Anyone read this, [article by JR](https://theathletic.com/4500687/2023/05/09/connor-bedard-blues-armstrong-nhl-playoffs/)?
Seemed interesting to me and now I’m thinking Army is going to trade our two later picks if Dallas/Toronto go out this round for some younger players. He talks about how the 10th OA pick won’t be someone you build around but who will be apart of the building process.
Makes me think Army will flip those picks for young-ish players and build this team in a depth model like we have in the past.
Thoughts?
by IrateWeasel89
4 Comments
If he’s gonna do anything he’s gotta use em to fix our D. We can’t have 3/4 of our top pairings be ♿ on the ice every game.
Don’t know if it would take one or both later 1st rd picks, but I like the idea floated on the Last Minute Blues podcast of packaging a 1st as a sweetener for a team to take Krug off of our hands.
I like the idea IF we can get out of one of those bad defenseman contracts. If we can’t do that trading for a player and later trying to resign him seems impossible with the current cap situation.
I’m more concerned with how he thinks the Blues can be “right back in it” next year.
I like Vrana, Kapanen and Blais but are they going to be able to replace Tarasenko, O’Reilly and Barbashev’s role on the team? None of them are particularly note worthy in their own end, which was a big problem for us all year- no one good in their own end.
But yeah the defense hasn’t changed at all. How many of those guys need to go for the flaws of that group to be significantly lessened? At least 2? And them you have to bring in guys to replace them, guys who are good. If you trade, say, Parayko and then replace him with Severson, how much change has really happened?
The other thing that worries me a bit is that he’s talking about getting players that are 26/27 years old. In my mind he needs to be looking at players who are 23/24. Guys who if they work out have 5-6 years in their prime to help the team. It’s one thing to give up a 7th for 27 year old Vrana, but I’m not sure I want to trade a 1st for a player that old given it’s not a sure thing to me the Blues are right back in it next year. You don’t want too many guys who are key parts of your team being 29 right when the team is ready to start contending again (look at the Rangers)