are the right thing for RSAs.

I'm cool with a bridge deal too, but if you watched this guy play every night he would leave no doubt in your mind that he's a star in this league.

[glen a richter]

Just saw a tweet that Fabbri was guaranteed, at minimum, 9 games at the NHL level this season. Can anyone confirm this?

[ecbm]

I'm not sure if the Saad deal will hurt us very much or not. I was thinking like $7.5MM for Tarasenko. So, Saad getting $6MM is probably not a very bad thing.

$7.5M for Tarasenko is still really high for a guy with only one breakout year in the NHL. That's a big risk and you don't know if that was a career year of if he's gonna be a superstar. That's why bridge deals that are short and give a nice raise without the realy big dollars are the right thing for RSAs.

I'm cool with a bridge deal too, but if you watched this guy play every night he would leave no doubt in your mind that he's a star in this league.

OK, give him a bridge deal. You're still giving him $7-ish per (again, that was the value of Kane & Toews bridge deals and Tank is that caliber player) and say he scores 50 in the last season of it and 15 more in the playoffs (yeah, yeah-I know)? Then the Blues are on the hook for $10M per. Remember-he scored 37 last year while missing 7 games and playing 17 minutes a night. He's a likely choice to lead the NHL in goals for a few years.

I'd just get him locked up long term now, if possible.

[glen a richter]

I'm not cool with a bridge deal, I'm cool with a 7 or 8 year deal that looks like monetary crap now but genius in the second half of the contract. We're not talking about Nelson Emerson here, we're talking about Vladimir Tarasenko. This is as close as the Blues will come, in the foreseeable future, to having not only a "generational" player, but perhaps a generational line. Don't futz with that.

[WaukeeBlues]

First reaction when I heard the Saad trade... "What morons. They [expletive] that up." With every passing few hours and the more and more I read/hear about it, and look at your cap situation... the more it seems like a smart move. The gamble, as always, is what kind of a player Saad becomes. Assuming he ultimately signs that kind of a deal with SOMEone (6 yrs, $6.5 per), it could be the worst contract evar or could be the steal of the century.

Time will well, as it so often does with these types of things. I still think Saad is going to become a phenomenal player but to ask for Johansen money... in a not quite as comparable situation... ehhh

Now if I was Brad Richards I would've offered to stay on board for $1 million bucks. Not sure what happened there...

Saad has high value only cause we won the cup. 2 years ago Bickell was the craving of every GM solely because of his playoff performance with us - and we gave him a 4 year deal @$4M and he's been completely his old self since signing it - which is useless. So I see how teams are drooling over Saad but in reality he's not a superstar and no guarantee he will be one. He wanted a huge contract and got it - now I'm hoping he flops without having Toews/Kane/Hossa/Sharp on lines with him.

Richards as well has always gone for the money to the highest bidder. He did okay for us for only $2M but his stats continue to decline. I can't believe Detroit gave him $3M with an easy chance to hit $4M with incentives. See ya.

As for Troy Brouwer he was 'okay' when he won the cup with us in 20090-2010. He wasn't great by any means and he definitely takes a lot of nights off. I think Armstrong got bamboozled in this trade - it seems to be a trade made more just to change things up than to get equal return in value. I don't get Armstrong.

As to Brouwer: I actually disagree with you, I think the way he's played in Chicago (and most certainly in Washington) commands respect and is the consummate professional and is the type that a locker room needs.

I'm totally fine with movement for movement's sake. We had to. I've been beating that war drum on this website to death since we got eliminated that we need to move old faces and have new faces for the sake of new faces. Very rarely is a team ever in that position and we are. My guess on Brouwer wasn't so much that Army really wanted him but moreso the Caps wanted to shed some salary and not single-handedly take on the whole Oshie contract without at least partially offsetting it.

If Brouwer doesn't perform very well this year, no problem, we only have him under contract for the one season anyway and we wave goodbye, get the cap space and hope the 3rd rounder we got from the Caps turns into a serviceable NHL player. Fine by me.

[Toasted Oates]

Glen/ecbm--Those responses were as reasonable as the day is long and it looks like 91 and the team agree with you.

I take no issue with the man getting paid; he's worth it. Due to my Blues induced pessimism, I fear the worst with such a long term deal (injuries, regression, etc).

I didn't expect him to sign on for so long because of the reasons you suggested. If his numbers continue to climb (he's more than capable) he could have made it rain even more in eventual free agency.

His commitment to the organization is refreshing, though. The tweets he sent out....the quotes from DA about his "thirst" for winning....I'm glad he's on our squad.

I pledge to cease the bitching and climb aboard the Vlad Tarasenko freight train. Here's to many, many more sick dangles, laser snipes, and exuberant cellies.