If the Blues get routed in the first round or don’t make the playoffs, I think huge changes may be in order. I haven’t thought about it until now, but ROR could be on the table, especially with no NTC. He’ll be 32 for his next payday, and I would have to imagine he’d be looking for a 6+ year deal, which I don’t think DA would do unless the AAV starts with a 5, which I don’t think ROR would do.
Kyrou could also be a prime blockbuster trade candidate; salary considerations would make it difficult, however, unless other players (see above, for example) would also be on their way out or he’s traded for similar player on their ELC or their bridge contract.
I don’t see this team looking substantially the same next year if we don’t make the playoffs or aren’t at least competitive, but it’s more likely that those changes would be limited to VT being traded for a LHD.
Nonetheless, the ROR situation is one to watch, IMO. DA has shown that he’s not afraid to turn the page on existing captains, though he hasn’t yet traded one.
ROR is such a tricky case. We clearly need more from him. He has been physically slowing down the past few years and this year is the year where his stats are starting to reflect that.
He is due a contract extension after next season. He is on the presumed downswing of his career based on age. He will likely want better money and term, assuming he doesn’t continue to slide statistically. We already have too many contracts taking guys significantly past their anticipated primes / productive cap value. Cap breathing room is in short supply and we have significant holes to fill / re-ups coming.
He plays the way we want our players to emulate. It’s tough to find guys that play like him. I think Thomas benefited from ROR being on our team and would continue to learn how to be a great two-way player under his mentorship. It will be very hard to find a shutdown center that can also point, unless we can see another large step by Thomas.
If we were not locked in on so many long-term, plus age contracts, I would be more skewed towards keeping him. But, that’s not the case and we have too many NTCs to easily retool.
A ROR return could make a pretty big difference in a heavy retool.
Conversely, next year is probably our best chance for a Cup for a while, baring a heavy retooling of our roster. So, do you keep ROR for next year in hopes that you can catch a second wind and strike gold again?
We have to look at this beyond just ROR too. Is Perron in or out? Can we move on from Scandella without parting with high quality assets? Is Binnington or Husso here or gone? What LHD can we bring in? What younger players are out there for a retool given what assets we have and can move?
It’s certainly complicated and creative moves should be considered. I am not sure conventional thinking gets this turned around from a personnel standpoint.
Kyrou is not getting traded.
