2019-2020 St. Louis Blues - Defending the Cup - Part 1: Off-Season Edition

[Stealth JD]

The off-season has begun for 29 other teams and there are some really good pieces out there on the Athletic about the Cap Situations, potential trade pieces, and top free agents. With the season ending within the week, it's about time to start planning on next season's roster, what changes the team should be looking to make and whether the Blues are in position to capitalize on some other team's situation. Will a Cup Final appearance (and potential win) make the Blues a more desirable landing spot for impending free agents?

I know the focus is rightfully all about the Cup chase, but all eyes elsewhere are already looking to next season. Whenever HFBlues is ready to do so, we'll join the discussion. Feel free to post any talk of next year's Blues here, while we apologize to the rest of the NHL Golfing community for being late to the party.

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[Twisted Blue]

Shouldn't open this thread until the off-season occurs, imo.

 

[Xerloris]

I downvote this thread.

 

[BlueDream]

Really dude? This is shameful.

 

[Stealth JD]

Lol...there’s plenty to look to focus on beyond the next two games. Figured those who aren’t ready to look beyond the playoffs could simply stay out of the thread and not whine like a Sharks fan, but different strokes. Feel free to obsess about the game until puck drop, but there's absolutely no harm in speculating about moves for next season.

 

[simon IC]

Lol, glad to see this thread back. Some reactions here are a little over the top.

 

[CaliforniaBlues310]

Screw it lets get Breadman and win another ring or two

 

[Novacain]

I will have interesting thoughts about our off-season once I take time to think about something that isn't "Holy Crap we did it"

 

[simon IC]

Absolute, #1 priority has to be re-signing Alex Pietrangelo.

 

[brokeu91]

Absolute, #1 priority has to be re-signing Alex Pietrangelo.

And Schenn, Binnington, and Maroon. Also another LD would be nice

Oh, who gives a shit we just won the Stanley Cup

 

[Sushiko]

I’m so excited and ready for next season too!

 

[bleedblue1223]

Army can do whatever the hell he wants to do.

 

[The Note]

Absolute, #1 priority has to be re-signing Alex Pietrangelo.

Yeah but did you know he doesn’t clear the crease?

 

[execwrite1]

Two words - Traverse City

 

[PiggySmalls]

The off-season begins. For the first time ever, we don't have to worry about what Army needs to do to make us a contender again. I'm just going to enjoy this summer. NHL Award show is going to be a blast to watch. ROR, Binnington, Berube, and Armstrong will all be there and hopefully a couple of them will win.

 

[Stealth JD]

The off-season begins. For the first time ever, we don't have to worry about what Army needs to do to make us a contender again. I'm just going to enjoy this summer. NHL Award show is going to be a blast to watch. ROR, Binnington, Berube, and Armstrong will all be there and hopefully a couple of them will win.

I can't wait to watch the draft, even though the Blues will be picking late. I just want to see how many of the other 30 teams, prior to making their 1st selection, congratulate the St. Louis Blues on winning Lord Stanley's Cup. That's when it will sit in that they actually did what they seemingly just did.

 

[Davimir Tarablad]

Barely more than a week until the draft, where has the time gone?

 

[542365]

Barely more than a week until the draft, where has the time gone?

It always feels like such an agonizingly long wait to the draft and it usually sucks not having a first. Don't think anyone cares about the pick anymore. Bill Army will find us a gem in the second

 

[David Dennison]

Do you all think we lose any staff? Some people might have already been on the chopping block (whoever ran out power play), but Berube might also want to bring in some of his guys. Does Ott get some interviews? Bill Armstrong? Other front office people?

 

[Novacain]

It always feels like such an agonizingly long wait to the draft and it usually sucks not having a first. Don't think anyone cares about the pick anymore. Bill Army will find us a gem in the second

Of all the years to not have your first, the one were your 1st isn't in the top 30 is the best case scenario.

 

[542365]

Do you all think we lose any staff? Some people might have already been on the chopping block (whoever ran out power play), but Berube might also want to bring in some of his guys. Does Ott get some interviews? Bill Armstrong? Other front office people?

Certainly wouldn't surprise me. It's definitely one of the costs of winning. I could maybe see Mike Van Ryn getting some calls. Teams are always looking for that young up and coming coach and he's had some success in the OHL and AHL and if he "ran the defense" as has been stated on TV numerous times, I'd say the results pretty much speak for themselves there. He's still very young and very inexperienced, so I doubt it, but he's six years older than the Hawks' head coach who only had 1+ season as an AHL head coach before he was hired so stranger things have happened. Really hope we hold on to Bill Armstrong, though. He's done an awesome job, and he's been promoted several times so I don't know what job he could get in another organization that would be better than his current gig outside of General Manager so I think we'll have him for a while yet.

 

[Spektre]

Screw it lets get Breadman and win another ring or two

I'd love to see Panarin as a Blue but the Blues would probably have to lose the contracts of Steen and Allen to even think about signing him. On top of that every RFA the Blues have will want a raise. I'd love to see it happen but doubt it's really possible.

 

[GoldenSeal]

Army can do whatever he pleases and I'll support it. But if I may make one suggestion ....

Fix. Special. Teams.

 

[GoldenSeal]

Do you all think we lose any staff? Some people might have already been on the chopping block (whoever ran out power play), but Berube might also want to bring in some of his guys. Does Ott get some interviews? Bill Armstrong? Other front office people?

I don't see Ott ever leaving the STL.

 

[Spektre]

I have to think it's a lock that Barbashev, Sundqvist, Sanford, Blais, and of course Binnington are all resigned.

What will the organization do with Fabbri, Maroon, Edmundson, and Gunnarsson?

At the start of the year I would have said Ed was a lock to sign but I'm not so sure now. I thought for sure this was Gunnarsson's last year as a Blue and I'm not sure about that either. I think they'll sign Fabbri on the cheap but I won't be shocked if they trade his rights. Maroon could wind up being too expensive to resign.

Barbashev and Sundqvist probably showed enough all season and playoffs to deserve a pretty hefty raise.

Kyrou and Kostin should be fighting for roster spots and they're going to be tough to come by (most likely).

As always it'll be an interesting off-season but one that's more fun than any other before.