One of their options is to leave someone like Krug unprotected, because it's highly unlikely Seattle takes him. And if they do? Oh well, there's a ton of cap to use for the next six years.

Faulk should be going nowhere, he was the team's second best player last season. Without Faulk, they don't sniff the playoffs. Faulk is far more useful to the Blues than Krug. I'd love to find a taker for Krug, nobody around here wants him.

Not going to lie, do find the fan whipping posts around here a bit strange. Faulk was wildly expendable in Carolina, probably doesn’t crack the top4. Yet largely escapes criticism around these parts

That would help them with their tight cap

They're not as tight as some like to make it out to be. When they were trying to re-sign Petro last summer, yes, they were crammed up the cap's butt. Now, not so much, though I certainly wouldn;t say they have tons of space. They do still need to be efficient.

Oh, he was the major whipping boy his first year in St. Louis, and deservedly so. But the dude took the right attitude, put his head down and was an absolute horse this past season. Halfway through the season, he was a legit Norris candidate. His play dropped off enough when his workload went crazy due to the Parayko layoff, but he was still outstanding. Assuming his form holds up, he has evolved as a player.