Would Blues Want Pronger?
The Ducks are willing to move Chris Pronger rather than extend his contract into a career-finishing deal.
The Blues are willing to move some future pieces –- prospects, picks, younger players – to land add another impact player to the lineup.
Is there a marriage there? Writing for HockeyBuzz.com, Andy Strickland suggests so.
We debated that Friday on “The Sports Edge” on KFNS, kicking it around with former Blue Mike Zuke and some callers.
The sentiment we got was that fans would like to see the Blues go for a younger workhorse defenseman, Jay Bouwmeester, instead of Pronger. If the franchise is going to sacrifice, it might as well sacrifice for a younger commodity.
Another camp had the Blues be better off bringing Erik Johnson, Alex Pietrangelo and Eric Brewer back into the mix featuring Carlo Colaiacovo, Roman Polak and Barret Jackman. That could be a strong mix, with Ian Cole and Jonas Junland still in development and various possibilities (Jeff Woywitka, Mike Weaver, Jay McKee, Steve Wagner) for the depth roles.
Standing pat on the blue line would allow the Blues to throw more money at goaltending (where Chris Mason will need a running mate next season) and the forward lines (Where former No. 1 pick Lars Eller may need more time.
Bouwmeester is a looming free agent, so any team acquiring him this spring would want to lock him up. Florida is asking for plenty in return – another top four defenseman, but a forward capable of pulling a regular shift.
Pronger has another year to go, so it’s possible that a Cup contender would be willing to take him for the short term and not tender him another offer.
AROUND THE RINKS: The Flyers successfully moved forward Glen Metropolit (Canadiens) and defenseman Ossie Vaananen (Canucks) to clear some more cap room for Daniel Briere’s return . . . The Blues don’t believe Manny Legace would pass through entry waivers, which makes you wonder why they don’t call him up and clear him out. Maybe Buffalo would bit, maybe not. The Senators put former starting goaltender Martin Gerber through reentry waivers without getting nibble, so the team is still eating his salary . . . Red-hot Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun missed a couple of games with an ear infection . . . The Islanders lost defenseman Brendan Witt for five games, due to his elbow to the head of Maple Leaf Niklas Hagman . . . The Ottawa Sun suggests the following players could be available for trade: Stars winger Jere Lehtinen, Kings winger Alexander Frolov, Thrashers winger Colby Armstrong, Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen, Flames center Matthew Lombardi, Bruins winger Michael Ryder, Hurricanes defenseman Joe Corvo, Penguins winger Miroslav Satan, Canucks defenseman Kevin Bieksa and Capitals defenseman Shaone Morissonn . . . If Ryder stays in Boston, then the club might be willing to move Phil Kessel to get a puck-moving defensemen. Could Boston take Pietrangelo back in such a deal:? Hmmm . . . HockeyBuzz insists that Tampa Bay could move Vincent Lecavalier, despite Lightning GM Brian Lawton’s strong denials that the big fella is in play . . . The Hockey News argues that the poor are getting poorer in the NHL . . . When the Stars put Sean Avery on reentry waivers Monday, will another team beat the Rangers to him?
Bringing back Pronger could be good in that it could correct a wrong by the Lauries and be a big PR win for the organization. Before the trade, we all thought Pronger would retire a Blue and this would be a natural move.
However, is this truly the right move? We are still rebuilding. A Pronger deal would likely take some of our young assets. The long term results could take us back to a mediocre path. I say, avoid this deal and see if we can land him during free agency. This team has earned the right to see how well they can do this season.
“This team has earned the right to see how well they can do this season.”
I agree.
See: Baseball, 2008 Tampa Bay Rays.
Jeff, thanks for these articles and with the frequency that you post them. Awesome stuff……………..I wouldn’t trade young talent for Pronger now, and certainly not Perron, which seems to be what is being mentioned now………but I have reconsidered your notion about the Blues trading prospects for an established young star now. I’m starting to think that might not be a bad idea. It can be risky, but when looking back, I think the Blues trade for Tkacuk worked out pretty good. I forgot who we gave up, I think it was Handzus, Hecht and Nagy but I’m not sure. But I think that turned out well for us, and the guys we gave up were quality guys, probably comparable to what’s in our system now. If you ever want to post an evaluation of that trade here, please do, but I’m going to guess it’s a thumbs up………….Pietrangelo for Kessel????? How bout Eric Johnson instead? Is EJ going to recover 100%? Something to think about. Have a good weekend!
i say trade for curtis joseph and drag hullie out of retirement
I think this woulb be an unbeliveable mov eif the blues could pull it of, but i dont want it to ruin the chemistry of the team right now, so WE NEED PRONGER!!!!! Im only 12! But a huge Blues fan, please bring him back Davidson!
Bringing back Pronger has its ups and downs. Sure we get a vet on the point but how will that mesh with the young guns? To me the thing to do is send Big Walt somewhere and bring in a mid 20’s player or players to fit in with these guys yeah we could not end up in the playoffs but look what we could have in the future. Pronger is just a quick fix to me i say get Bouwmeester or look what toronto has to give it work well for us once!!!!!!!!!!!
Pronger would help out more than people think. The good thing is he has one year left and the Blues really need help right now on the blue line. Then they have Pronger next year to help with the develpment of Johnson, Polak, and Pietrangelo just like MacInnis helped a young Chris Pronger. I would hate to see a player on the current roster go but one or two prospects would be good because in a couple years the Blues will not be able to keep all of their young prospects with the salary cap now in place. So bring in Pronger for some much needed help on the blue line and if the Blues make the playoffs, they may suprise a team or two, or possibly a fan or two.