No to all of that.

Did you even care to take a look at NYR cap situation before doing that trade?

Blues say no and no

Is Kyrou a non starter?

Him and Thomas should be the only untouchables they have imo. Anything else I'm probably willing to trade for Tkachuk. People might think I'm crazy, but I think Kyrou has more offensive upside than Tkachuk. Would be cheaper to keep around, Better skater, better shot, similar hands, similar offensive IQ. Less nhl time, less pp time, less 5v5 time with top players. Didn't play all of that time with a superstar in Gaudreau this past season. Tkachuk is undoubtedly more established, has a lot of intangibles and is better defensively but it seems crazy to trade our fastest skating, skilled, scoring winger for Tkachuk in a hard cap league trending towards speed. The amount of roster manipulation, turnover and other young assets it may take to get Tkachuk and keep him around is scary to me.

Don't know about more offensive upside simply because Tkachuk is willing to go to dirty areas and Kyrou isn't. That stated, makes no sense to trade Kyrou as Blues need to be younger and faster.

He's improved with going to the net imo. He may not have more, his skill set is a bit different. Part of why I think they'd be awesome on a line together with Thomas. They all bring a little something different that could compliment eachothers game.

Agreed. We have to find a way to get this done without including Thomas or Kyrou. Its a tough pill to swallow but I think Neighbours, a first, a second, tarasenko and another mid level prospect and maybe Barbashev or some similar combo might be enough. Especially when you consider that the Blues could take a gamble and wait a year just to sign Tkatchuk as a UFA.

Not sure the Blues have the pieces without one of them, pretty shallow prospect pool