The St. Louis Blues lost out on the playoffs on the very final day of the regular season, losing to Colorado in what was essentially a play-in game. That came after the team decided to trade away Paul Stastny at the deadline, instead of bringing in some help for a team that was struggling at the time. Though that criticism has to be leveled at the front office, they now sit in a position to prepare even more for next season.
In today’s 31 Thoughts column by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, he notes that the expectation is that the Blues will be an “aggressive trade partner” this summer. He’s not the only one who has heard that, as Lou Korac of NHL.com also tweeted yesterday that the team has made it clear they will be “active” in the offseason. Quoting GM Doug Armstrong, Korac added that acquiring the first round pick in return for Stastny “allows [the Blues] to get back in the trade market.”
That first round pick of course could replace the outgoing selection that they used to acquire Brayden Schenn at the draft last year, though it is top-10 protected should they win one of the lottery selections. The team’s potential trade assets don’t end there.
With a glut of young forward prospects, St. Louis could easily be one of the most interesting teams to watch this summer. Robert Thomas, Jordan Kyrou, Klim Kostin, Tage Thompson, Erik Foley and others could all be legitimate key pieces to dangle in trade, meaning an overhaul could be completed if they decide that 2018-19 is the year they want to “go for it.”
There is also a school of thought that would send them in the opposite direction, and rely on those young players to fill the gap after trading off some current NHL assets. Patrik Berglund and Vladimir Sobotka had disappointing seasons, while Jay Bouwmeester, Carl Gunnarsson and Robert Bortuzzo are all entering the final year before unrestricted free agency. The team could be just as “active” selling off pieces to backfill with their young prospects, and could potentially be a better team even in the short term.
Whatever the Blues do, it’s clear that Armstrong won’t sit on his hands this summer. The team is too talented, and has too many star players right in their prime to just wait around and hope for better results. While the goaltending issue is a decision that has to be made quickly, the rest of the roster isn’t far behind.
Armstrong will get it done. Parayko, first rounder an elite prospect for power forward. Blues win cup 2019
Ladies and Gentleman my name is PAUL HEYMAN and if you think Doug Armstrong has done the blues good, your wrong in my opinion. Doug Armstrong hopefully won’t be gm when the blues win the cup. I understand wanting to get young guys for the AHL, but trading stastny pretty much killed our playoff chances along with other players injuries. I’ll be surprised if we sign a good FA this offseason, let alone get a good player in a trade. The worst thing the blues did was give this guy an extension. I think the 2016 playoffs were the best chance to getting close to the cup. I think if we have a chance to get Tavares we better do it, maybe trade for Karlson or maybe multiple good players.
Hey PH just remember 2016 Armstrong was our GM as well. Was Armstrong on power play or causing so many injuries. I understand not wasting any assets for a rental and going only first or second round and face it this team wasn’t 2016. This coming year will be Armstrong’s chance. PH were you a fan of the Mike Keenan years those were the best years for a cup and HE blew it up. Stop complaining for a firing that doesn’t solve the issue!
Armstrong is a very confused GM. Giving up first rounders for forwards, just to give up forwards for a “worse” first round. Then state that you are willing to deal again…most likely for forwards? In the meantime…defense is getting older and slower by the day as he ejects his strengths. Which means goaltending gets worse and worse. Good thing he had confidence in his team “not” making the playoffs this year. Because it could have been that close (inject defence depth as apposed to eject forward depth). Good thing he has this years draft puck protected…just so he can lose a better pick from a worse year next year lol.
Older defense? Dunn rookie, Edmundson rookie years still rfa, Paryako just signed last year his first nhl deal out of rfa so he young. Outside of Bo and Gunner they been filled with younger guys. BUT they do need I think a in prime guy like Karlson.
They need a top lined guy like Tavares, we are loaded with 3rd liners. The top six only 3 are true top liners.
No you’re right…I was thinking about that after I sent. I was thinking about top 4 defence maybe needing to be a little younger, but not rookie young. Guess Pietrangelo isn’t all that old lol. It just feels like there isn’t really any between with their defence. Either too old or too young yet. Everyone needs that elite player…which they have. The Tank and Pietrangelo are high standards for sure. Can they afford another?? Is it time to get away from tandem goaltending to a stellar #1? They just seem to be in constant flux to me. Bring in a great forward just to get rid of a great forward. Get rid of a great defenceman to make way for a great defenceman. They are constantly moving pieces instead of trying to make that extra step. That’s just my oppiniated view lol.
I just start my standards with Poile lol. That guy knows how to lockup players. That guy knows how to add without subtracting lol. Guess if every GM was that good, then there would be no players available ever haha
I’ve heard this before that the Blues will be active in the offseason, but wait they typically don’t do anything major.