Even though it's for a couple AHL-caliber guys I think the Blues would have to consider it if they extend Petro and need to open up the cap room. A 4.35m backup is a luxury we won't have if the cap stays low and the captain takes his piece of the pie.

Yeah that's why. I figured you'd need goalie depth and a project prospect because Allen makes over 4mil and only has 1 year left. Not a ton of value but figured he still has slightly positive value.

I don't think you should have the mindset that your high 1st rounder should be in the NHL next year. If it were my decision I would even send Byfield back. Lafreniere is the only one I would probably keep as of right now.

Byfield is gonna be in a Rasmussen situation where he's too good for junior and not good enough for the NHL. Should be in the AHL but can't. Stutzle however I think is also NHL ready or very close to it after playing against men last year. I'm not worried about his transition to NA ice. Rossi I keep hearing is also NHL ready but will probably get a 9 game tryout with whoever drafts him. Lundell is the only other player I've heard could make the jump but he doesn't have the ceiling these other guys have.

Personally I don't think can afford it either and with the way Bernier has been playing it would mean Allen would be the back up.

I actually think that it would benefit Byfield more to stay in the OHL than jump to the AHL. He's a 17 year old kid who still has growing to do on and off the ice. Let him feel what it's like to be absolutely unstoppable and physically dominate the competition in the OHL. Gives him a sense of what he can do and then he can slowly work to getting to that level in the NHL.

Stutzle and Lundell both played in pro leagues, but I still don't see the point of keeping them in the NHL next year even if both of them look decent in camp. There's a lot to potentially lose (look at Kotkaniemi's progression) and not nearly as much to really gain given the quality of the teams they'd be playing on. Logically these guys have the best chance to play in the NHL next year and I would probably put them both in the AHL. Playing in the NHL in your draft +1 year means nothing in the 15ish year career you hope these guys have.

Byfield cant play in the AHL, the CHL and NHL have an agreement that players can play in the NHL if the team wants to keep them around, but there is no such agreement regarding the AHL or ECHL until the players age out of juniors at age 20.

Which is why players who play for international teams (Zadina for example) are exempt from this ruling.

I'm aware, I was just responding to him saying that ideally Byfield would play in the AHL next year.