- Jeremy Rutherford of St. Louis Post Dispatch: (mailbag) The Blues and RFA Jake Allen will take their time with a new deal. Rutherford doesn’t think that Allen will get more than Brian Elliott’s $2.5 million a year. Wouldn’t expect a long-term deal.
The Blues won’t be signing any free agents until a Vladimir Tarasenko’s deal gets done. If it drags on, they could miss out on some depth players.
It’s unlikely that they are interested in any bigger-named free agents. Any movement with their forwards will likely happen via a trade.The Blues have interest in trading back into the first round according to GM Doug Armstrong. Would likely be looking a forward if they get back into the first.
If the Oilers are still interested in trading Jordan Eberle, would think the Blues would be interested. Have not heard any talk about Phil Kessel around the Blues organization.
Barret Jackman makes a lot of sense for the Blackhawks.
As of a couple days ago, Armstrong still hadn’t heard from Vladimir Sobotka.
Patrik Berglund has a partial no-trade clause (six teams) with a no-trade clause kicking in on July 1st. Think that he does have some value and would be some interest.
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: There is the possibility the Blues will move one of their core players leading up to the draft.
“The age group of the Backeses and the Steens, they’re at the tail end of their peak window, but they’re still in that peak window. But the change is hopefully going to come from those younger players that I just described taking a larger bite of the team.”
Paul Stastny ended up being slotted out of their top-six last year due to the play of their top-two lines, but that may change next season.
“I just think that when Paul got here, he got injured very quickly, an injury he came back and played but he wasn’t at 100 percent,” Armstrong said. “Our team was wobbling and so Ken (Hitchcock) went back to the Backes-Steen-Oshie group. Obviously Lehtera-Tarasenko-Schwartz were a good line, so Paul just got slotted into a position not in our top six.
“It wasn’t out of lack of respect for Paul, it was because those other guys were playing well. Moving forward, Ken and I talked, and Paul’s got to be given that opportunity. Paul knows he needs to be a big part of our group and he wants that.”
