Confirmed Signing with Link: [STL] D Anton Malmstrom signs ELC with the Blues (2 years, $910k AAV; begins 2023-24)

[uncleben]

The undrafted defenceman was playing in the NCAA for Bowling Green and was in his third year; he will forego his senior and final year to turn pro.

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[EastVillageBlues]

Best case scenario seems to be a Mikkola replacement.

 

[rumrokh]

He looked raw to me in the prospect camp in July. Big guy who had nice sparks when he jumped up on the play, but was kind of a mess in his own end. Dig the potential and I'm curious how he's progressed this year, but I'll keep my excitement very relaxed for now.

 

[stl76]

Interesting signing. Would be awesome to find a player from a college free agent signing, but if nothing else he can be good organizational depth.

 

[Blueston]

Best case scenario seems to be a Mikkola replacement.

Mikkola seems like worst case scenario. Best case is he becomes decent nhl player. 2nd best case is he doesn’t become nhl player. Becoming crappy nhl player would be worse than that.

 

[Majorityof1]

Mikkola seems like worst case scenario. Best case is he becomes decent nhl player. 2nd best case is he doesn’t become nhl player. Becoming crappy nhl player would be worse than that.

Why is not becoming an NHL player better than becoming a flawed NHL player? We got positive assets from adding Mikkola into the Tarasenko trade. NYR insisted he was added for them to give us a first. That seems better than nothing.

People's unreasonable hatred of Mikkola causes some nonsensical opinions apparently.

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

I can understand where I believe Blueston's logic is at. It's an indication that your organizational depth is weak when your best option is a negative contributor. It would be better if a bad player gets stuck in the AHL behind a league average performer than making your lineup as a net negative.

Better a bad player gets blocked than said bad player making your lineup.

 

[Fez Whatley]

Why is not becoming an NHL player better than becoming a flawed NHL player? We got positive assets from adding Mikkola into the Tarasenko trade. NYR insisted he was added for them to give us a first. That seems better than nothing.

People's unreasonable hatred of Mikkola causes some nonsensical opinions apparently.

NYR wanting mikkola to justify trading a 1st speaks far more to their own foolishness than mikkolas worth

 

[Snubbed4Vezina]

NYR wanting mikkola to justify trading a 1st speaks far more to their own foolishness than mikkolas worth

You can't possibly be talking about the defenseman that the NY Post dubbed a "shut down D with some O".

 

[Blueston]

Why is not becoming an NHL player better than becoming a flawed NHL player? We got positive assets from adding Mikkola into the Tarasenko trade. NYR insisted he was added for them to give us a first. That seems better than nothing.

People's unreasonable hatred of Mikkola causes some nonsensical opinions apparently.

we had to watch Miko. His awfulness took time off our lives. And cost blues. If he wasn’t in lineup someone better could have been. Why would you want to repeat that?

 

[izzy]

Why is not becoming an NHL player better than becoming a flawed NHL player? We got positive assets from adding Mikkola into the Tarasenko trade. NYR insisted he was added for them to give us a first. That seems better than nothing.

People's unreasonable hatred of Mikkola causes some nonsensical opinions apparently.

Because some players get the spots over better players/makes teams complacent and to not look for another option in that position, and it happens quite a bit

 

[Majorityof1]

Because some players get the spots over better players/makes teams complacent and to not look for another option in that position, and it happens quite a bit

Then that is on coaching and management. I'd always want my team to have the best possible options, and then leave it up to management or coaching to make a smart decision with the roster they have. I am not trading Mikkola for Hunter Skinner straight up just so I don't have to worry about not having anyone to block Tucker. If Tucker is ready, play Tucker and trade Mikkola, or keep him for NHL ready depth..