Dr.Sens(e)
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With the season now complete for the St. Louis Blues and 24 others HFNHL franchises, the Blues faxed out a confidential trade list to every HFNHL franchise with the intent of making several moves, ideally in advance of free agency.
While the premature exit of the President Trophy winners is undoubtedly part of the reason for the significant change mandate, more important is the fact the Blues are well over the 2008-2009 salary cap and simply must shed salary before next season. As such, the Blues are looking to exchange these players with less costly replacements, with younger players preferred. That said, there is no specific profile or target in mind, other than the exchange of solid and similar value on both sides.
Inquiries should be sent to [email protected] or via msn at [email protected].
ON THE BLOCK
Marty Turco
HFNHL Rating: At 83 OV, Turco is the 4th highest rated goalie in the HFNHL behind only Brodeur (87), Luongo (85) and Kipper (84). Say what you will about his HFNHL playoff jinx, but who ever gives him a fresh start will undoubtedly get an elite goalie for years to come. He has led the HFNHL in GAA for the past three consecutive seasons.
Contract: Turco signed a 4 year x $4.5 million extension with the Blues this season – an extremely reasonable contract for the HFNHL’s 4th best rated goalie. If Turco is traded, the Blues will pay the trade penalty to Turco for moving him before next year’s trade deadline.
Rating Changes: Turco had another great year in Dallas, culminating with the trade of the Stars goalie of the future, Mike Smith, to Tampa Bay. He is the Stars unquestioned goalie going forward and given he is only 32 years old (prime for a goalie), he should be an elite HFNHL goalie for the duration of his new contract. This is also the second straight year (thus far anyway) that Turco has played well in the NHL playoffs (again, NHL, not HFNHL).
Rod Brind’Amour
HFNHL Rating: Brind’Amour is the perfect #1 center for a team looking to take that next step up power rankings. At 83 OV, Brind’Amour is tied as the 5th highest rated center in the league with Sundin and behind only Crosby, Thornton, Lecavalier and Sakic. In fact, Brind’Amour is in some ways the ultimate fantasy center. Not only did he just fall short of leading the Blues in scoring (a late surge by Thornton) and finish in the top 10 in league scoring despite playing on the Blues 2nd line, he is a special teams dynamo, as he tied for the league lead in PP goals (from the 2nd unit no less), while spearheading the Blues to the top rated PK unit in the league. Check out his HFNHL scoring history, as you will this was no anomaly. He is a fantasy beast year in and year out. Besides the production, Brind’Amour has been the top defensive rated forward in the league for a few years now and that will likely continue next year.
Contract: Brind’Amour just signed a 4 year x $4 million extension with the Blues, a more than reasonable deal given in the HFNHL, he is quite simply one of the biggest impact players. Despite his late season injury in the NHL leading to 20 missed games late in the season, Brind’Amour played a minimum 78 games for the three previous seasons and his durability and physical fitness are legendary. If Brind’Amour is traded, the Blues will pay the trade penalty for moving him before next year’s trade deadline.
Rating Changes: Before the late season injury, Brind’Amour was on pace for this third consecutive 70+ point season and his two year ppg will be the same next year as it was this year. That, and he was his usual two-way force. Given his durable history, his DU rating should not be materially affected (he has cumulatively missed less than 30 games in 4 years). And it was no coincidence that following his injury, Carolina ultimately fell out of a playoff spot in the NHL.
Jamie Langenbrunner
HFNHL Rating: With a 78 OV, Langenbrunner is a solid first line winger, or a terrific second line winger. He has solid offence numbers and can fit into several different roles, be it on the 1st or 2nd units, in addition to special teams. He had no individual rating below 69, which is extremely rare.
Contract: Langenbrunner signed a 3 year x $2.8 million extension this season. If Langenbrunner is traded, the Blues will pay the trade penalty for moving him before next year’s trade deadline.
Rating Changes: Langenbrunner missed a few games early in the year with offseason wrist surgery, but was on the same ppg clip as the past two seasons. For the past two years, he has also become a staple on point of the Devils 1st unit PP, and this will ensure solid ppg numbers in the years ahead.
Kris Draper
HFNHL Rating: With a 76 OV and an 80 DF rating, Draper remains one of the elite checking centers in the league and with a Selke Trophy and multiple nominations for the award; he will remain an elite checking center in the HFNHL for those two years to be sure. The Blues checking line was arguably their best unit down the stretch and into the playoffs and he helped the Blues as their shutdown center considerably, with the team finishing with best defence and PK in the league.
Contract: Draper has two years remaining at $2 million per year.
Rating Changes: Draper had another solid defensive year, and while missing a few games through the year, posted similar ppg as in past. His rating should be basically the same next year.
Dany Heatley (will entertain offers, but less inclined to trade Dany)
Rating: With an 84 OV and an 89 SC, Heater will once again be one of the highest rated scoring forwards in the league. Given he is only 27 years and his prime and will be playing with Alfredsson and Spezza for the next few years (they are all signed long-term), there is no reason to see why he won’t continue to produce elite numbers in the years to come.
Contract: The Blues signed Heatley to a 4 year x $6.75 contract this offseason. Given he was a pending RFA, Heatley is free to be traded without penalty.
Rating Changes: While Heatley missed a handful of games this season, his point and goal pace were similar to past years, as he once again averaged well over a point a game and was close to a 50 goal clip (47 this season to be exact) and simply a staple as one the NHL’s elite scorers. This season, Heater also posted the 2nd highest +/- in the league. Following two 50 goal campaigns, Heatley is the most consistent goal scorer in the league over the last three seasons.
While these players may be the focus of preliminary talks, there really is no untouchable player on the Blues roster.
While the premature exit of the President Trophy winners is undoubtedly part of the reason for the significant change mandate, more important is the fact the Blues are well over the 2008-2009 salary cap and simply must shed salary before next season. As such, the Blues are looking to exchange these players with less costly replacements, with younger players preferred. That said, there is no specific profile or target in mind, other than the exchange of solid and similar value on both sides.
Inquiries should be sent to [email protected] or via msn at [email protected].
ON THE BLOCK
Marty Turco
HFNHL Rating: At 83 OV, Turco is the 4th highest rated goalie in the HFNHL behind only Brodeur (87), Luongo (85) and Kipper (84). Say what you will about his HFNHL playoff jinx, but who ever gives him a fresh start will undoubtedly get an elite goalie for years to come. He has led the HFNHL in GAA for the past three consecutive seasons.
Contract: Turco signed a 4 year x $4.5 million extension with the Blues this season – an extremely reasonable contract for the HFNHL’s 4th best rated goalie. If Turco is traded, the Blues will pay the trade penalty to Turco for moving him before next year’s trade deadline.
Rating Changes: Turco had another great year in Dallas, culminating with the trade of the Stars goalie of the future, Mike Smith, to Tampa Bay. He is the Stars unquestioned goalie going forward and given he is only 32 years old (prime for a goalie), he should be an elite HFNHL goalie for the duration of his new contract. This is also the second straight year (thus far anyway) that Turco has played well in the NHL playoffs (again, NHL, not HFNHL).
Rod Brind’Amour
HFNHL Rating: Brind’Amour is the perfect #1 center for a team looking to take that next step up power rankings. At 83 OV, Brind’Amour is tied as the 5th highest rated center in the league with Sundin and behind only Crosby, Thornton, Lecavalier and Sakic. In fact, Brind’Amour is in some ways the ultimate fantasy center. Not only did he just fall short of leading the Blues in scoring (a late surge by Thornton) and finish in the top 10 in league scoring despite playing on the Blues 2nd line, he is a special teams dynamo, as he tied for the league lead in PP goals (from the 2nd unit no less), while spearheading the Blues to the top rated PK unit in the league. Check out his HFNHL scoring history, as you will this was no anomaly. He is a fantasy beast year in and year out. Besides the production, Brind’Amour has been the top defensive rated forward in the league for a few years now and that will likely continue next year.
Contract: Brind’Amour just signed a 4 year x $4 million extension with the Blues, a more than reasonable deal given in the HFNHL, he is quite simply one of the biggest impact players. Despite his late season injury in the NHL leading to 20 missed games late in the season, Brind’Amour played a minimum 78 games for the three previous seasons and his durability and physical fitness are legendary. If Brind’Amour is traded, the Blues will pay the trade penalty for moving him before next year’s trade deadline.
Rating Changes: Before the late season injury, Brind’Amour was on pace for this third consecutive 70+ point season and his two year ppg will be the same next year as it was this year. That, and he was his usual two-way force. Given his durable history, his DU rating should not be materially affected (he has cumulatively missed less than 30 games in 4 years). And it was no coincidence that following his injury, Carolina ultimately fell out of a playoff spot in the NHL.
Jamie Langenbrunner
HFNHL Rating: With a 78 OV, Langenbrunner is a solid first line winger, or a terrific second line winger. He has solid offence numbers and can fit into several different roles, be it on the 1st or 2nd units, in addition to special teams. He had no individual rating below 69, which is extremely rare.
Contract: Langenbrunner signed a 3 year x $2.8 million extension this season. If Langenbrunner is traded, the Blues will pay the trade penalty for moving him before next year’s trade deadline.
Rating Changes: Langenbrunner missed a few games early in the year with offseason wrist surgery, but was on the same ppg clip as the past two seasons. For the past two years, he has also become a staple on point of the Devils 1st unit PP, and this will ensure solid ppg numbers in the years ahead.
Kris Draper
HFNHL Rating: With a 76 OV and an 80 DF rating, Draper remains one of the elite checking centers in the league and with a Selke Trophy and multiple nominations for the award; he will remain an elite checking center in the HFNHL for those two years to be sure. The Blues checking line was arguably their best unit down the stretch and into the playoffs and he helped the Blues as their shutdown center considerably, with the team finishing with best defence and PK in the league.
Contract: Draper has two years remaining at $2 million per year.
Rating Changes: Draper had another solid defensive year, and while missing a few games through the year, posted similar ppg as in past. His rating should be basically the same next year.
Dany Heatley (will entertain offers, but less inclined to trade Dany)
Rating: With an 84 OV and an 89 SC, Heater will once again be one of the highest rated scoring forwards in the league. Given he is only 27 years and his prime and will be playing with Alfredsson and Spezza for the next few years (they are all signed long-term), there is no reason to see why he won’t continue to produce elite numbers in the years to come.
Contract: The Blues signed Heatley to a 4 year x $6.75 contract this offseason. Given he was a pending RFA, Heatley is free to be traded without penalty.
Rating Changes: While Heatley missed a handful of games this season, his point and goal pace were similar to past years, as he once again averaged well over a point a game and was close to a 50 goal clip (47 this season to be exact) and simply a staple as one the NHL’s elite scorers. This season, Heater also posted the 2nd highest +/- in the league. Following two 50 goal campaigns, Heatley is the most consistent goal scorer in the league over the last three seasons.
While these players may be the focus of preliminary talks, there really is no untouchable player on the Blues roster.
