Sweet, Sweet Speculation

The Blues have six forwards that are either unrestricted free agents (Martin Rucinsky, Ryan Johnson, and Mike Johnson) or restricted free agents (Brad Boyes, David Backes, and Jay McClement). The Blues have eight forwards that are signed through next year (McDonald, Kariya, Stempniak, Tkachuk, Perron, Hinote, Mayers, and King) and potentially three rookies who could graduate next year (Oshie, Berglund, and Linglet). This would mean the Blues have 17 players to fit into 13 roster slots (assuming that the Blues carry four lines and one substitute). I think we can restrict this discussion a little.

The Blues bring back all eight signed forwards, resign Boyes, and promote Oshie. This leaves 7 players to fill 3 roster slots.

The Blues cut ties with both Martin Rucinsky and Mike Johnson. This leaves 5 players to fill 3 roster slots.

Ryan Johnson. RJ provides great value to this team and should be brought back. He is a fast skater who can bang and plays great defense. He is a rock on the penalty kill. I think he needs to be brought back. If the Blues bring only one true energy/checking line, RJ can force Hinote and King into a rotation on that line.

David Backes. Much has already been written about him on this site. He is still relatively young, but I don’t see him evolving into a top six forward. If he is not a top six forward, and the Blues have young prospects coming up and some of the best defensive/energy guys around, what role can he fill?

Jay McClement. Perhaps unfairly, I view McClement the same as Backes. I think they came up together, so maybe that has something to do with it. I don’t see him as a top six forward, he is a year older than Backes, and the Blues already have a set energy line.

Patrik Berglund. I don’t know much about this player. Only from what others have read. The scuttlebutt is that he might be ready for the NHL next year, maybe not. Supposed to be a very good offensive forward but is still very young, not yet 20.

Charles Linglet. I watched this player in Peoria (see below). He seemed quite skilled but unmotivated. He apparently played himself out of a role on the team in the development camp before the season. He is not young (25 years old) for a prospect and is under control only through next season. If the Blues want to see if he can make it, he needs to be on the team next year.

I would choose to bring back RJ, Jay McClement, and Linglet (over Backes because Linglet already has a contract). We are no where near the end of this season let alone the beginning of next, so a lot of things can change. A few interesting notes. What if Boyes is tendered an offer sheet in the offseason? Should the Blues take Boyes or the picks? At what price? Will the Blues make a trade for another forward? If so, roster spots are tight so a current forward might go the other way in a package. This analysis did not look at salary cap issues as the current and future defensemen would greatly affect that and it would involve a lot of math I didn’t currently want to do.