I fail to see how wildly overpaying a team with almost no leverage helps the Blues. That trade is AT LEAST Neighbours and the 1st too much, and neither of those assets affects the cap situation you speak of. But frankly, it's Kyrou too much.

Im a big fan of Beauviller, I’m not sure Isles move him from VT. Also, we’re really shallow on true RWs

They wouldn't - if STL lands Tkachuk they are just as desperate to shed salary in a corresponding deal. And if the Isles traded for Tarasenko than THEY also need to move salary. I'd be fine with a 1st+Bailey+B prospect for an extended Tarasenko if all that got flipped to CGY. Win-win-win.

Any deal the Blues would make with Calgary would be predicated on them having other deals agreed on to move salary. No matter how good Tkachuk is, the Blues won’t make a deal just to trust in “figuring it out” afterwards.

Well yes of course. They aren't going to trade Tarasenko on the "hope" that 1st+Bailey+prospect coming from us is going to be enough added to whatever STL offers. I'm saying for the Isles to be involved in the equation, we aren't trading Beau+1st for Tarasenko. Too steep. See the ACGM I just posted. It's got all the rationale.