Free Agent Focus: St. Louis Blues
Free agency is now a little less than a month away from opening up and there are quite a few prominent players set to hit the open market while many teams have key restricted free agents to re-sign. Here is a breakdown of St. Louis’ free agent situation.
Key Restricted Free Agents: F Robby Fabbri – Things haven’t gone smoothly for Fabbri over the past few years, as he’s faced multiple injuries that have robbed him of all but 51 games since the end of the 2015-16 season. After scoring 18 goals and 37 points as a rookie, and starting his sophomore season on an even better pace, the Blues had big plans for their 2014 first-round pick.
Now, after two straight major knee surgeries and more than a year away from NHL action, it’s not clear where he sits in their future. It was obvious that if he was healthy he could help the team offensively, but negotiations this summer are not leaning in his favor. A short-term deal seems likely for a player that is both an injury risk and hopes to prove himself again in 2018-19.
D Joel Edmundson – The 2011 second-round pick has turned into quite the player for the Blues, and found himself logging more than 20 minutes a night this season while they dealt with injuries to Jay Bouwmeester and inconsistent play from Carl Gunnarsson and Robert Bortuzzo. The Blues have young Vince Dunn expected to make an even bigger contribution next season, but Edmundson could take another step forward as he enters his mid-twenties.
The 24-year old defenseman is coming off a two-year $2.1MM contract, and should earn more than that in just a single year on his next deal. If St. Louis believes he can be a core piece of their blue line for the coming years, there could be a long-term deal in order. He’ll turn 25 before July 1st, meaning a two-year contract takes him to unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2020.
Other RFAs: F Dmitrij Jaskin, F Oskar Sundqvist, F Nikita Soshnikov, D Jordan Schmaltz, F Justin Selman, F Beau Bennett, F Mackenzie MacEachern, D Thomas Vannelli, G Jordan Binnington, D Petteri Lindbohm
Key Unrestricted Free Agent: G Carter Hutton – The Blues moved out their most intriguing free agent at the deadline when they traded Paul Stastny to Winnipeg, but Hutton could prove to have an even bigger market. The 32-year old goaltender led the league with a .931 save percentage this season among netminders with at least 20 starts, and could be looking for an opportunity to play an even bigger role with a team.
Jake Allen didn’t do much this season to prove that he can handle a full-time starter workload, meaning the Blues will likely make every effort to re-sign Hutton this summer. For a player who has never earned more than $1.13MM in a single season though, you can bet he’s intrigued by the opportunity free agency presents.
Other UFAs: F Scottie Upshall, F Kyle Brodziak, F Wade Megan
Projected Cap Space: The Blues, like many teams this summer have plenty of room to work with under the cap. With Stastny and others coming off the books they’ll have somewhere around $18MM in cap space depending on where the upper limit lands and could be big players in the market.
The team has recently admitted that they’re on the lookout for an upgrade at center, and many have speculated that they could enter the John Tavares sweepstakes should the superstar center reach unrestricted free agency. With plenty of young talent coming through the system on cheap contracts, landing a big fish like Tavares is a reasonable target for GM Doug Armstrong to aim at—whether he’ll get there is a different story.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
St. Louis Blues Pursuing Top Centers This Summer
The St. Louis Blues decided to trade Paul Stastny at the deadline this year, despite still being within striking distance of the playoffs. That marked the second consecutive season that GM Doug Armstrong traded away a star on an expiring contract, after dealing Kevin Shattenkirk to the Washington Capitals in 2017. In doing so, and not re-signing Stastny to a contract extension they’ve left themselves with something of a hole up the middle for next season. After Brayden Schenn, the team doesn’t have a clear second-line center unless one of their young forwards comes in and impresses in camp, or someone like Alex Steen or Robby Fabbri is moved back to the position.
That’s where GM Doug Armstrong comes in, who recently spoke to Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com and confirmed that the team would be going after a center in trade or free agency. Armstrong’s been given the financial backing from ownership, and is on the lookout for some help up the middle:
We have Robert Thomas there, but is he ready to enter prime time as a second-line center? That’s a large chore to ask for a 19-year-old. Probably adding to our depth in the middle would be a goal. Alexander Steen has played center before, Robby Fabbri has played center before, Jaden Schwartz has played center before, so if we have to circle back in, and the players we’re looking at don’t hit free agency or choose different paths, we’d have to adjust to that. But I would say center ice would be an area we’d look to do something in. But like we are at the Draft, in free agency we’re always looking at good players.
The question that will invariably come up after answers like this is how aggressive the Blues will be when it comes to John Tavares. The New York Islanders superstar is the obvious choice for any center upgrade this summer, and St. Louis could afford to fit him into their salary structure. The team projects to have around $18MM of cap space depending on where exactly the upper limit lands, and though they have free agents of their own to re-sign they’re not locked into big-money contracts just yet.
If it’s not Tavares, then Zeisberger lists Joe Thornton, Stastny and Tyler Bozak as the center headliners on the free agent market this summer. Whether the Blues would have any interest in those three is unclear, but there is obviously a plan in place to improve the middle of the ice in some fashion.
It is interesting that Armstrong would mention Thomas, as he’s in the precarious situation that faces many top young players. Thomas won’t turn 19 until July 2nd, meaning that he can only play in the NHL or CHL next season, not the minor leagues. There’s no seasoning to be had for him in the AHL before assuming the second-line center role, meaning he would have to really impress the team in camp. That’s not impossible, as Thomas has taken huge steps forward since being selected 20th-overall last year, and could be ready to step into the lights of the NHL right away. More likely though is that the Blues go out and find another option, perhaps even one on a very short-term deal, to give Thomas and others another year of development.
Draft Day Trade Rumors: O’Reilly, Hoffman, Coyotes, Maple Leafs
Given the last-place finish of the Buffalo Sabres and the comments made by veteran leader Ryan O’Reilly at the end of the season, it would come as no surprise if the team was to trade away their best player not named Jack Eichel in an effort to build around Eichel and his fellow promising young players. Earlier today, TSN’s Darren Dreger spoke on the extensive demands that Buffalo GM Jason Botterill has for any return in an O’Reilly deal and, while he admitted that a deal is beginning to seem more likely, felt that it would take a lot of work for any team to make a fair offer in Botterill’s eyes. Dreger’s TSN colleague and The Athletic reporter Pierre LeBrun seems slightly more optimistic about the likelihood of a deal. LeBrun admits that O’Reilly likely wouldn’t mind returning to Buffalo, what with Casey Mittelstadt and Rasmus Dahlin likely in the fold next year and beyond, and the Sabres may not mind keeping him. However, LeBrun opines that if John Tavares re-signs with the New York Islanders prior to the NHL Draft, the top center on the free agent market will be Paul Stastny and many teams would prefer to search the trade market instead, where O’Reilly appears to be the top prize down the middle. Given the Sabres’ desire to add young pieces – picks and prospects – to develop alongside their new, young core, the draft would be the ideal time to strike on an O’Reilly trade. LeBrun goes so far as to say that the Montreal Canadiens have already discussed such a deal.
- Another player who LeBrun feels is primed to be dealt during or around the upcoming draft is Ottawa Senators forward Mike Hoffman. Hoffman was a frequent member of the rumor mill through the most recent NHL Trade Deadline, but remained in Ottawa, at least for the time being. LeBrun says that those rumors are back in full swing and that he feels Hoffman will be traded at the draft. The Senators are not trending in the right direction and could benefit from both the multi-piece return that Hoffman would command and a reprieve from his $5.18MM salary over the next two seasons. LeBrun notes that the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames were the top suitors for Hoffman at the deadline, but the St. Louis Blues and Florida Panthers were also among a plethora of teams pursuing a player who has flirted with 30 goals and 60 points for three years in a row.
- The Carolina Hurricanes and Vancouver Canucks have already been rumored to be listening on offers for their top ten picks in the upcoming draft; add the Arizona Coyotes to that list as well. LeBrun states that the team has contemplated offers and would consider moving up or down on draft day, depending on how the picks fall. LeBrun believes that GM John Chayka has already spoken with the Montreal Canadiens about a swap involving picks #3 and #5, in case the Habs feel they can get the top center in the draft, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, later on and if the ‘Yotes have a preferred choice between potential second overall picks Andrei Svechnikov and Filip Zadina. He also feels that there is a strong chance that they could trade down, given the depth of defensemen in the first round versus the desire of other teams to move up for top forwards. Look for Arizona to be busy on the draft floor later this month.
- Another team that could be making moves on draft day are the Toronto Maple Leafs. In a mailbag for The Athletic, Jame Mirtle says to expect new GM Kyle Dubas to trade down, perhaps even multiple times, during the draft. When Dubas ran the draft for the Leafs in 2015 he employed this strategy, seen far more often in the NFL than NHL. Dubas traded down twice in order to collect multiple picks in later rounds. In a draft that many feel has a significant drop-off in talent after the first 20-odd picks to a tier that encompasses the next 60 or so picks, if Toronto feels that they don’t have a surefire option at 25th overall, they could swap with a team who has a specific player in mind and potentially grab multiple player of similar caliber later on.
St. Louis Blues Hire Drew Bannister For AHL Coaching Role
The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds had a spectacular regular season in the OHL this year, losing just seven of 68 games in regulation and carrying five 30-goal scorers on the club. The head coach that is responsible for that outstanding season has been rewarded, as Drew Bannister is has been hired by the St. Louis Blues for their new AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. Bannister will take over the head coaching role after Eric Veilleux recently left the team and is now working in Halifax. Blues GM Doug Armstrong released this statement:
We are very excited to have Drew join our organization. He has proven himself over the past few seasons in the OHL and will be a perfect fit as we continue to develop our prospects through our affiliation with San Antonio.
Bannister actually grew up playing for the Greyhounds, before being drafted in the second round by the Tampa Bay Lightning and starting what would be a long professional career. Recording 30 points in 164 NHL games, he would eventually find himself travelling Europe playing in various leagues and countries. He came back as an assistant for the Owen Sound Attack, before quickly ascending to the head coaching position he’ll now be leaving.
For the Rampage, they start a new affiliation after previously being with the Colorado Avalanche. St. Louis, who didn’t have a primary AHL affiliate last year, will try to send the Rampage to another level with their glut of young prospects. Bannister, known for his development of young skilled players, will get a chance to work with prospects like Jordan Kyrou, Erik Foley, Klim Kostin and others before they end up in the NHL.
Paul Stastny Interested In Returning To St. Louis
Despite being shipped off at the trade deadline after four years with St. Louis, veteran center Paul Stastny said he would be open to returning to the St. Louis Blues during a radio interview on 590 The Fan in St. Louis.
Known to have loved his time in St. Louis, the 32-year-old supposedly thought long and hard before agreeing to waive his no-trade clause to go to the playoff-bound Winnipeg Jets. With the Blues struggling and unlikely to reach the playoffs, the team sent Stastny to the Jets for a 2018 first-round pick (the 29th overall pick), collegiate prospect Erik Foley, and a conditional fourth-round pick in 2020.
“Absolutely,” Stastny told Hockey Sense host Andy Strickland during the interview. “I don’t think I’ve closed the door on anything. I know it’s a business, getting older, you see it. I always keep everything open because you never know what’s going to happen.”
Stastny put up solid numbers with the Blues, posting 12 goals and 40 points in 63 games for the Blues before being dealt on Feb. 26. However, once with the Jets, he added another 13 points to his totals in 19 regular season games playing alongside Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers. Then in the playoffs, he took off, tallying six goals and 15 points in 17 games, leading the team to the Western Conference Finals.
While he enjoyed his time in Winnipeg and said it was worth it, Stastny also admitted it wasn’t easy to leave St. Louis.
“Trades are tough,” Stastny told Strickland. “I think when you’re so emotionally invested in a team and you think your an important part or your battling with the guys all year, you don’t expect that.”
While Winnipeg wouldn’t mind bringing Stastny back on a short-term deal, the Jets are going to be dealing with plenty of cap issues now they have to re-sign goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, defenseman Jacob Trouba and a number of other restricted free agents. St. Louis, however, who remains in need of help down the middle, could be a possible destination as well.
Of course with the need of centers throughout the league and Stastny likely being the second-best unrestricted free agent on the market (behind John Tavares), the veteran has quite a bit of leverage to score another big contract. While the Jets have indicated they would like to bring him back on a one or two-year deal to compete for a Stanley Cup, other teams would likely offer more years and more money. Would the Blues want to pay a big price to bring Stastny back? He just completed a four-year, $28MM deal. Desperate teams like the Montreal Canadiens might be willing to go quite high as they have the need and enough cap space to make it happen.
Despite Thin UFA Market, St. Louis May Be Better Off Holding Onto Jake Allen
Even though the free agent goalie market is rather thin, Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggests that the Blues should not try to use that to their advantage and look to move Jake Allen this summer. Allen struggled this past season, putting up the worst numbers of his career while Carter Hutton, a pending unrestricted free agent, thrived; his numbers were the best in the league. Even though Allen has a decent track record as a starter, St. Louis would be selling low if they were to move him now. Instead, it wouldn’t be surprising if they simply look to re-sign Hutton and run with the same tandem they’ve had for the past two years. However, they will have some competition for his services as Hutton should garner a lot of interest around the league if he makes it to the open market.
St. Louis Blues, New York Islanders Extend Partnership With ECHL Affiliates
The St. Louis Blues have announced a one-year extension to their affiliation with the ECHL’s Tulsa Oilers. The two organizations worked without the benefit of an AHL partner last season, something that will be remedied this year with the agreement between St. Louis and the San Antonio Rampage for the 2018-19 season and beyond. Oilers’ Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Rob Murray spoke highly of his arrangement with St. Louis:
Having been affiliated with the Blues over the years in both Alaska and Tulsa, I have become very familiar and comfortable with the management team in St. Louis. The partnership got off to a great start last season, as the players we received from St. Louis were key to our success. We’re excited to continue into next season, especially as the Blues begin their AHL affiliation in San Antonio.
Similarly, the New York Islanders have announced an extension with the Worcester Railers through the 2019-20 season. The Railers played their first season in the ECHL last year, going 37-27-8 while qualifying for the Kelly Cup playoffs. Unfortunately knocked out by the Adirondack Thunder in the first round, Worcester will come back with more Islanders prospects next year and try to continue the good start to their franchise.
St. Louis Blues Sign Niko Mikkola To Entry-Level Contract
The St. Louis Blues have signed one of their 2015 draft picks, inking defenseman Niko Mikkola to a two-year entry-level contract. Mikkola has spent the last few seasons playing at the highest level in Finland, but could now journey to North America to join the Blues organization.
Mikkola, 22, was selected in the fifth round of the 2015 draft but has quickly turned into an imposing presence in the Finnish Liiga. Standing 6’5″ he may be best remembered for being part of Finland’s 2016 World Junior gold medal club, where he was part of an excellent defensive corps that included Olli Juolevi, Sami Niku and Joni Tuulola. That team, led up front by Sebastian Aho, Jesse Puljujarvi and Patrik Laine (not to mention Kasperi Kapanen and Mikko Rantanen) was an unstoppable force that Mikkola part of.
It’s not clear what the Blues’ plans are for Mikkola next season, but there’s little doubt that he’s turned himself from late-round flyer to legitimate NHL prospect. Though never known as an offensive threat, his solid defensive play in Liiga should have St. Louis fans excited for what he could do in a similar role for their club down the road.
Todd Nelson, Mike Van Ryn Join NHL Coaching Staffs
Two top AHL coaches are leaving for the NHL, as reports have surfaced from Sean Shapiro and Jeremy Rutherford of The Athletic that Todd Nelson and Mike Van Ryn will be joining the Dallas Stars and St. Louis Blues respectively. Nelson had been the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings’ affiliate in Grand Rapids, while Van Ryn was the head coach of the Tucson Roadrunners, affiliate of the Arizona Coyotes.
Nelson took over from Jeff Blashill as head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2015, and led them to an AHL Calder Cup championship in his second season. Though the Griffins took a slight step backwards this season, they still posted their third straight 40+ win season under Nelson and made the playoffs. Knocked out by a tough Manitoba Moose squad in a five games, they’ll have to look for a new leader behind the bench to try and overcome their playoff disappointment.
Van Ryn, 39, finished his playing career in 2009 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and quickly moved into the coaching ranks. Spending time in both the OHL and AHL, he was given the head coaching job in Tucson last summer after previously serving as director of player development. Once a first-round pick of the New Jersey Devils, Van Ryn tallied quite a few successful seasons in the NHL before having his playing days cut short by injuries. Joining the Blues is the next step in a coaching career that seems destined for an NHL head coaching job eventually.
Blues Expected To Name Mike Van Ryn As An Assistant Coach
- The Blues are expected to add Mike Van Ryn to their coaching staff, reports Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link). He has spent the last two seasons with the Coyotes, serving as a development coach in 2016-17 and head coach of their AHL affiliate in Tucson this past season. The 39-year-old is no stranger to the St. Louis organization as he spent parts of three years with the team at the start of his career, playing in 69 total games with the Blues.