Well...by acquire Zaitsev, you just killed any opportunity to extend Petro if that's a direction the Blues want to go. By offer-sheeting Tkachuk, you just made us lose a valuable forward to Seattle in their draft. You can only protect seven forwards. The Note definitely protects ROR, Tarasenko, Tkachuk, Thomas, and Kapanen. Which of the following do you let Seattle take? Schwartz, Sundvist, Barbashev, Blais, or Kyrou?

You can only protect three defensemen. Parayko and Dunn are givens. Would you really protect Hagg, Bortuzzo, or Zaitsev? Let's say it's Hagg. Bortuzzo probably is their choice due to only one year on his contract and now we're left with Zaitsev for two more years at that price.

Lastly, Elliott is about as washed up as a player can get. Just because he had value four years ago doesn't mean he does now. Not sure much of this makes sense.