The Blues answered one long-range question by landing Jaroslav Halak from Montreal, gaining a still-developing 25-year-old goaltender with positive playoff experience.
Hiring goaltender coach Corey Hirsch looks like another strong move. He has worked extensively with young netminders since his retirement as a NHL player, so he should be a good mentor for Ben Bishop and Jake Allen.
Departing scouting director Jarmo Kekalainen will leave behind an ample supply of young defensemen. First-round picks Alex Pietrangelo and Ian Cole lead a promising group that includes imports Nikita Nikitin (coming from Russia), Jonas Junland (returning to Sweden) and David Rundblad (still in Sweden), plus longer-range prospects like Brett Ponich and Mark Cundari.
So Doug Armstrong’s summer mandate is pretty obvious: Improve the front lines.
By sacrificing Lars Eller in the Halak deal, the new Blues GM increased the need to upgrade his forward ranks. Eller figured to play a big role with the Blues next season after excelling in the AHL.
Re-signing Mike D’Agostini preserved some depth, although he didn’t accomplish much arriving late in the campaign. Acquiring T.J. Hensick from Colorado also added to the cushion, although he has scored just 11 goals in 99 NHL games.
As we’ve noted before, the core of young veteran forwards (David Perron, David Backes, T.J. Oshie and Patrik Berglund) could easily double its scoring output last season. So could winger Brad Boyes, who has declined from 43 goals to 33 and 14 the last two seasons.
It’ll be fun to see what new assistant coach Scott Mellanby can do with this group. Mellanby earned universal respect as a player and he gained fresh perspectives while scouting for the Canucks.
Can veteran Andy McDonald get back to his old point-per-game form? Can versatile Alex Steen match last season’s 24-goal breakout? Perhaps, but the Blues still need more.
Fans want this team to make a big splash via free agency, but that is not likely to happen. Team president John Davidson has been up front about that.
The Blues can’t afford to spend to the cap. The revenues in this market can’t support a payroll pushing $60 million. And the franchise’s quest for new lead ownership only underscores the need to spend carefully.
Other developments are limiting Armstrong’s options:
- Ilya Kovalchuk is the big prize among pending free agents, but he seems likely to land in LA with the Kings – a franchise positioned to make bold moves.
- Patrick Marleau was supposed to be the second big UFA, but he re-signed with the Sharks. San Jose GM Doug Wilson cut ties with $6 million goaltender Evgeni Nabokov so he could afford to retain Marleau.
- Tomas Plekanec, another UFA possibility, re-signed in Montreal with the money the Canadiens saved by dealing Halak to the Blues.
- The NHL salary cap rose to $59.4 million, making it easier for the big-spending teams to remain in compliance. This will reduce cap-related salary dumping.
- Ottawa is willing to deal center Jason Spezza, but the Senators are demanding a high price. With Marleau and Plekanec staying put, Spezza’s trade value got even higher.
- Florida already traded Nathan Horton to Atlanta and the Blackhawks are managing to create needed cap run without dealing away one of their shooters.
As the NHL Draft nears, trade talk around the league will intensify. Few players selected this weekend will offer immediate help, so general managers are looking to swap assets to fill holes.
Many teams are looking to reset their roster before the free agent marketplace opens July 1. Teams eyeing potential unrestricted free agents will attempt to acquire the rights to those players, as the Flyers did with Dan Hamhuis.
The wheeling and dealing will continue. Somewhere in that process, Armstrong needs to reach in and pull out another offensive weapon of some sort.
The Blues have already made a number of strong moves during this offseason. With another quality addition or two, they could move right back on track to Stanley Cup contention.
