Thisi s why the one year deal makes zero sense and it just leads to more questions

Is hitch even going to put a full effort in to preparing the team? Or is he in semi retirement already?
- sycsam

Speaking of which the Blues president/gm also gm of canada could not get this deal done sooner? seriously that should have been long done.

time enough to have moved berglund and signed someone like stafford.

I don't think so. I have a hard time believing he gets let go in season. The Blues would have to be really bad, like Edmonton of the last decade bad and way out of the playoff picture before I see them thinking about canning Hitch.

And this team has too much talent to be out of the playoff picture. Even if they stumble, they are going to be fighting for a spot.
- carcus

People forget he's been signing one year deals for a while now. People in St Louis tend to sour on coaches rather quickly. Fans got tired of Quennville, he went on to win three cups. They ran Joe Torre out of town and he immediately went on to win four championships. Tony Larussa toiled here for 8 years before he had any post season success and was constantly second guessed even after they started winning. It's a good thing management didn't listen to the fan base or it might have been the same story with him too.

The coach can't do it all. He can't have a group of non-hackers and he cant have guys (Oshie) second guessing the program.

Speaking of which the Blues president/gm also gm of canada could not get this deal done sooner? seriously that should have been long done.

time enough to have moved berglund and signed someone like stafford.
- BluemanGuruu

It's a great deal man, it's not like it dragged out over the summer and he held out of camp. I cant really believe that Tarasenko gave up so many UFA years. This deal takes him though all his prime years to age 31. A 7.5 million cap hit is a bargain especially looking at what was handed out to guys like O'reily and Saad.

I agree about Berglund though. Move him for future considerations for all I care.

I think the reason it took Ionger than some of us had hoped, and the reasons others were signed before this deaI was announced is they were just ironing out detaiIs and maybe the structure of it. I have no problem with this deaI at aII.

Time to sign Schwartz, and Iook for somewhere to move Bergy. As it stands now it wouId most IikeIy be a 3rd Iine of Jaskin Bergy and Brouwer. CouId we just move Bergy for a pick and bring up Fabbri or Rattie? Iet them sink or swim. It wouid definetIy open cap room to heIp sign Shatty and Schwartz next year. AIso, if Backes stays, do you think he wouId take a home town deaI next season?

Just saw the side bar showing the contracts and payroll or next season. A gIaring stat sticks out

Ott 2,600,000
Schwartz 2,350,000


How did Army get Schwartz to agree to that contract and why would anyone value Ott, over Schwartz.

WOW

Jaskin was a steal at 772,500. He should do very weII this next season and wiII deserve a substantial raise. Started to turn it on as the season wore on. He seemed to acclimate to the Ieague and pIay more with every game.

I think the reason it took Ionger than some of us had hoped, and the reasons others were signed before this deaI was announced is they were just ironing out detaiIs and maybe the structure of it. I have no problem with this deaI at aII.

Time to sign Schwartz, and Iook for somewhere to move Bergy. As it stands now it wouId most IikeIy be a 3rd Iine of Jaskin Bergy and Brouwer. CouId we just move Bergy for a pick and bring up Fabbri or Rattie? Iet them sink or swim. It wouid definetIy open cap room to heIp sign Shatty and Schwartz next year. AIso, if Backes stays, do you think he wouId take a home town deaI next season?
- BluesDroogie

Shatty has two years left I believe so his extension will be a priority after Schwartz

If Berg is moved it would mean Fabbri is ready unless we get a fourth line center back in the trade for berg than I guess Brodziak is the third line center

Ideally you move berg for pciks and or a prospect and your third line is

Jaskin Fabbri Brouwer

Thisi s why the one year deal makes zero sense and it just leads to more questions

Is hitch even going to put a full effort in to preparing the team? Or is he in semi retirement already?
- sycsam

This implication couldn't be further from the truth. You may not like him as a coach/strategist but if you knew him at all, you would NOT question his desire and effort.

Just saw the side bar showing the contracts and payroll or next season. A gIaring stat sticks out

Ott 2,600,000
Schwartz 2,350,000


How did Army get Schwartz to agree to that contract and why would anyone value Ott, over Schwartz.

WOW

Jaskin was a steal at 772,500. He should do very weII this next season and wiII deserve a substantial raise. Started to turn it on as the season wore on. He seemed to acclimate to the Ieague and pIay more with every game.
- BluesDroogie

Schwartz was a RFA with pretty much no negotiation rights. Ott was a UFA and much needed when Sobotka left for the KHL. He had way more room to negotiate. Jaskin is on an entry level contract so that's actually pretty inline with what all young guys make.

This implication couldn't be further from the truth. You may not like him as a coach/strategist but if you knew him at all, you would NOT question his desire and effort.
- stljam

It was just a thought

I dont know the guy personally but some comments and things at the end of last year make it a little suspect in my mind if he has the desire for the grind

I am 99.9 percent sure he will do a great job but there is a lingering doubt in my mind and I know I am not alone

Schwartz was a RFA with pretty much no negotiation rights. Ott was a UFA and much needed when Sobotka left for the KHL. He had way more room to negotiate. Jaskin is on an entry level contract so that's actually pretty inline with what all young guys make.
- cuethenoise

Actually Jaskin is vastly underpaid for what he brings to the team

I was expecting a 1.25 or higher deal for him

Just saw the side bar showing the contracts and payroll or next season. A gIaring stat sticks out

Ott 2,600,000
Schwartz 2,350,000


How did Army get Schwartz to agree to that contract and why would anyone value Ott, over Schwartz.

WOW

Jaskin was a steal at 772,500. He should do very weII this next season and wiII deserve a substantial raise. Started to turn it on as the season wore on. He seemed to acclimate to the Ieague and pIay more with every game.
- BluesDroogie

UFA

RFA

End if story.

Schwartz was a RFA with pretty much no negotiation rights. Ott was a UFA and much needed when Sobotka left for the KHL. He had way more room to negotiate. Jaskin is on an entry level contract so that's actually pretty inline with what all young guys make.
- cuethenoise

Jaskin just resigned for this next season. His eIc was up. he is now on a 1 way contract. and at a steal for 775. okay spotrac has him for 775,000 on here it is 772,500. not much of a difference but who is right?. He signed his eIc apriI 2013.

Schwartz had some say as an rfa just as anyone does. but yeah they wanted a bridge deaI for him to heIp prove himself

Actually Jaskin is vastly underpaid for what he brings to the team

I was expecting a 1.25 or higher deal for him
- sycsam

I must have missed that one I thought he was still on his ELC. My bad

Why? He's terrible
- Yeah Boyes

have you seen the rest of the leafs?

dunno just think if you can get him cheap , a change of scenery could do him good

Jaskin just resigned for this next season. His eIc was up. he is now on a 1 way contract. and at a steal for 775. okay spotrac has him for 775,000 on here it is 772,500. not much of a difference but who is right?. He signed his eIc apriI 2013.

Schwartz had some say as an rfa just as anyone does. but yeah they wanted a bridge deaI for him to heIp prove himself
- BluesDroogie

I thought Jaskin now has two years left on his deal

one left from his ELC and the extension he just signed

It was just a thought

I dont know the guy personally but some comments and things at the end of last year make it a little suspect in my mind if he has the desire for the grind

I am 99.9 percent sure he will do a great job but there is a lingering doubt in my mind and I know I am not alone
- sycsam

None of us knows him personally. Or professionally for that matter.

Here's what I do know:

If he were still passionate about coaching he wouldn't be signing year to year deals.

If the Blues were sold on him as a coach, they wouldn't be goofing around with year to year deals.

Someone whom I regard as one of the smartest individuals of his occupation, Whitey Herzog, always said he would never manage in the walk-year of his contract because he couldn't demand the authority or gain the respect of the players if he was on a short-term deal.

I agree with him.

I thought Jaskin now has two years left on his deal

one left from his ELC and the extension he just signed
- sycsam

He signed his eIc in apriI 13, so it might have eaten up a year for the 12-13 season. then 13-14 and 14-15. They extended him by 1 year a week ago or so. so spotrac has him on a 1 year deai ending this next season.

Thats wii if I am reading it correctly. i think him being up with the BIues in the 13 pIayoffs ate up the 1st year of his eIc with him onIy pIaying 2 games or so.

He signed his eIc in apriI 13, so it might have eaten up a year for the 12-13 season. then 13-14 and 14-15. They extended him by 1 year a week ago or so. so spotrac has him on a 1 year deai ending this next season.

Thats wii if I am reading it correctly. i think him being up with the BIues in the 13 pIayoffs ate up the 1st year of his eIc with him onIy pIaying 2 games or so.
- BluesDroogie

Jam will answer this

What say you Jam

None of us knows him personally. Or professionally for that matter.

Here's what I do know:

If he were still passionate about coaching he wouldn't be signing year to year deals.

If the Blues were sold on him as a coach, they wouldn't be goofing around with year to year deals.

Someone whom I regard as one of the smartest individuals of his occupation, Whitey Herzog, always said he would never manage in the walk-year of his contract because he couldn't demand the authority or gain the respect of the players if he was on a short-term deal.

I agree with him.
- bcallaway

That's your opinion that he isn't passionate since he wants to take it year to year?

Maybe he is so passionate and loves the organization, and doesn't want to hamper them if they decide to go in another direction if things don't go well.

Just because Whitey said something doesn't mean it is the case for everyone. If Blues players don't respect the coach, they need to leave. It is as simple as that. I don't care who is the coach, or if he has 5 years or 1 year on his deal.

That's your opinion that he isn't passionate since he wants to take it year to year?

Maybe he is so passionate and loves the organization, and doesn't want to hamper them if they decide to go in another direction if things don't go well.

Just because Whitey said something doesn't mean it is the case for everyone. If Blues players don't respect the coach, they need to leave. It is as simple as that. I don't care who is the coach, or if he has 5 years or 1 year on his deal.
- carcus

Yup. That's my opinion.

If I'm the coach there's no way I put myself voluntarily in that position. If I'm in my mid to late sixties and don't know how much longer I want to coach, then I have language in my contract that says I can walk away at some point, but I don't sign a one year deal.

Based on their successes and failures, I'll take Herzog's wisdom here. I think he knew what he was talking about. Hitch's way of doing things haven't yielded much since the turn of the century.

I still like Semin on a 1 year deal. If you could get him to sign for say 3 million, move berglund for picks/ prospects you wouln't pull the trigger?

Assets for Bergie now
Cap relief
Player upgrade
Show me contract for Semin
Rattie/ Fabbri still have a spot open on the 3rd line

I still like Semin on a 1 year deal. If you could get him to sign for say 3 million, move berglund for picks/ prospects you wouln't pull the trigger?

Assets for Bergie now
Cap relief
Player upgrade
Show me contract for Semin
Rattie/ Fabbri still have a spot open on the 3rd line
- Gerk

No

where does he play?

WHo in the top six gets shuffled down to the third line to replace Berg?

Steen Stastny Backes
Schwartz Lehtera Tarasenko
Jaskin Berglund Brouwer
Ott Brodziak Reaves

Tell me where does Semin Play?

Just no

No

where does he play?

WHo in the top six gets shuffled down to the third line to replace Berg?

Steen Stastny Backes
Schwartz Lehtera Tarasenko
Jaskin Berglund Brouwer
Ott Brodziak Reaves

Tell me where does Semin Play?

Just no
- sycsam

Schwartz Stastny Steen
Semin Lehtera Tarasenko
Fabbri/ Rattie Backes Brouwer
Jaskin Ott Reaves

Schwartz Stastny Steen
Semin Lehtera Tarasenko
Fabbri/ Rattie Backes Brouwer
Jaskin Ott Reaves
- Gerk

again no

again no
- sycsam

Excellent job explaining your position/ opinion