At this point, I think AP27 is a goner. Tbh I'd rather not give away assets to keep AP27 when he has tops 4 good years left and we will run into cap issues later on. If Dunn can sign under $3M AAV, that would be clutch. I think if that happens Blues have three options this offseason.
Given Line-up Players - 20 Players (1 on IR) with $6.9M in cap
C: O'Reilly, Thomas/Schenn, Sundqvist, Barbashev
LW: Schwartz, (Schenn), Sanford, Steen
RW: Perron, (Thomas), Kyrou, Blais
LD: Dunn, Scandella, Gunnarsson
RD: Parayko, Faulk, Bortuzzo
G: Binnington
S: MacEachern, De La Rose
IR: Tarasenko
Option 1: Sign a Top 4 D in Free Agency
The best option for this is signing a short-term contract with an experienced defenseman. I think T.J. Brodie would fit into the system well. He can play the right side as a left-handed shot, partnered with Faulk. This will give Bortuzzo and Scandella the 3rd pairing and consistent time on the PK. With this option, signing T.J. Brodie at 3 years for $5M AAV, bringing up Kostin to play RW, and either giving Husso a shot or signing a veteran goalie at $1M will be a good approach leaving STL with at least $39K in cap space.
Option 2: Sign a Top 6 W in Free Agency
This option is more realistic if Tarasenko is going to be limited for a long time this season. If it is possible, Blues can look at acquiring Dadonov, Hoffman, or Toffoli at about $5.25M AAV. This will allow Gunnarsson to play with Faulk in a top 4 D spot, Mikkola to have an official spot on the roster as a scratch, and give either Husso or a veteran goaltender at $850k to fit into the roster with $15K in cap space.
Option 3: Sign a tandem goaltender in Free Agency
Of all options, this is the most unrealistic. Blues can sign a tandem goaltender like Holtby or Greiss for $3M AAV, an affordable top 4 dman like Gustafasson, and bring up Kostin to play RW. All signings fill the "holes" or close to fill the holes for the Blues next season with $3k in cap.
Option 4: Combine some options (this AGM)
What if the Blues sign an affordable top 4 dman (Gustafsson for $4M AAV), a top 9 F that can play up on some lines (Maroon for $2M AAV), and have the flexiblility to play Husso or a veteran Goaltender at $900k.
REMEMBER - when Tarasenko comes back one player will drop to AHL or become trade bait. For example, if De La Rose is the odd man out, Blues will free up $700k in cap space, so for each scenario add at least $700k back into cap space.
Seeing a lot of the "oh Pietrangelo will be cooked by the time he's 35" talk on the old 'friendly today and I'm very confused as to where that's coming from due to the overwhelming evidence of elite defenders who rely on play making ability rather than speed or physicality aging very well into their mid-thirties
You say it's not worth moving more assets to keep Pietrangelo, but likely the only other asset we would have to shed to keep Pietrangelo is Bozak, whom you trade anyway, and maybe Gunnarsson too, which is not super consequential. So you are asking us, essentially, if we'd rather have Pietrangelo or Gustafsson and Maroon? I think I'd rather have Pietrangelo.
If that bridge is absolutely burned (which I don't think it is). Brodie is a better option on defense but honestly we should sign some forward help and it should be Craig Smith.
i think the forward group is fine, doesn't need any changes. I think we need to add a defenseman in free agency if we feel Perunovich is not NHL ready next season, which he very well may be. I like the idea of bringing in a guy like Tyson Barrie on a 1 year deal to fill the gap until Perunovich is ready. I expect Husoo to be the backup. We need a veteran 3rd goalie imo, maybe sign Kinkaid or Howard 1 year 800k or something.