Randall Ritchey: Fixing The Blues Hole At Center The St. Louis Blues have one main weakness in their roster, and it's a gaping hole at the center position. With a rotating door at center this season, the Blues have to find someone who can play a more offensive role that will allow David Backes play the shutdown role against opponents top lines.

Going to be very hard for St. Louis to match offers that Florida and Nashville make for Spezza.

what would we have to include besides spezza to get shattenkirk and schwartz?

what would we have to include besides spezza to get shattenkirk and schwartz?
- sensfanpei

Lazar

what would we have to include besides spezza to get shattenkirk and schwartz?
- sensfanpei

If you want Shartenkirk and Schwartz, you're going to have to gve up a lot more than you want. A lot more.

If you want Shartenkirk and Schwartz, you're going to have to gve up a lot more than you want. A lot more.
- Randall_Ritchey

shartenkirk? lol

seriously though what would you want for both

sam gagner
for
Patrick Berglund


we get the defensive center we so desperately need and you guys get a guy with much higher offensive upside.

with the size and defensive weaknesses in our top 6, I don't think gagner will ever be a good fit with us.
but I think he can thrive in the right situation. gagner could be a very good 2c surrounded by the blues size, attention to defence and work ethic

what would we have to include besides spezza to get shattenkirk and schwartz?
- sensfanpei

Schwartz and Taresenko have to be considered untouchable.

Stastny going to the Wild...

sam gagner
for
Patrick Berglund


we get the defensive center we so desperately need and you guys get a guy with much higher offensive upside.

with the size and defensive weaknesses in our top 6, I don't think gagner will ever be a good fit with us.
but I think he can thrive in the right situation. gagner could be a very good 2c surrounded by the blues size, attention to defence and work ethic
- hugefemale dog77

I am beginning to think you are SAMs agent

Lazar is a stud and our future captain, not to mention probably one of the biggest prospects in all of the sport. You're not going to get 2 top 6 centers for a 2nd pairing defenseman and a winger.

I am beginning to think you are SAMs agent
- VANTEL

for both his and the teams sake; he needs to go

Lazar is a stud and our future captain, not to mention probably one of the biggest prospects in all of the sport. You're not going to get 2 top 6 centers for a 2nd pairing defenseman and a winger.
- Fanman

Lazar's ceiling is at best the same as Schwartz's ceiling, but Schwartz has done a lot more to prove he'll get there, and has far more value for a team who's window is open now. Schwartz has more value to the Blues than Lazar.

Shattenkirk is one of the top 60 defenders in the league, he only plays second pairing because Blues are stacked on D. There is a reason he made the Olympic team over other "top pairing" guys like Eric Johnson. He has 3 years left on his contract, and has yet to enter his prime. Spezza is past his prime and a one year rental. Shattenkirk has more value to the Blues than Spezza.

You don't get a young top 6 forward and a young first pairing defenseman for a one year rental of a top 6 forward plus a blue-chip prospect. No one is untouchable in the league; but Schwartz is about as close as it gets.

Spezza doesn't have the defensive skills to play in the Top 6 of a Hitchcock coached team. He's not going to put up a ton of points when only getting the minutes Roy got last year, and that's exactly what would happen. Makes much more sense to bring Statsny back to his hometown, he'll actually fit in with this team.

Lazar's ceiling is at best the same as Schwartz's ceiling, but Schwartz has done a lot more to prove he'll get there, and has far more value for a team who's window is open now. Schwartz has more value to the Blues than Lazar.

Shattenkirk is one of the top 60 defenders in the league, he only plays second pairing because Blues are stacked on D. There is a reason he made the Olympic team over other "top pairing" guys like Eric Johnson. He has 3 years left on his contract, and has yet to enter his prime. Spezza is past his prime and a one year rental. Shattenkirk has more value to the Blues than Spezza.

You don't get a young top 6 forward and a young first pairing defenseman for a one year rental of a top 6 forward plus a blue-chip prospect. No one is untouchable in the league; but Schwartz is about as close as it gets.

Spezza doesn't have the defensive skills to play in the Top 6 of a Hitchcock coached team. He's not going to put up a ton of points when only getting the minutes Roy got last year, and that's exactly what would happen. Makes much more sense to bring Statsny back to his hometown, he'll actually fit in with this team.
- Antilles

Would be awfully expensive. Might have a good fit with Grabovski and a hell of a lot cheaper.

Stastny is the logical and probably most sensible choice, should he be available. He's certainly not going to a lesser team, and his window is closing too, if he wants to win a Cup. I don't see Nashville or Phoenix doing that in the next 6 years.

Spezza doesn't seem like an Armstrong player, and trading Schwartz or Shattenkirk individually for him would be a serious mistake, IMO. And the Blues system is dangerously thin in terms of upper echelon prospects--untold story is they haven't seemed to draft particularly well the last couple of years, so I question what exactly they have to make a trade other teams might want.

I also wonder about players playing out of position on the wing who could be centermen, guys like O'Reilly, who could be available if certain things happen with other players. Someone said Grabovski, he could be an interesting "Derek Roy-like" 1 year candidate.

Last comment, I see lots of negativity on Berglund, and think that could be a mistake. He's been frustrating with his numbers, I agree, but he's still only 26. I would rather keep such a guy, who fits in with his team really well, and hope he can raise his game still further, than gamble on a guy 4-6 or more years older clearly on the decline. Earlier this season, I saw a picture of Oshie and thought he didn't look like a boy anymore--and he had his finest overall season. Maybe Berglund will find a new level in the coming year like that.

Stastny is the logical and probably most sensible choice, should he be available. He's certainly not going to a lesser team, and his window is closing too, if he wants to win a Cup. I don't see Nashville or Phoenix doing that in the next 6 years.

Spezza doesn't seem like an Armstrong player, and trading Schwartz or Shattenkirk individually for him would be a serious mistake, IMO. And the Blues system is dangerously thin in terms of upper echelon prospects--untold story is they haven't seemed to draft particularly well the last couple of years, so I question what exactly they have to make a trade other teams might want.

I also wonder about players playing out of position on the wing who could be centermen, guys like O'Reilly, who could be available if certain things happen with other players. Someone said Grabovski, he could be an interesting "Derek Roy-like" 1 year candidate.

Last comment, I see lots of negativity on Berglund, and think that could be a mistake. He's been frustrating with his numbers, I agree, but he's still only 26. I would rather keep such a guy, who fits in with his team really well, and hope he can raise his game still further, than gamble on a guy 4-6 or more years older clearly on the decline. Earlier this season, I saw a picture of Oshie and thought he didn't look like a boy anymore--and he had his finest overall season. Maybe Berglund will find a new level in the coming year like that.
- Firebrand

Statsny is only 28, two and a half years older than Berglund. Berglund & Statsny aren't mutually exclusive, another reason Statsny is so attractive. Statsny signing would let Hitchcock experiment more with moving Berglund to LW while Sobotka centered the third line.

I'd love to get O'Reilly, but it's just unlikely this summer. Next summer seems very possible though. If he doesn't want to sign a long term extension, Avs options are: offer him a 1 year 6.5m deal; which he takes and becomes UFA next summer; file for arbitration, where he gets a one year deal and is UFA next summer; let him become a UFA this summer; or trades his rights before July 1 to a team faced with the same choices. If he does sign an extension, he's not moving; and if he doesn't and Avs try to trade him before July 1, they will want a lot more than the 1 year rental value they are actually trading; so not much chance of him this year.

Funny how Blues fans want all the Avs players lol. I think Stastny re-signs. Roy praised him all year and an upgrade on D is coming. Why would he want to leave this team now? He also said he would totally take a hometown discount. The whole O'Reilly thing is over a long time ago. Fans and everyone has forgotten about it, it's been a NON-issue all year and everyone loves ROR.

I hope the Blues play Jake Allen, they shouldn't have traded for Miller when you have Allen sitting there waiting. Spezza would be a great pickup but you'd probably have to give up a good D and maybe a 3rd or mid-range prospect. Scwartz and Shattenkirk aren't going anywhere lol. Well, I'd do it for Shea Weber but...

I'd take Cammalleri or Legwand over Grabovski.

Statsny is only 28, two and a half years older than Berglund. Berglund & Statsny aren't mutually exclusive, another reason Statsny is so attractive. Statsny signing would let Hitchcock experiment more with moving Berglund to LW while Sobotka centered the third line.

I'd love to get O'Reilly, but it's just unlikely this summer. Next summer seems very possible though. If he doesn't want to sign a long term extension, Avs options are: offer him a 1 year 6.5m deal; which he takes and becomes UFA next summer; file for arbitration, where he gets a one year deal and is UFA next summer; let him become a UFA this summer; or trades his rights before July 1 to a team faced with the same choices. If he does sign an extension, he's not moving; and if he doesn't and Avs try to trade him before July 1, they will want a lot more than the 1 year rental value they are actually trading; so not much chance of him this year.
- Antilles

take vinny...please..for a mid round pick...

Funny how Blues fans want all the Avs players lol. I think Stastny re-signs. Roy praised him all year and an upgrade on D is coming. Why would he want to leave this team now? He also said he would totally take a hometown discount. The whole O'Reilly thing is over a long time ago. Fans and everyone has forgotten about it, it's been a NON-issue all year and everyone loves ROR.

I hope the Blues play Jake Allen, they shouldn't have traded for Miller when you have Allen sitting there waiting. Spezza would be a great pickup but you'd probably have to give up a good D and maybe a 3rd or mid-range prospect. Scwartz and Shattenkirk aren't going anywhere lol. Well, I'd do it for Shea Weber but...

I'd take Cammalleri or Legwand over Grabovski.
- HKYNT

Not all of them. Pretty much the same 5 forwards every team would want, though you actually only have contracts with 3 of them. The fact ROR is loved doesn't change the reality of his contract situation. As in: he doesn't have one, and until he does you would have to offer him a 6.5m one year contract to keep his rights. And you ask why would Statsny want to leave Colorado? For the same reasons free agents leave teams all the time. He can get more money elsewhere, he can have a better chance of winning elsewhere. Sure, he is quoting from the same script that Suter had his last year in Nashville, but it doesn't mean anything unless he actually signs a new contract. Until then, makes perfect sense to speculate about where he might end up.

take vinny...please..for a mid round pick...
- jmdodgeser4

No thanks. We might take Pronger though, hire him as an assistant coach or scout after this year. Of course, that would mean him retiring as a player... enjoy that cap hit!

Strange

Grabbo has a solid 2 way game for Hiitch's liking?
But he was too offensive for Carlyle's taste, Hitch is way more defensive.

Stastny would fit in nicely, but, what would the Blues pay?

sam gagner
for
Patrick Berglund


we get the defensive center we so desperately need and you guys get a guy with much higher offensive upside.

with the size and defensive weaknesses in our top 6, I don't think gagner will ever be a good fit with us.
but I think he can thrive in the right situation. gagner could be a very good 2c surrounded by the blues size, attention to defence and work ethic
- hugefemale dog77

Gagner's game would suffer in St Louis, Hitch puts collars on offensive players.

Lazar's ceiling is at best the same as Schwartz's ceiling, but Schwartz has done a lot more to prove he'll get there, and has far more value for a team who's window is open now. Schwartz has more value to the Blues than Lazar.

Shattenkirk is one of the top 60 defenders in the league, he only plays second pairing because Blues are stacked on D. There is a reason he made the Olympic team over other "top pairing" guys like Eric Johnson. He has 3 years left on his contract, and has yet to enter his prime. Spezza is past his prime and a one year rental. Shattenkirk has more value to the Blues than Spezza.

You don't get a young top 6 forward and a young first pairing defenseman for a one year rental of a top 6 forward plus a blue-chip prospect. No one is untouchable in the league; but Schwartz is about as close as it gets.

Spezza doesn't have the defensive skills to play in the Top 6 of a Hitchcock coached team. He's not going to put up a ton of points when only getting the minutes Roy got last year, and that's exactly what would happen. Makes much more sense to bring Statsny back to his hometown, he'll actually fit in with this team.
- Antilles

Hitchcock loved Spezza at the world championships

Hitch supposedly loved Derek Roy's play from a tournament too. He was a bust for the dollars paid. I just would rather not see my beloved team shell out big assets for a declining player who doesn't seem to entirely fit their style. We just did that and it failed miserably. Our cupboards are kind of bare now for more, IMO. The only good thing was freeing up Stewart's contract dollars for this season.

I think Stastny and Berglund could easily inhabit the same roster too. Personally, I see only Stastny as an upgrade at C over Bergie from the UFAs available, but if there's a RFA or other player you could work out a deal for, you have to consider it. I would be very happy with a 3rd line of Bergie/Sobotka/Jaskin.

Not all of them. Pretty much the same 5 forwards every team would want, though you actually only have contracts with 3 of them. The fact ROR is loved doesn't change the reality of his contract situation. As in: he doesn't have one, and until he does you would have to offer him a 6.5m one year contract to keep his rights. And you ask why would Statsny want to leave Colorado? For the same reasons free agents leave teams all the time. He can get more money elsewhere, he can have a better chance of winning elsewhere. Sure, he is quoting from the same script that Suter had his last year in Nashville, but it doesn't mean anything unless he actually signs a new contract. Until then, makes perfect sense to speculate about where he might end up.
- Antilles

The blues aren't any closer to winning then Colorado is.