Carolina sends Gardiner (Cap dump w/ Injury problems), Martinook (PK and defensive bottom-six fwd, best season was 2018-19), Bokk (Goalscoring winger, once had star potential, still looks like an NHLer), 1st RD pick (Included to dump Gardiner and have Tarasenko salary retained) for Tarasenko. Andrei Svechnikov signed to 3yr 6.5m deal because I don't think Carolina will get him on a long-term contract unless it's in the 8m+ range. I moved Martinook because I wanted to put Jack Drury on the roster because I think he is more skilled and also can play a 4th line role, Drury has a star% (stars are determined by 200+ games and WAR per 82) of 12.30% in his 3rd draft year, the people with more than a 12.30% star% at ages 20-21 in the SHL are Oskar Steen, William Karlsson, Calle Jarnkrok, Nils Lundkvist, Jesper Fast, Oskar Lindblom, Sebastian Aho (Sweden), Jonatan Berggren, Artturi Lehkonen, Andreas Johnsson, and Jakob Silfverberg. He also had an NHLe of 33.95, because the SHL is the 3rd best league in the world and scoring 30+ points there gives you a high NHLe. My biggest issue was figuring out where Necas would go in the lineup because I think Tarasenko would take his RW spot. I think I'm going to move Necas to LW because I don't think he is a good fit for the Staal line whatsoever. After all, that line is used to shut down other team's 1st lines, so you have to be good defensively which Necas is not. I moved Nino to the Staal line because they already have chemistry, also Nino is a top-20 two-way forward in the league, he can score goals, defend, and forecheck. Leivo was a good replacement for McGinn because of his defensive play and I think he has potential on the PK, the thing is I don't think Leivo is offensively better than McGinn. TDA to the 1st pairing and PP1 because I see him as Hamilton's replacement offensively, Hamilton is 10x better than him defensively. If TDA can repeat his 2019-20 season offensively Carolina will be fine. I do want to see a Pesce-Bear pairing, but I highly doubt RBA will split up Skjei-Pesce because of the chances they generated last season (they had one of the best CF% in the league), but I think Bear is better than Skjei defensively at this point and has to potential to be better offensively, also let's not forget Pesce was top 15 in GAR last season and was probably the best offensive defenseman behind Hamilton on the team last season. Anyway, that is my offseason, I highly doubt they would trade Martinook, but I wish they would because I don't think it's smart to block Drury when he is at the height of his career. I do think Carolina could give more to get Tarasenko, but I don't think it's a bad return because Carolina is giving a B-Prospect and a 1st RD pick which could easily be in the 10-25 range, but you have to consider Tarasenko hasn't played many games in the last 2 seasons and I believe Gardiner is healthier than him at this point. Sorry if I offend Blue's fans this trade does seem like a low-ball.
I don't really like Martinook as much as other fans but I will admit moving Martinook right after he signed a deal with us might be the best way to lose fan/locker room confidence in the front office
I don't really like Martinook as much as other fans but I will admit moving Martinook right after he signed a deal with us might be the best way to lose fan/locker room confidence in the front office
You playing NHL 21?! Lol! I love seeing that comment after I sign dudes and trade them for better players lol
Really can't see Armstrong taking Gardiner back even if it allows for a better return. Blues already have about 5 competent LHD and don't want to be anchored to that deal. I also don't know if the Blues would be interested in re-acquiring Bokk, although he is an interesting prospect IMO. I wonder if something like Vlad at 3.75m for Gunler + cond. 1st/2nd (based on VT's GP or pt total, etc) would make any sense. Or I've seen some posters with a Nino/Tarasenko swap that might make some sense to do straight up.
Really can't see Armstrong taking Gardiner back even if it allows for a better return. Blues already have about 5 competent LHD and don't want to be anchored to that deal. I also don't know if the Blues would be interested in re-acquiring Bokk, although he is an interesting prospect IMO. I wonder if something like Vlad at 3.75m for Gunler + cond. 1st/2nd (based on VT's GP or pt total, etc) would make any sense. Or I've seen some posters with a Nino/Tarasenko swap that might make some sense to do straight up.
If we're trading with Carolina the Nino-Tarasenko swap is my personal preference. Adding one more top six forward wouldn't force Kyrou or Thomas into a top six role they may or may not be ready for, and it's only for one year so we retain flexibility going forward.
If we're trading with Carolina the Nino-Tarasenko swap is my personal preference. Adding one more top six forward wouldn't force Kyrou or Thomas into a top six role they may or may not be ready for, and it's only for one year so we retain flexibility going forward.
Exactly, Nino would produce more than any UFA that would sign a 1 yr deal. So you get someone to play up and down lineup at LW, chip in some offense, and buy another year for Kyrou, Thomas, Kostin, Neighbours to develop without sacrificing the long-term cap. Not the sexy return that Tarasenko could've once brought, but maybe as good as it's gonna get.