Football fan - yes.

Rams fan - no.
- bcallaway

WAIT A MINUTE! You mean you don't have a strong tie to your local sports team? And you call yourself a fan?!

Sutter and a third for Bonino Clendening and a 2nd

and the Pens sign Fehr to a 3 year 6 million dollar deal

Where are yoiu at Army?

Jesus this offseason has been a bust

WAIT A MINUTE! You mean you don't have a strong tie to your local sports team? And you call yourself a fan?!
- Trust In Jarmo

I do follow them Jarmomanlove. But I'm much more passionate about College, High School and Jr Football all of which I have much closer ties to personally.

Sutter and a third for Bonino Clendening and a 2nd

and the Pens sign Fehr to a 3 year 6 million dollar deal

Where are yoiu at Army?

Jesus this offseason has been a bust
- sycsam

Ugh and another player I thought we should target goes away on a very cap reasonable deal - fehr, Williams, Irwin, oleksy just to name a few.

Ugh and another player I thought we should target goes away on a very cap reasonable deal - fehr, Williams, Irwin, oleksy just to name a few.
- stljam

Meh, not a big deal IMO.

Williams I was interested in, but we don't know if Army tried to get him. I don't see the others as real improvements for the team, but that is just me.

Meh, not a big deal IMO.

Williams I was interested in, but we don't know if Army tried to get him. I don't see the others as real improvements for the team, but that is just me.
- carcus

I just dont see the improvement we were sold at the end of last year

Barring a surprsie trade this team is still the same underachieving team with a less experienced D corps and Troy Brouwer

not a recipe for success in my mind

Meh, not a big deal IMO.

Williams I was interested in, but we don't know if Army tried to get him. I don't see the others as real improvements for the team, but that is just me.
- carcus

Fehr was a cheaper version of Sobotka in a lot of ways with more scoring ability. Good on the draw, can play up and own the lineup a little, can play wing or center, etc.

Irwin and Oleksy were just depth, high up side, low cost type moves. Our D is supremely weak imho as far as depth goes, at least with guys who have any real upside.

Jaybo, Shatty, Petro and unfortunately Gunnar are locked into big minute spots. Counting on Lindbohm to eat big minutes is a big mistake imho. Can he this year? I hope so. Can he eventually? I believe so. But what if he struggles? Butler is maybe serviceable for some games here and there but no real upside (no power play contribution, no continued development, etc). Bortuzzo is a fine 6/7. Peter Harrold is much like Butler. I expect Parayko, Schmaltz, Edmundson, Vanelli, and Hakanpaa to all need at least one more year in the AHL.

A guy like Irwin could also contribute on the powerplay while playing 9 even strength minutes like a butler, bortuzzo, or harrold.

I just dont see the improvement we were sold at the end of last year

Barring a surprsie trade this team is still the same underachieving team with a less experienced D corps and Troy Brouwer

not a recipe for success in my mind
- sycsam

Well at least he isn't making trades like the Canucks are

I just dont see the improvement we were sold at the end of last year

Barring a surprsie trade this team is still the same underachieving team with a less experienced D corps and Troy Brouwer

not a recipe for success in my mind
- sycsam

People complained non-stop about Jackman, and then after he leaves we have a "less experienced D corps"

Our D will be better next year IMO. I liked Jackman, but Lindbolhm is going to be an upgrade, even with growing pains as Jackman made plenty of mistakes.

I like the addition of Brouwer. I think he is going to help this team, and we won't miss Oshie.

I wanted Backes to be dealt because I am not sold on him leading this team, and he has one year left on his deal and will likely command a contract similar to Kesler's. The Blues shouldn't do that, and I have a hard time believing that they will be able/will want to move him during the season or at the deadline.

I think it is unrealistic for the Blues to make huge roster changes when we have been so successful in the regular season. This is a good team and blowing it up isn't the right answer. It is a popular answer among many fans, but not the right one.

Fehr was a cheaper version of Sobotka in a lot of ways with more scoring ability. Good on the draw, can play up and own the lineup a little, can play wing or center, etc.

Irwin and Oleksy were just depth, high up side, low cost type moves. Our D is supremely weak imho as far as depth goes, at least with guys who have any real upside.

Jaybo, Shatty, Petro and unfortunately Gunnar are locked into big minute spots. Counting on Lindbohm to eat big minutes is a big mistake imho. Can he this year? I hope so. Can he eventually? I believe so. But what if he struggles? Butler is maybe serviceable for some games here and there but no real upside (no power play contribution, no continued development, etc). Bortuzzo is a fine 6/7. Peter Harrold is much like Butler. I expect Parayko, Schmaltz, Edmundson, Vanelli, and Hakanpaa to all need at least one more year in the AHL.

A guy like Irwin could also contribute on the powerplay while playing 9 even strength minutes like a butler, bortuzzo, or harrold.
- stljam

I don't think that changing the bottom 6 forwards is going to do much. So I don't see Fehr being necessary at all. If the Blues were going to shake up their forwards, it would have to be Steen or Backes, with Backes being my preference. Maybe they looked into that and nothing panned out.

As for the defense, Lindbolhm will be fine on the 3rd pair. I would like an upgrade of Gunner on the second pair.

Parayko looks like he is NHL ready right now IMO. I really hope he pushes for a spot on the roster this year.

With Petro, JBo, & Shattenkirk all being able to play big minutes, and am not too worried about some of our younger guys slowly getting acclimated to the NHL game. They can shelter the others minutes, especially at home and ease them in.

I don't think that changing the bottom 6 forwards is going to do much. So I don't see Fehr being necessary at all. If the Blues were going to shake up their forwards, it would have to be Steen or Backes, with Backes being my preference. Maybe they looked into that and nothing panned out.

As for the defense, Lindbolhm will be fine on the 3rd pair. I would like an upgrade of Gunner on the second pair.

Parayko looks like he is NHL ready right now IMO. I really hope he pushes for a spot on the roster this year.

With Petro, JBo, & Shattenkirk all being able to play big minutes, and am not too worried about some of our younger guys slowly getting acclimated to the NHL game. They can shelter the others minutes, especially at home and ease them in.
- carcus

I have Parayko penciled in for 16-17 but hope to be wrong. Hakanpaa is also a bit of a wild card to me. I haven't seen a lot of him that suggests I should have any real expectations but given he is the oldest of the D prospects, he probably needs to start showing a somewhat NHL ready game or he will be lost overseas.

The injury risk on the D is great imho.

I have Parayko penciled in for 16-17 but hope to be wrong. Hakanpaa is also a bit of a wild card to me. I haven't seen a lot of him that suggests I should have any real expectations but given he is the oldest of the D prospects, he probably needs to start showing a somewhat NHL ready game or he will be lost overseas.

The injury risk on the D is great imho.
- stljam

Hakanpass is in Sweden now

Edmondson is next up after Parayko I think

Need any more proof that you shouldn't put too much stock in the STL "Hockey Guy"? Look no further than here..

http://www.stltoday.com/s...fc-8b0e-1ecc504d90cb.html

Sorry jeff but Bonino led the Canucks forwards in avg PK time whereas Sutter was 4th among Pens forwards. Bonino is a better PK player, a better cap hit, and has similar offensive production. Oh and Jeff, Bonino has a higher average points per game over his regular season career (.46 vs .37) and extends that margin in the playoffs at .50 vs .36 ppg.

Now I remember why I stopped clicking on any of his stuff...it isn't worth dealing with the bs stltoday ads to read what he puts out.

Hakanpass is in Sweden now

Edmondson is next up after Parayko I think
- sycsam

Won't even be here for camp in case he makes the team?

Won't even be here for camp in case he makes the team?
- stljam

I think he threw a fit because he fell behind Parayko and Edmondson and probably Schmaltz

I could be wrong

He signed with a team in Europe

Need any more proof that you shouldn't put too much stock in the STL "Hockey Guy"? Look no further than here..

http://www.stltoday.com/s...fc-8b0e-1ecc504d90cb.html

Sorry jeff but Bonino led the Canucks forwards in avg PK time whereas Sutter was 4th among Pens forwards. Bonino is a better PK player, a better cap hit, and has similar offensive production. Oh and Jeff, Bonino has a higher average points per game over his regular season career (.46 vs .37) and extends that margin in the playoffs at .50 vs .36 ppg.

Now I remember why I stopped clicking on any of his stuff...it isn't worth dealing with the bs stltoday ads to read what he puts out.
- stljam

You needed more proof???

Do you guys think there is anything to the rumors that the Blues are talking with Tampa about Drouin?

Do you guys think there is anything to the rumors that the Blues are talking with Tampa about Drouin?
- carcus

My wishful thinking wants it to but I just don't see how it makes a lot of sense from a dance partner situation.

Do you guys think there is anything to the rumors that the Blues are talking with Tampa about Drouin?
- carcus

You mean besides the fact that Eklund is looking at what conversations have affected traffic on the Blues blog on his site?

Nah.

Though, could I imagine the Blues trying to get Drouin & Brian Boyle in exchange for Backes and some other big assets (first round picks, prospects)? The Blues would have to find a way to take on salary though. Tampa has zero cap space.

Yeah, why not?