Why Mayers was expendable

The Blues traded Mayers to Toronto for a pick and here's why. Take a look at the likely forward roster to start the season (less Mayers):

David Backes

Brad Boyes

Dan Hinote

Cam Janssen

Ryan Johnson

Paul Kariya "A"

D.J. King

Jay McClement

Andy McDonald

David Perron

Lee Stempniak

Keith Tkachuk "A"

TJ Oshie

Patrick Berglund

Nikolai Lemtyugov

The way I see it the lines shake out something like this:

Kariya	McDonald	Boyes
Tkachuk	Berglund	Perron
Backes	Oshie	Stempniak
Lemtyugov	McClement	King/Janssen
extra: Hinote

(assumes RJ is gone soon)
That fourth line is crowded without him. Besides, I have seen Lemtyugov three times and the player he reminds me of most is Jamal Mayers, so we really don't lose anything. We are lucky that Toronto took his salary away. As far as I'm concerned Hinote is expendable as well.

Having said that, Mayers has been a Blue since 1993. 1993! And during that time he has been a warrior. It has been great watching him play. He is a true Blue. I think he deserves a statue next to Federko's (maybe half the size). It could be a scene of him in action shooting the puck 5 feet wide of the net or backchecking hard. LOL

Seriously though, I wish him all the best. Good luck in Toronto, Jammer!