Binningtons Nose

Guess Dunn is just gone then? Also, this will kill the Blues long term. Don't see any of these moves happening with the exception of Coleman. Won't be able to sign Landeskog with Schenn's contract there.

No reason to think one of Dunn or Scandella may be taken in the Expansion Draft. Why couldn't these moves be made, and how would they "kill the Blues long term"? Hamilton is a legitimate top pairing Dman, and $8M AAV isn't going to throttle a franchise for a player like that -- especially considering guys like Krug, Faulk, Parayko and Scandella are all signed long-term. That's a pretty dynamic blue line, if you ask me. And Landeskog would be a similar addition for the FWD group. That's a contract that's 100% worth the player's value, and you've already got some of your heavy hitters locked up, long term. This also includes extending guys coming off ELC's, like Thomas and Kyrou.

Also, keep in mind that the Cap will not remain flat forever.

Number 1, Parayko is not locked up for term. Next year is the last of his contract. With Krug and Faulk locked up long term on the backend along with Hamilton as well as Schenn and Binnington, the Blues will have a lot of 30+ year old players on giant contracts that won't be movable. That not harms the Blues financially, but can stifle young players growth. I like Landeskog, I wish he was on the Blues, but you're going to have to dump Schenn's contract. And while the cap won't be flat forever, it's also not going to jump to 90+ mil for 5 years at least. In that time you're going to have to sign Kyrou or Thomas to long term contracts and if they don't grow or decide to sign elsewhere you're looking at trying to infuse more youth to go along with those old man contracts. It doesn't make sense.
Seattle will take Dunn if available and the Blues don't make a deal with them. Blues already have cap issues as it is. If you sign Hamilton, say goodbye to Parayko who is the better defender when healthy. Keep Scandella? Goodbye to Dunn (if he isn't taken by Seattle).

sammy blais for zach aston reese? or is blais more valuable

Personally, I think you have to go for it while the window is still open. Yeah, Schenn, ROR, Perron, etc aren't young, relative to the league. But they're still pieces that improve the odds of winning a Cup. Same can be said if you're able to bring in two guys like Landeskog and Hamilton. Hamilton will turn 28 in about a month, so you've got plenty of time with him. Landeskog is 28, Schenn is soon to be 30, ROR turned 30 in February.

There's plenty of youth that needs to get time, I agree. But guys like Tarasenko, Perron, and Clifford will be gone in the next 2-3 years. In the meantime, there will still be opportunities and minutes available for Kyrou, Thomas, Kostin, Neighbors (eventually), Joshua, etc. You're not hamstringing your future. And moves can always be made. There are plenty of teams around the deadline -- especially in the hunt -- that will take aging vets off your hands in an effort to capture that elusive Cup.

I think we just philosophically disagree with how this impacts the future. While savvy moves certainly need to be made (as they do with any franchise hovering around the cap), Armstrong is certainly more than capable of navigating a potential bottle neck.