Offseason Notes
- If we can’t offer sheet Lindgren, I think a package around Perunovich + Alexandrov + Pick could work.
- Extend Buchnevich to a 4-year $8.125M AAV deal.
- Extend Toropchenko to a 2-year $1.5M AAV deal.
- Matt Roy I think would be a solid partner for Theo Lindstein when he’s ready to make the jump (which I’m predicting could happen when Leddy is done in St. Louis).
- Target a two-way RD in next year’s draft to replace Faulk. Options include: Henry Mews (OHL), Adam Jiricek (Czechia), and Anthony Cristoforo (OHL).
Barring any crazy moves, here is my future outlook prediction:
- Dvorsky will replace either Saad or Hayes in 2025-26. We just need to trade one of them with retention maybe.
- Stenberg replaces either Saad or Hayes in 2026-27. Whoever is not traded the previous offseason.
- Lindstein replaces Leddy in 2026-27 and plays with Roy.
- Robertsson replaces Blais in 2027-28.
- Blues either resign Roy or go for a stop-gap Top 4 RD for a short-term deal in the 2027 offseason.
- Buchinger replaces Krug in 2027-28.
- The 1st round RD selection from the 2024 Entry Draft replaces Faulk in 2027-28.
- Zherenko replaces Binnington in 2027-28.
- Make a splash and sign Keller in the 2028 offseason.
- Pekarcik replaces Toropchenko in 2028-29.
2025-26 Roster Prediction
Buchnevich - Thomas - Snuggerud
Bolduc - Schenn - Kyrou
Saad/Hayes - Dvorsky - Neighbours
Toropchenko - Dean - Blais
Lindgren - Parayko
Krug - Faulk
Leddy - Roy
Binnington - Hofer
2026-27 Roster Prediction
Buchnevich - Thomas - Snuggerud
Bolduc - Dvorsky - Kyrou
Schenn - Dean - Neighbours
Toropchenko - Stenberg - Blais
Lindgren - Parayko
Krug - Faulk
Lindstein - Roy
Binnington - Hofer
Over the years, our salary cap hit’s look pretty decent. By 2028-29 season, we are looking like this, assuming all players project well and go according to plan.
Forwards (12 - Projected Spending: ~$67M)
- Thomas has 3 years left at $8.125M AAV.
- Kyrou has 3 years left at $8.125M AAV.
- Buchnevich has 1 year left at $8.125M AAV.
- Keller has 7 years left at $8M AAV. Signs 7yr $8M AAV.
- Dvorsky has 8 years left at $8M AAV. Signs 8yr $8M AAV.
- Snuggerud has 7 years left at $7.5M AAV. Signed 8yr $7.5M AAV deal starting in 2027-28.
- Bolduc has 6 years left at $7.5M AAV. Signed 8yr $7.5M AAV deal starting in 2026-27.
- Neighbours signs a bridge for 2-3 years starting in 2025-26. I predict he extends for like a 4-5 year deal at $4M AAV following that contract.
- Dean would be in the final year of his bridge deal. I’d predict him signing a 3 year bridge deal starting in 2026-27, which we can budget $3M AAV.
- Stenberg would be coming off his ELC. Probably bridge him for 2-3 years. Let’s budget $2.5M AAV to be safe.
- Robertsson should be making around $1.25M AAV max.
- Pekarcik will be making below $1M AAV.
Defense (6 - Projected Spending: $19M)
- Parayko has 2 years left at $6.5M AAV.
- Lindgren has 1 year left at $4.25M AAV.
- Roy/RD Free Agent would have 1-2 years left on their stop gap contract at a budgeted $4M AAV.
- Lindstein will be coming off his ELC. Let’s assume we bridge him (like Stenberg) for 2-3 years at about $2.5M AAV.
- Buchinger is making below $1M.
- 2024 1st Round Pick is on their last year of their ELC.
Goalies (2 - Projected Spending: ~$5M)
- Hofer signs a 2 year bridge starting in 2025-26. At this point, probably has 3 years left on a 4yr $4M AAV deal, which started in 2027-28.
- Zherenko should be at about $1M AAV as a backup.
Assuming the salary cap rises to $92M in 2025-26, and increases by $1M per year thereafter, the salary cap should be about $95M in 2028-29. With ~$91M spent on the starting 20, the Blues would have $4M in cap space to sign 3 scratched players and cover overages, which should be at least $1M (due to Dvorsky’s bonuses from 2027-28).
Obviously, super hard to predict this stuff. But this is where my head is at with it all. Let me know what you guys think.
That’s a really valid point. I figured he’s closer to a Carlo comparable. That’s why I did $4.25M AAV
I don’t really know much about Carlo, but if I’m Lindgren I’m saying I played top pair minutes since I was 22. And I don’t blame him because Lindgren is a warrior and fan favorite
I don’t really know much about Carlo, but if I’m Lindgren I’m saying I played top pair minutes since I was 22. And I don’t blame him because Lindgren is a warrior and fan favorite
They strike me as similar players. But I see your point about Lindgren. I just thought his offensive production wasn’t $5M+ even though he is a good defender. I see more Graves’ deal as the max I’d spend on Lindgren, but again I’m no GM, just a fan.
They strike me as similar players. But I see your point about Lindgren. I just thought his offensive production wasn’t $5M+ even though he is a good defender. I see more Graves’ deal as the max I’d spend on Lindgren, but again I’m no GM, just a fan.
Honestly you never know. I thought Kandre Miller was gonna get $4m or more, but came out under
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Snuggerud,
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