St. Louis Blues: Free Agents To Consider Part 1
By Todd Panula
With the NHL free agency period set to open one month from now, we’re going to look at potential options over the next few weeks for the St. Louis Blues. Each week we’ll explore three different options.
Free agency is a time of excitement for many, a time of dread for a few and a time to deal with the unknown. That time is fast approaching for the St. Louis Blues. Now that they’ve settled on their coaching situation, it’s time to look at players.
There is no real way of telling what the future holds for the team. If the Blues find a way to bring back all their own players, there may be no room for new faces both roster wise and in terms of salary cap.
Nevertheless, we’re going to take a look at players the Blues could sign if we look at in a vacuum. Each time, we’re going to take a look at a player that would be a good fit, a player they could sign but people would ask why and a player that is a pipe dream.
Pipe Dream – Johnny Gaudreau
Believe it or not, the young star from the Calgary Flames, Johnny Gaudreau is a free agent this summer. Taking a little more spice out of the equation is the fact that he’s a restricted free agent.
That means, even if the Blues or any other team tries to throw a suitcase full of cash his way, the Flames have the right to match it.
The biggest issue facing the Blues signing him is the amount it’s going to take. He has only played two full seasons, but has made such an impact that he is going to make a huge amount.
His cap hit over the last three years was $925,000. Given his point production and age, he stands to make Vladimir Tarasenko kind of money.
In his first season in the NHL, he scored 24 goals and had 64 points. In his second season he scored 30 goals and had 78 points. Take into consideration that was all with a less than stellar cast in Calgary.
The reason he’s a pipe dream, besides just the money that the Blues cannot afford, is the Flames will never let him go. Even with the reported weak Canadian dollar, there just isn’t a way the Flames can afford to let him go. It would be as crazy as the Blues letting Tarasenko walk before signing him to his extension.
So, the likelihood of Gaudreau going anywhere is south of zero. Even so, it’s nice to dream. Imagine the trouble defenders would have containing a line with Gaudreau and Robby Fabbri or the goals that would be scored with Johnny Hockey and Tarasenko together.
Sure you could, but why? – John-Michael Liles
If the Blues decide to trade Kevin Shattenkirk (presumably for what could be a net loss to gain salary), then John-Michael Liles could fill the void. The key word there is could.
When at his peak, Liles was on par or maybe a step up from Shattenkirk. His peak is far in the rear-view mirror though.
Liles was one of the premier offensive defensemen in the league during his time with the Colorado Avalanche. It was all downhill with the Toronto Maple Leafs after that. There was a brief rebound with the Carolina Hurricanes, but it wasn’t long lived.
Liles averaged just south of 40 points per season with the Avs, but fell off the face of the Earth after that. Every season he has played after leaving Colorado has seen him score 27 points or less.
He hasn’t scored double digit goals since 2008-09. He’s only played a full season once since 2007-08. He’s also 35 and will turn 36 early in the coming season.
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The Blues could sign him to add a veteran presence on the blueline. He only cost $2.75 million and is likely to cost less going forward given his age and declining production.
The Blues could sign him, but why? He isn’t likely to provide much more than some of the players the Blues could potentially bring up through their system. He isn’t going to cost much, but guys like Petteri Lindbohm, Jani Hakanpaa or Jordan Schmaltz would be even cheaper.
Option that makes sense – Jakub Voracek
Jakub Voracek is likely to make around the same money as David Backes, but might take a little less if he thought the Blues were close to a Cup. They are closer than the Philadelphia Flyers, so that could play in St. Louis’ favor.
Some will ask why spend the money on someone else if it could be spent on Backes. This isn’t advocating for that or against it, just presenting an option.
Voracek has put up good numbers in his career. He’s averaged 53 points per season and 17 goals. Backes has averaged 46 points per year, but has the edge in goals by averaging close to 21.
Voracek is a similar size to Backes. Backes is currently listed at 6’3 and 221 lbs, while Vrbata is listed at 6’2 and 214 lbs. Vrbata is also five years younger.
The downside of Voracek is a lack of playoff experience. He’s been to the playoffs four times and only scored double digit points once. That is true of Backes as well though, even though he’s been to the playoffs two more years.
Again, this isn’t advocating signing Voracek instead of Backes or even Troy Brouwer. However, it is unknown what those players want. Voracek is younger and might be hooked by the lure of playing for a team that just made the conference finals as opposed to a team that missed the playoffs.
The money would cost about the same, but the Blues would be gaining a younger player. He’s not as physical as the Blues’ options already on the team, but you’d be bringing him in for point production.
Final look
With the Blues’ financial constraints and the unknown quantities already on their roster that many would like to see return, it’s unclear if any of these players would actually be brought in.
Gaudreau is just a dream since there is no chance Calgary would let him go without their fans burning down the city. Liles just doesn’t make sense to bring in at this point in his career even though he’s not a terrible puck mover. Voracek is a younger version of some of the players they already have, but has a bit more offensive potential for longer.
Next: Monday Matchup: Bring Back Backes or Brouwer?
Voracek is the player out of that trio that would make the most sense to bring in if the Blues have to look out of house. Time will tell.
We will continue to explore the Blues’ options in the coming days and weeks. Stay tuned.