Robb_K wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 9:09 pm
RAFritchey wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:40 pm
BluesSK wrote: Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:37 pm
If the Blues can play 0.600 hockey from here on out they are pretty much a lock for a playoff spot.
I think there's still too much that could happen at the trade deadline to be comfortable making any predictions like that yet.
Do you think The Blues main owners would allow Army to do what is better for the team in the long run, by trading off players like Buchnevich, Schenn, Saad, or Faulk (players for whom they could get back draft future assets), while jeopardizing their making the playoffs this season? I think they would rather have Army trade for help to help them MAKE the playoffs THIS season, and not worry about picking 3-6 positions later in each round of the draft, being as the draft is a crapshoot at ALL choice positions. I wouldn't trade off Parayko or Buchnevich. I don't think they'd be able to trade Krug or get anything for Scandella.
Armstrong's job is to balance the two aspects, current success as well as future prospects.
Making the playoffs is always a positive if only because even a first-round exit makes the franchise significant money, and, IMHO, generates a positive culture in the locker room and among the majority of the fan base i.e. those who aren't like us in anticipating prospects that may not even play in the NHL for several more years, but want to root for the team's performance in the here and now.
We appear to be solidly in a playoff spot right now, and likely will be at least close to one for the rest of the season, barring any severe collapse, so being sellers for future gambles doesn't make sense.
However, we expect to be a stronger team going into the future, so trading future assets to try to make a deeper run this year also doesn't make sense.
Unless it's a 'hockey trade,' that doesn't deplete our prospect/draft pool e.g. perhaps dealing Vrana who likely won't play for us again, or a prospect that doesn't look like he's going to pan out while he still has some value, or something ridiculous (you never know!), I expect the best move is for Armstrong to 'stand pat' at the deadline this year.