Ott's money goes to Lehtera's raise +600k savings which goes to $400k savings when you figure in edmundson and gunnarsson; jaskin takes ott's spot which creates a -350k or so on the cap

Schwartz gets a 2mm raise at minimum so now let's say they are 2.5mm worse off.

They probably want to sign brodziak...say he gets 500k raise, so now 3mm worse...

Only one of Backes or Brouwer can come back....even if they trade shattenkirk, it would be tough to bring both back. Both will get more money as UFAs.
- Jason Millen

Backes probably willing to take a friendlier deal to stay in STL, Brouwer probably gone as STL likely wont have the room to give the money Brouwer likely seeks out on the open market

Backes has leadership and draft ties with the Blues so there is some loyalty there. Brouwer doesnt really have much of a commitment/alliance to STL and with him turning 31 this year, likely his last chance to cash in as a power forward winger

Backes probably willing to take a friendlier deal to stay in STL, Brouwer probably gone as STL likely wont have the room to give the money Brouwer likely seeks out on the open market

Backes has leadership and draft ties with the Blues so there is some loyalty there. Brouwer doesnt really have much of a commitment/alliance to STL and with him turning 31 this year, likely his last chance to cash in as a power forward winger
- hawkeytalkman

Backes has always rubbed me as an intelligent guy who while he might deeply care about the Blues will be smart enough to take the most money he can.

You cannot blame these guys for doing it on the one hand.

I think Brouwer might have a connection because of Armstrong's trust in him.

Tough to say but any of them want six million and more than two years starts to get risky if they also want an NTC. Would have to a modified one like that the Blues could expose them to an expansion draft.

Ott's money goes to Lehtera's raise +600k savings which goes to $400k savings when you figure in edmundson and gunnarsson; jaskin takes ott's spot which creates a -350k or so impact on the cap

Schwartz gets a 2mm raise at minimum so now let's say they are 2.5mm worse off.

They probably want to sign brodziak...say he gets 500k raise, so now 3mm worse...

Only one of Backes or Brouwer can come back....even if they trade shattenkirk, it would be tough to bring both back. Both will get more money as UFAs.
- Jason Millen

I think Schwartz, unless he was injured bad, cost himself some money in the play offs and his injury issue. Either he will not take term and less money or he will take term at a discount of his potential value.

But Fabbri a bit stronger with more experience and confidence and Parayko and some of the other younger guys and wow.

Really need to find someone to replace JayBo's minutes. I think that is a spot that can be improved. Or maybe he sees less ice. Certainly as you and I both have mentioned he and Edmundson look far better as a pairing.

Backes has always rubbed me as an intelligent guy who while he might deeply care about the Blues will be smart enough to take the most money he can.

You cannot blame these guys for doing it on the one hand.

I think Brouwer might have a connection because of Armstrong's trust in him.

Tough to say but any of them want six million and more than two years starts to get risky if they also want an NTC. Would have to a modified one like that the Blues could expose them to an expansion draft.
- BluemanGuruu

Have to imagine at both their ages (Backes is 32 and Brouwer will be 31 this year) that they are both unwilling to take less than 3 years.

Who knows, maybe they both chase money or both stay, but NHL player contracts in the salary cap era have shown us that the 30-32 age is the majority of players last chance at a large money contract with term

I think Schwartz, unless he was injured bad, cost himself some money in the play offs and his injury issue. Either he will not take term and less money or he will take term at a discount of his potential value.

But Fabbri a bit stronger with more experience and confidence and Parayko and some of the other younger guys and wow.

Really need to find someone to replace JayBo's minutes. I think that is a spot that can be improved. Or maybe he sees less ice. Certainly as you and I both have mentioned he and Edmundson look far better as a pairing.
- BluemanGuruu

Problem is that Schwartz has arbitration rights as a RFA I believe and while he may have faded out, he can still note his injury while still putting up 14 pts this postseason, which is .70 ppg, above his career regular season production of .65 ppg

A very good playoff run. You went farther then I thought you would go Blues

With that said and in all seriousness...

How far would this Blues team have gone with Ben Bishop?

I won't even go into what I said about JayBo $5 million plus a year and Stastmys $7 Million per year when those deals went down. Neither of those players did much to help push you to the Stanley Cup.


You guys were seriously close to the Cup this year..

Good series Blues fans. Its sad that one of our teams had to be eliminated because i would be pulling for the blues if the sharks werent in it. But keep your heads up, you guys have a good young team and will only be better next year.

Ya the Blues were so fun to watch, be proud was a great playoff run.

Ya the Blues were so fun to watch, be proud was a great playoff run.
- Mr.FunFacts

I am very happy the team made it this far. It was fun but I don not know what it is like to watch my team win a confernce final let alone a Cup.

Good series Blues fans. Its sad that one of our teams had to be eliminated because i would be pulling for the blues if the sharks werent in it. But keep your heads up, you guys have a good young team and will only be better next year.
- sjsharksss

Hard to classify it as good series. Only saw them really show up for two games and one of them they lost.

I am hoping to be rooting for Lightning in the finals. Like Stastny, Bishop also went to my high school.

I think Schwartz, unless he was injured bad, cost himself some money in the play offs and his injury issue. Either he will not take term and less money or he will take term at a discount of his potential value.

But Fabbri a bit stronger with more experience and confidence and Parayko and some of the other younger guys and wow.

Really need to find someone to replace JayBo's minutes. I think that is a spot that can be improved. Or maybe he sees less ice. Certainly as you and I both have mentioned he and Edmundson look far better as a pairing.
- BluemanGuruu

I don't think Steen or Schwartz were ever 100% after their injuries. Steen's shot didn't have the same zip on it after the shoulder injury and serious ankle injuries like Schwartz's can take years to fully heal, if they do at all.

I hope they can find a way to keep both Backes and Brouwer. Shattenkirk is likely as good as gone but I think they should try to move Berglund and maybe J bo as well.

IMHO, Hitch owns some of this responsibility as his minute management is questionable and really contributed to certain players being worn down. Example - Jaybo and Petro play almost 54 minutes in a game where they were up 4-0 and win 6-3. In the same game Stastny and Steen both play over 21 minutes yes Paajarvi and Jaskin don't even play 10 minutes.

Example 2 - Petro plays 25.5 minutes in a game they are up 5-1 after 2 periods. Brouwer, Stastny and Steen all play around 19 minutes in said game.

Example 3 - In a game they are up 5-0 after 2 periods, Petro plays over 26 minutes and Steen plays 19 minutes.

Compare these to DeBoer - SJ up 3-0 after 2 periods and Burns plays less than 22.5 and no forward has more than 17 minutes.

SJ up 4-1 after 2 periods and Burns playes 23.5 and no forward plays more than 17.5

Minute management is a problem with Hitch and I would suggest is wears on players.
- Jason Millen

Very good points. With all the games played, a few less minutes here and there couldn't have hurt.

I though both teams D and goalies were about even but in the end, their best players were better than our best players. Joe thornton has got to be the best pure passer in the game which is all the more impressive given his age. The Blues don't have anybody close to that level of a playmaker. Then you have Pavelski who basically wills himself to goals, and you have the Blues leading scorer sticking to the perimeter and trying to stick-handle through guys.

Still have to be proud of them though, it was a good run. Parayko and Fabbri emerged as big time players and are only going to get better. Early season goat Carl Gunnarson held his own admirably as the fourth D man. Even Hitch silenced some of his detractors, although I think his future is in just as much doubt as any of the UFA's.

I am extremely Sappy today

I am sad the season is over

I am happy with them making it to the WCF

This team with some good fortune next year will be back

good grief...
- hawkeytalkman

Nice to see you for the first time in a month

Get lost

Let us commiserate with fellow blues fans

IMHO, Hitch owns some of this responsibility as his minute management is questionable and really contributed to certain players being worn down. Example - Jaybo and Petro play almost 54 minutes in a game where they were up 4-0 and win 6-3. In the same game Stastny and Steen both play over 21 minutes yes Paajarvi and Jaskin don't even play 10 minutes.

Example 2 - Petro plays 25.5 minutes in a game they are up 5-1 after 2 periods. Brouwer, Stastny and Steen all play around 19 minutes in said game.

Example 3 - In a game they are up 5-0 after 2 periods, Petro plays over 26 minutes and Steen plays 19 minutes.

Compare these to DeBoer - SJ up 3-0 after 2 periods and Burns plays less than 22.5 and no forward has more than 17 minutes.

SJ up 4-1 after 2 periods and Burns playes 23.5 and no forward plays more than 17.5

Minute management is a problem with Hitch and I would suggest is wears on players.
- Jason Millen

All great points. Ironic that you pointed this out, listening to Hitch's post game on XM this morning.

Question asked - was the team worn down and out of gas?

Answer - the team wasn't but certain players were worn down, yes. He pointed to their inability to close out previous series' early and get the needed rest. But this list shows the coaching staff's culpability in this as well.

Players made bad puck decisions at critical times late in periods and made lazy plays that come from fatigue.


Add to this his bizarre used of time outs.

Sharks IMO were the better team, clear cut. They were the better team in five of the six games. I saw the Blues the same way I saw the Stars in the previous series - never really a point where they were in control of the series, only hanging on for as long as possible in the hopes something good would happen.

Goaltending also betrayed the Blues in the series. For all the importance placed on scoring first (team to score first won every game) both Allen and Elliot gave up soft first goals early in the decisive games to put their team behind.

I would bet a bag of donuts that neither goal tender's save percentage was above .900 for the series.

All great points. Ironic that you pointed this out, listening to Hitch's post game on XM this morning.

Question asked - was the team worn down and out of gas?

Answer - the team wasn't but certain players were worn down, yes. He pointed to their inability to close out previous series' early and get the needed rest. But this list shows the coaching staff's culpability in this as well.

Players made bad puck decisions at critical times late in periods and made lazy plays that come from fatigue.


Add to this his bizarre used of time outs.

Sharks IMO were the better team, clear cut. They were the better team in five of the six games. I saw the Blues the same way I saw the Stars in the previous series - never really a point where they were in control of the series, only hanging on for as long as possible in the hopes something good would happen.

Goaltending also betrayed the Blues in the series. For all the importance placed on scoring first (team to score first won every game) both Allen and Elliot gave up soft first goals early in the decisive games to put their team behind.

I would bet a bag of donuts that neither goal tender's save percentage was above .900 for the series.
- bcallaway

True but Thornton and co. made it a lot harder on our goalies than the Blues ever made it on Jones. Allen may have lost us game 5 but I don't think Jones is any better at stopping pucks than Elliott.

All great points. Ironic that you pointed this out, listening to Hitch's post game on XM this morning.

Question asked - was the team worn down and out of gas?

Answer - the team wasn't but certain players were worn down, yes. He pointed to their inability to close out previous series' early and get the needed rest. But this list shows the coaching staff's culpability in this as well.

Players made bad puck decisions at critical times late in periods and made lazy plays that come from fatigue.


Add to this his bizarre used of time outs.

Sharks IMO were the better team, clear cut. They were the better team in five of the six games. I saw the Blues the same way I saw the Stars in the previous series - never really a point where they were in control of the series, only hanging on for as long as possible in the hopes something good would happen.

Goaltending also betrayed the Blues in the series. For all the importance placed on scoring first (team to score first won every game) both Allen and Elliot gave up soft first goals early in the decisive games to put their team behind.

I would bet a bag of donuts that neither goal tender's save percentage was above .900 for the series.
- bcallaway

It was a great run but it sucks to have it end so badly

I would expect some major changes as far as veterans on this team next year

Will they have a new coach? I think so

Will Backes be back? Probably but hopefully not at over $6 million

Will Brouwer be back? Doubtful

Brodziak and Upshall should be retained

Move on from Ott

Trade Shattenkirk at the draft

Try and trade Bo and Berglund to bring in younger pieces

Schwartz Lehtera Tarasenko
Fabbri Statsny backes
Steen Barbashev ?
Upshall Brodziak Jaskin
Reaves
Paajarvi

Pietro ?
Parayko Gunnar
? Edmundson

Allen
Elliott

It was a great run but it sucks to have it end so badly

I would expect some major changes as far as veterans on this team next year
- sycsam

Knowing Doug Armstrong - I think Hitchcock will be back if he wants to come back. I don't think DA pulls the plug.

Shattenkirk has probably played his last.

I doubt you can get anyone to take Bouwmeester off your hands, but he is a tremendous liability as a first pair defender.

Petro might become a world class defenseman if he didn't have such a horrible partner. Both are much too soft to be together.

Brouwer should be a bigger priority in the offseason than Backes.

Sharks and Blues are very similar. Both teams had a core of players that were notorious playoff failures, but rather than blow things up, they added ingredients until they got the right mix.

Blues should continue to invest in the younger core group without necessarily blowing up the older core.

Knowing Doug Armstrong - I think Hitchcock will be back if he wants to come back. I don't think DA pulls the plug.

Shattenkirk has probably played his last.

I doubt you can get anyone to take Bouwmeester off your hands, but he is a tremendous liability as a first pair defender.

Petro might become a world class defenseman if he didn't have such a horrible partner. Both are much too soft to be together.

Brouwer should be a bigger priority in the offseason than Backes.

Sharks and Blues are very similar. Both teams had a core of players that were notorious playoff failures, but rather than blow things up, they added ingredients until they got the right mix.

Blues should continue to invest in the younger core group without necessarily blowing up the older core.
- bcallaway

Anyone know if Barbashev will be ready next year?

What is the realisticv return for Shatty?

I am sure we can get someone to take Bo just a matter of what we want back?

Could you guys see a Pietro Edmundson top pairing next year?

Pietro finesse and Edmundson brings the nasty

The more I think on it the sadder I get

I hope this isn't the best we see from the blues

I don't think it will be

The central is so insane so to get out of that division was an accomplishment

It wont get any easier next year

Anyone know if Barbashev will be ready next year?

What is the realisticv return for Shatty?

I am sure we can get someone to take Bo just a matter of what we want back?

Could you guys see a Pietro Edmundson top pairing next year?

Pietro finesse and Edmundson brings the nasty
- sycsam

I liked the way Edmundson played with Petro earlier in the year, but I don't know if he'll be ready to take over as the top pairing D, he still has a lot of learning and development to go through.

I don't post very often, but I've read the comments every day for the past few years. Hope to join in more moving forward. Thanks for the thoughtful discussions, to think how far this team has come in the past few years is amazing. Another few tweaks and we're right there.

The biggest concern right now is the #2 and #3 dman spots. Bo played really well at times, but had too many lapses to say he played well. For Shatty, this is a playoff he'd like to forget. Those 2 really hurt other aspects of team: the goaltending will look awful when 2 of the 3 best dmen are playing poorly, the offense isn't as creative without 22 playing well, and 27 can't play his game as effectively if Bo isn't playing the physical game we saw for a good part of the season.

The other concerns stem from the coach/system moving forward. Another year of Hitch, and I'd like to see another body willing to park in front of the net. Without Hitch, a more creative player is needed: the system was too predictable.

In goal, I'm leaning toward buy low, sell high on Elliott, but he and Jake have a good thing going. The Husso signing makes things interesting. He has the potential to be the best goalie in the system.

I am interested in what they do with goaltending.

IMO, if Allen isn't your guy going forward, trade him now while he still has value. We have a log jam of young goalies who look to be ready for a cup of coffee.

They can't all be in the AHL unless you are loaning then to other teams.

Binnington, Copley, Nilsson, Husso

Husso should be in the AHL next season. I'm excited about him. He didn't really play much after acquiring him, but I am intrigued with Nilsson and think he could be the backup next year.

Do they move Elliott or Allen? I don't think they just stick with goaltending as is.

(Sorry if I spelled any of them wrong. Not really interested in looking them up right now)

The more I think on it the sadder I get

I hope this isn't the best we see from the blues

I don't think it will be

The central is so insane so to get out of that division was an accomplishment

It wont get any easier next year
- sycsam

youneverknow

No guarantee you can ever get back to this point again. It's a tough road. Fifteen year gaps between the last two trips.

But they fought off the first round failures of the past. They know more about what commitment it takes to win it all.

They put together a great run that should be a financial benefit going forward.

A lot to be optimistic about.

youneverknow

No guarantee you can ever get back to this point again. It's a tough road. Fifteen year gaps between the last two trips.

But they fought off the first round failures of the past. They know more about what commitment it takes to win it all.

They put together a great run that should be a financial benefit going forward.

A lot to be optimistic about.
- bcallaway

I look at it like when the Hawks lost to Detroit in 2009 it was a big step for that franchise

The blues are not the hawks of 2010 by any stretch of the imagination but they can be good for a while for sure