To make this team a contender, we of course have to make trades. There is no 1C hanging around in the system, so we have to look elsewhere. I know top centers don't get moved much, so I'm not saying this will happen, but I'll do what is most likely of a trade option, even if it's less likely that staying pat.
Step 1: resign free agents
- Swayman has had a pretty similar career to Ullmark when we signed him to a 4x5. He may or may not cash in this summer, but as of now I'll say he goes with a bridge deal and tries to get a bigger 7x7 or something in a year or two.
- Boqvist is a solid 4th liner, worth keeping him around
- Heinen earned a spot. Versatile bottom 6 option
- Bussi is a great AHL/backup option
- Shatty, forbort, JVR, grzelcyk probably not coming back
- Debrusk brought back as a trade chip, good asset management here
Step 2: Find positions of need and look at prospect pool
- Lysell and Lohrei look ready to fill in at a middle 6 RW and 2nd pair D. Will be growing pains, but every team has it's weaknesses, and it's worth it because they're on ELC's, the unused money gets made up elsewhere.
- 1C is the only glaring need. Everywhere else is good enough. Perfection doesn't exist. Can't have everything.
Step 3: Find assets to acquire a 1C
- The team has a ton of cap space, so that's the easy part
- It will probably require a good roster player in a package to get a 1C anyways
- Debrusk, Ullmark, Lysell, Lohrei, Merkulov, 2025 1st, 2026 1st, 2026 2nd are best assets. Carlo and Frederic are also not off limits IMO. Anyone else wouldn't be worth it, not enough value or too much value.
Step 4: Get a 1C
- There is nobody available so this is an unrealistic for-fun trade. Trying to find a fair return. I guess if STL embraced a rebuild it's not out of the question, but I highly doubt this would happen (obviously)
***I would be OK with turning the 2026 2nd to a 1st, or swapping Frederic for debrusk. Figured since it was STL Frederic would be more appealing
Step 5: Now this team is a contender
- I genuinely believe this team is a contender for years to come now. If only......
Dude, not only is the value of this offer woefully insufficient as a whole, the main piece is about the worst possible one you could choose. The Blues are set in goal right now, and probably for the next decade. And Thomas is untouchable anyway. He's the future C, and should have it right now.
There is no teardown rebuild coming to STL. That's not how that franchise operates, and they cannot afford the financial hit to do it anyway.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
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