For the last two years (or more) Backes has been identified as a shut down center that gets the opponents #1 center assignment. That screams defensive specialist. If we have players suited to playing a more offensive game and have a more offensive-minded center, why would the Blues all of a sudden re-characterize Backes?
- eggsegan

I am pretty sure Backes has scored more than 30 goals before so that doesnt scream defensive specialist

it screams two way power forward

I dont disagree with you just dont see him getting third line minutes

I am pretty sure Backes has scored more than 30 goals before so that doesnt scream defensive specialist

it screams two way power forward

I dont disagree with you just dont see him getting third line minutes
- sycsam

He won't. He'll be matched up against the other teams first line. He may just not get the most offensive-minded line mates.

Btw - the last time Backes scored 30 goals was 5 years ago. He is a guy, at this point in his career, that needs to focus on the defensive side of the game and play some powerplay minutes on the second pairing.

Jaskin is the future. He's the one that should be getting the offensive zone time five-on-five.

Bringing in Stastny pretty much cemented Backes into a defensive role.

No since June 1 2015.

No since June 1 2015.
- HossaGuy

P.O.W. - Piece of work.

So ek says we're looking into bozak... that would be great for us since we're trying to get faster....i mean.... reckless.

Ek's rumor chart also has the Blues at 40% for Jonathan Drouin. I'll take him in a heartbeat. Not sure I'd like to give up what it'd take to get him though.

So ek says we're looking into bozak... that would be great for us since we're trying to get faster....i mean.... reckless.
- yglassman

What's all tne Bozak hate about? Wasn't he one of the only bright spots for Toronto?

What's all tne Bozak hate about? Wasn't he one of the only bright spots for Toronto?
- Simon_says17

He is vastly overpaid and he is not a top line center but he would probably be a decent third line center between jaskin and Brouwer

Berglund and Gunnarsson for Bozak and a couple picks or prospects would be the only way I see a deal happening

Ek's rumor chart also has the Blues at 40% for Jonathan Drouin. I'll take him in a heartbeat. Not sure I'd like to give up what it'd take to get him though.
- usmcaaron

Would love Drouin but it would take

Barbashev Fabbri and a first

I just dont see the blues giving up two A-/B+ prospects for a A prospect

Now if they would do Barbashev a First and lets say another lower prospect I would be all for it

Or throw berglund in there

just my thoughts

He won't. He'll be matched up against the other teams first line. He may just not get the most offensive-minded line mates.

Btw - the last time Backes scored 30 goals was 5 years ago. He is a guy, at this point in his career, that needs to focus on the defensive side of the game and play some powerplay minutes on the second pairing.

Jaskin is the future. He's the one that should be getting the offensive zone time five-on-five.

Bringing in Stastny pretty much cemented Backes into a defensive role.
- eggsegan

it does not make since for a team that has trouble scoring in the post season to lad up a line to shut down the ther top line but cannot score well. better a line that would see significant ice time be also capable of being offensive.

Would love Drouin but it would take

Barbashev Fabbri and a first

I just dont see the blues giving up two A-/B+ prospects for a A prospect

Now if they would do Barbashev a First and lets say another lower prospect I would be all for it

Or throw berglund in there

just my thoughts
- sycsam

that is more than worth it. a- and b+ prospect for an a+ prospect is a good trade.

that is more than worth it. a- and b+ prospect for an a+ prospect is a good trade.
- BluemanGuruu

Is he an A+ prospect though?

Not disagreeing with you

I guess he really hasnt had an oppurtunity to play in TB yet

I would prefer a Fabbri/Barbashev + Berglund + a 2017 First

it does not make since for a team that has trouble scoring in the post season to lad up a line to shut down the ther top line but cannot score well. better a line that would see significant ice time be also capable of being offensive.
- BluemanGuruu

Part of the reason we have trouble scoring is because our scoring leaders are busy trying to bottle up the scoring leaders of the other team. It's a catch-22.

What would the cost for Drouin really be?

Any real guesses

I'd give rattie, berglund, a first and copley if necessary for drouin.

Anyone else wanna give a proposal?

And btw, i wasnt hating on bozak before... I was just making a joke when i said "reckless" instead of "faster" cuz hitch keeps using that word and avoiding the word speed. I think its pretty funny actually.

I know nothing of Barbashev or Fabbri, I haven't seen them pIay. But I wouId prefer to keep Barbashev and Iine him up with Jaskin seeing how they have pIayed together for a season and are good friends. That can onIy heIp build chemistry between them and maybe Stastny. Drouin i don't know much about either. With a bunch of goalies at prospect camp and AIIen getting a stronger Iook this season, i think we couId part ways with CopIey (we do have goalies in the system pitying elsewhere) DefinetIy use Bergy as a trade piece. and maybe throw Ott in aIso. Fabbri might be a decent piece we couId work with, he seems to get injured aIot. Missed aIot of games just this year.

Keep our own prospects cause we are aIready in a tight cap fit. Trading Shattenkirk makes no sense to me whatsoever. He is our best offensive defensemen and has speed and puck moving abilities. I know we are Iooking at a possible high end pIayer, but that weakens our defense a ton.

I'd give rattie, berglund, a first and copley if necessary for drouin.

Anyone else wanna give a proposal?

And btw, i wasnt hating on bozak before... I was just making a joke when i said "reckless" instead of "faster" cuz hitch keeps using that word and avoiding the word speed. I think its pretty funny actually.
- yglassman

Rattie, BergIund and CopIey. See if they bite. Keep our picks as much as we can, we are going to need them in a few years.

I'd give rattie, berglund, a first and copley if necessary for drouin.

Anyone else wanna give a proposal?

And btw, i wasnt hating on bozak before... I was just making a joke when i said "reckless" instead of "faster" cuz hitch keeps using that word and avoiding the word speed. I think its pretty funny actually.
- yglassman

Ya know, it kinda occured to me when the Blues insisted Copely be included for Oshie, that maybe they had another deal in mind to include him, or possibly another goaltending prospect. Obviously you can't really have too many goalies in the system, but between Allen, Husso, Bennington, Opilka(sp?), & Copely, that's a bit of a logjam in net at the professional levels.
Now, I'm not suggesting Tampa is thin at goaltender, but maybe they (or another team/deal) wanted Husso or Bennington, even Copely, in any deal. Just a thought.

As far as Drouin, I'm afraid it would be a steep price. I'm not comfortable giving up Fabbri or Barbashev, but if they'll go for something like this, jump on it:

Berglund ($3.7 mil), Rattie ($700k), & Copely ($705k)
For
Drouin ($895k) & Ohlund ($3.6)

Copely is stashed in the minors for TB, so his contract doesn't count against the cap.
Ohlund is dead weight (he says he won't play again due to injury), & he's a free agent after this season, so the Blues can just buy him out, I believe. Taking that contact off Tampa's hands would be a sweetener to pry Drouin away, also.

Get it done, Army.

About rattie btw... I think he's a bust and will never be that good... yes thats what i honestly believe... and yes im saying that after only seeing him play like 7 games in 2 different nhl stints...

About rattie btw... I think he's a bust and will never be that good... yes thats what i honestly believe... and yes im saying that after only seeing him play like 7 games in 2 different nhl stints...
- yglassman

I'm with you on that. Don't see why TB would deal Drouin. Any proposal with Fabbri in it I don't like because we haven't even got to see him in action yet, and according to camp reports and scouts, he's a gamer. He showed up more than Rattie did during the last training camp. I think that says something.

I'm with you on that. Don't see why TB would deal Drouin. Any proposal with Fabbri in it I don't like because we haven't even got to see him in action yet, and according to camp reports and scouts, he's a gamer. He showed up more than Rattie did during the last training camp. I think that says something.
- Simon_says17

Drouin>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Fabbri

Did y'all see that Lamoriello got hired by the Leafs? As the world turns. The soap opera that is the Leafs just became that much more interesting...

Did y'all see that Lamoriello got hired by the Leafs. As the world turns. The soap opera that is the Leafs just became that much more interesting...


- eggsegan

Yeah, I wonder if he'll go the veteran route like he seemed to love the past few years in NJ. That hasn't worked so well. I really wonder if guys with so much experience and expectations as Babcock and Lou are the right choice for what ought to be a gut rehab.

Yeah, I wonder if he'll go the veteran route like he seemed to love the past few years in NJ. That hasn't worked so well. I really wonder if guys with so much experience and expectations as Babcock and Lou are the right choice for what ought to be a gut rehab.
- Firebrand

I always thought Lou's claim to fame was three-fold:

1) Having a good group of European scouts before everyone had European scouts
2) Drafting Martin Brodeur
3) Navigating the Scott Stevens legal case so that he got all of the Blues draft picks

Rattie, BergIund and CopIey. See if they bite. Keep our picks as much as we can, we are going to need them in a few years.
- BluesDroogie

I'm sorry but TB hangs the phone up with you on that proposal. The package you referenced is basically an overage middling prospect, an average third line center and an undrafted AHL backup goalie. That isn't going to be close to what it would take.

if army could pull off that deal, it would be quite a coup. It would be Jim Nill-esque.