I am just posting this here again because I wasted way too much time on it and don't want it lost in the old thread
Posted this morning previously in the old thread:
Many times the process for a struggling team goes something like this to turn it around. If the first step doesn’t work, they move on to the next:
1) Minor deal, benching players
2) Fire Coach (depending on tenure, past record, etc.)
3) Major deals (these can be dealing off proven players for younger ones in a rebuild situation like in Chicago, or adding veterans to save a GM’s job like in EDM)
This early in the season, the majority of teams are in a nebulous grey area, waiting to see what their team actually is before making any significant moves. If I am Boston, I’m looking at the teams that have already fired their coach (or maybe GM) and are looking to make that next step.
I think St Louis is starting to question their old core (not age, but the guys before the big off season moves) and whether they can win with them. I think once they deal one or two of them, we'll hear Doug Armstrong say they underestimated the loss of David Backes' leadership.
Two things they need to solve: Goaltending (and they have tried to make a move there) and the core group.
LA, EDM, STL, CHI, PHI
I would remove EDM from the picture because I think Chia is going to try to save his job. The picture in PHI is a little murky right now and I’m not sure Fletcher is ready to do anything so soon after taking over.
LA - Tyler Toffoli has been mentioned a lot on these boards, Jeff Carter as well. I would pass on Carter. He’s too old and has too much term on his deal. The B’s don’t need another overpaid big dollar guy on the back 9. I like TT, but I’m not sure of his availability and would think that LA may want to keep him to bridge the gap while they wait for kids like Vilardi and Anderson-Dolan to arrive. Probably going to be pricey.
STL - The Blues made some major moves this offseason bringing in ROR, Bozak, and Perron in what looked to be a “win now” situation. That has not worked out for them, with good players underperforming and a rash of injuries to key guys. The question is after the moves they made, do they still think they can salvage the season, or do they tear it down in a major way. Either way, it could be beneficial for the B’s, whether STL is looking to just shake it up, or go major reconstruction.
The guys I would be looking at are: Schenn, Schwartz, and possibly Bozak if Backes was going the other way. If the Blues are really looking to rebuild, Tarasenko and AP would be at the top of my list, but those guys are unlikely. I love Schwartz, he produces whenever he plays, but the problem is he’s hurt a lot. Schenn is 27, has some size and grit to his game and can play C or W. He’s around 50% on FO’s. The issue for me is that he’s another LH shot, and he’s too good and too expensive to be a 3rd line C imo. If you put him at wing, you would have to move DeBrusk over.
CHI - Might be the team the B’s would want to deal with the most at this point because of the situation. Fired long time coach, has Cups in the recent past, already moved a young player for some others in a shake it up move. The Hawks could be looking to make a more significant move or moves with an eye towards getting younger. For me, the obvious candidates are Saad and Anisimov.
Both are good players who are underperforming this year based on their contracts. That would mean CHI is probably willing to move them and the cost might be reasonable if the B’s can make the money work. Saad just turned 26, he’s got some size, he’s fast and he can play either wing. He scored 31 and 24 with the Blue Jackets, but has trailed off a bit since being dealt back to CHI. Is that more on him or the team? Anisimov is older (30), and a little pricey for what he gives you, but would bring that veteran presence to the 3C spot and you could put a young wing or two with him without an issue. He only has two more years on his deal, so he’s not really “blocking” a young C coming up like Studnicka or Frederic, if and when they are ready.
Out of all the guys I mentioned Saad would probably be my first choice because of age and past production. A top 6 comprised of:
63-37-88
74-46-Saad
Looks pretty good and allows you to drop Heinen and Donato down to the 3rd line where they can face easier matchups and hopefully provide some secondary scoring.
I’m not sure what CHI would want in return? They are a little long in the tooth on the back end and the B’s have some good young D. Maybe there is a match there?