With the news that Pietrangelo intends to test free agency, I wanted to revisit an old idea I had a few months back that at the time was contingent on this exact scenario. In the event Pietrangelo does walk, the Blues will have gotten noticeably thinner on the blue line. Parayko and Dunn are fantastic players, but Faulk has been very underwhelming and I think they could really use another top 4 D.
With the Brodin extension, rumors around Dumba are swirling, and he reportedly is available for trade for the right price. Dumba would add that booming right shot from the blue line that I think the Blues were looking for when they acquired Faulk. There has been a lot of misinformation out there that Dumba is this horrible defender, and I want to try to put some of that to rest. Dumba is very, very good against the rush. The way he shuts down plays with his stick and with his body makes it extremely difficult for teams to enter the zone. Dumba's problem last season was that he wasn't scoring goals so he started forcing plays and pinching when he should have made the safe play. This took away Dumba's greatest defensive value of defending against the rush since he didn't place himself in that position. When Dumba is scoring, he doesn't force pinches and is able to shut down rushes effectively, making him a very solid, if not good, defender. Maybe under Berube he would learn that he doesn't need to make the flashy play and pinch, but instead can make the safe play and regain possession in the offensive zone. And of course, he still has his cannon shot, he's an excellent skater, he brings physicality, the character/intangibles, and all of his offensive ability.
As for a return, the Wild have a huge need at center and the Blue are actually pretty deep down the middle. They won the cup with O'Reilly and Schenn as their top 6 centers, and with Schenn's 8 year extension it would seem they have their top 6 centers locked up for a while (I know Schenn can play wing, but they won the cup with him at center so why fix something that isn't broken). I don't think they would move either player which is why someone like Robert Thomas makes a ton of sense for the Wild. He's a young right shot center with great two-way and playmaking ability. I think he'd be perfect between Fiala and Kaprizov. I'm sure the Blues have plans to move Schenn to the wing and have Thomas and O'Reilly become their top 6 C's, but if we assume Pietrangelo is gone then this is more of a luxury than a requirement (did I mention they won the cup with O'Reilly and Schenn as their centers?). He would be a very intriguing trade chip for the Wild if they're willing to give him up. The Blues are still in win-now mode and Dumba helps keep the blue line afloat. I figured the Blues would want another young player coming back, so I added Kunin who scored 11 less points than Thomas last season in 3 less games, he's only a year older, and he's also a Missouri native. I don't think he has the ceiling that Thomas does, but he still projects to be a good NHL player.
I think this would make a lot more sense before they signed Faulk. I think he, and his contract, is the Pietrangelo replacement, even though he's clearly not on that level. I also think they're filling a hole on D and creating new ones at C. I can't imagine this makes too much sense for the Blues right now.
I think this would make a lot more sense before they signed Faulk. I think he, and his contract, is the Pietrangelo replacement, even though he's clearly not on that level. I also think they're filling a hole on D and creating new ones at C. I can't imagine this makes too much sense for the Blues right now.
Well like I said, they won the cup with O'Reilly and Schenn at center, so I don't think there's really a hole at center. Kunin can play center as well.
But yeah the Faulk signing looks like a really bad move and maybe it puts a damper on this idea. I still think their blue line needs help if Pietrangelo walks, though.
Interesting. I like what you did.
That aside I see you got some cap space left over and a goalie on scratched list any chance of retaining on him in a deal? I wouldn’t mind giving Dubnyk a chance. My thinking is want a motivated goalie to back up kosk. I feel the way Dubnyk left Edmonton has to leave a sour taste in his mouth plus contract year. Only issue 2-3 million is the budget I’m assuming holland will want to stay in for that role.
Well like I said, they won the cup with O'Reilly and Schenn at center, so I don't think there's really a hole at center. Kunin can play center as well.
But yeah the Faulk signing looks like a really bad move and maybe it puts a damper on this idea. I still think their blue line needs help if Pietrangelo walks, though.
Yeah, sure. I guess it's only really semantics at this point, but whether C or Forward in general, I think the Blues are improving their defense at an expense. For what it's worth, maybe the ages of Kunin and Dumba make more sense on that Blues team. Maybe Steen would make even more sense than Bozak as a return?
Interesting. I like what you did.
That aside I see you got some cap space left over and a goalie on scratched list any chance of retaining on him in a deal? I wouldn’t mind giving Dubnyk a chance. My thinking is want a motivated goalie to back up kosk. I feel the way Dubnyk left Edmonton has to leave a sour taste in his mouth plus contract year. Only issue 2-3 million is the budget I’m assuming holland will want to stay in for that role.
Thanks! Definitely, if we can find a trade partner for Dubnyk I think we need to pull the trigger. As a fan I'd even happily retain half of his cap hit.
McDavid, Connor
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