What’s Your Crystal Ball Say?

by Brad Lee on Feb 25, 2008 1:05 PM CST

I call my crystal ball Phil Kessel.

By Brad Lee

On this NHL Trade Deadline Eve, it seems the St. Louis Blues have played themselves into a seller's role of some kind.

Before we get to the meat of this one, please remember to come back Tuesday during the fun and games. We'll have multiple writers monitoring the trade situation for St. Louis and other teams in the league posting frequent updates, hopefully some humerous stuff and who knows what else.

John Davidson has been unwavering in his opinion that it would be a mistake for the franchise to allow assets to walk away from the team and not try to get something in return. Here are the four players who will become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season:

Ryan Johnson
The white Jamal Mayers
He has 3 goals, 11 asists, plus-1 on the season. Is a career minus-79. Makes less than $1 million a year. Speed to burn, hands of stone. Kills penalties and Blues odd-man rushes. Blocks shots in a painful way more often than not.

Matt Walker
Ma and Pa think he's a goal scorer now.
He has 1 goal, 1 assist but is still a plus-2 on the season. Sat out 45 straight days in October and November without playing. Loves both kinds of music, country and western, and press box chicken wings.

Bryce Salvador
We can't think of anything funny to say here.
He has 1 goal, 10 assists and is a plus-12 on the year. Solid stay at home defenseman. Not very gifted with the puck. Is a good guy in the community with his charity efforts. Was drafted by the Blues and came up through the system.

Barret Jackman
Looks kind of like a caveman.
He has 2 goals, 6 assists and is a minus-12 on the year. The only St. Louis Blue to win the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. In past seasons has gotten hurt playing a physical brand of hockey against bigger opponents. Not a member of the Todd Bertuzzi fan club. Thinks he should get around McKee money.

And those are just the four players who are unrestricted after the season. Jay McKee or Christian Backman might be on the block. We doubt very seriously that the Blues would part with picks or prospects for older players, especially any player who will be unrestricted after the season.

Get out your crystal ball and tell us, what will the Blues do on deadline day? Your predictions in the comments.

Tweet Comment 22 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

The rumours (spelling intentional) of trading Fragile Jay McKee as part of a salary dump are interesting. It might give the team some leeway with the UFA d-men. I have nothing against Fragile Jay. He has been decent when not suffering from a myriad of injuries. Still, it’s no secret that the Blues are overpaying for his services. I wonder how many teams would realistically take on his $4mil salary for next year.

The rumour about the Blues’ asking price for Jacks (“a first-rounder, a star prospect and a valuable veteran”) is crazy if it’s true. If any GM is willing to pay that, JD should try to get them to buy some oceanfront property in Missouri as well – not to mention being named Blues president for life.

Oh yeah, and bye bye to Captain Hook, Martin Rucinsky. I understand that Bernie basically laid the weight of the Blues’ recent success on the return of Marty, but now they have lost a coupleof games, he needs to go where he can play fruit Euro games with Jagr or the like.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go eat an entire box of Thin Mints that were just delivered to me by a coworker. Good day.

by Jessica on Feb 25, 2008 1:40 PM CST reply actions

I predict there will be a one-act play on Game Time after the trade.

by Pagan on Feb 25, 2008 1:47 PM CST reply actions

Other, somewhat comparable D-men to Jackman who have been traded have been fetching in the neighborhood of a third-rounder. Any live body the Blues got in return would likely be of the Glen Metropolit variety. My dark horse to be traded: Dan Hinote. I think he could be a useful role player on a contender; here he’s just a redundant redundancy.

by LeNoceur on Feb 25, 2008 2:09 PM CST reply actions

Jessica: Those dang Girl Scout cookies come at the wrong time for a dude on a diet.

Pagan: You may see one BEFORE any trades.

LeNoceur: He’s cheap ($1 million per), he’s got a hot future wife and he’s got a cup on his resume. Good call.

by Brad Lee on Feb 25, 2008 2:21 PM CST reply actions

My crystal ball says Sal & Jacks are goners.

Thanks for your service Sal & Jacks. You’ve both been model employees and we’ve been lucky to have you on the team.

by brian on Feb 25, 2008 2:51 PM CST reply actions

Here are my locks:

-I play tonight
-I ran 8.2 miles yesterday with Answer Dog
-My feet smell
-I am an internet junkie when it comes to rumors
-I like pork rinds
-Bye bye Marty “the Party” Rucinsky- he plays with an illegal curve
-Bye bye Jackman
-Perron remains french-like

My Unlocks:

-I don’t have bad gas today in anticipation for tonight’s game. Wow, they are strong. F’ing creatine.
-I still think they will make the playoffs
-Matt Walker gets signed in the off season to an Eastern Conference team

by Answer Man on Feb 25, 2008 2:59 PM CST reply actions

After much ruminating on this, my predictions are:

- Jackman goes to an Eastern Conference team, possibly Pittsburgh.
- Salvador re-signs for a cost-effective amount.
- Walker and Johnson stay despite not re-signing with the team.
- A player no one is talking about gets traded and we call it a steal.
- My wife curses the fact that another player whose jersey she owns is no longer on her team.
- Not nearly as many trades happen as last year across the league.
- Answer Man curses the fact that the Blues will add a Fruit Euro.

by Brad Lee on Feb 25, 2008 3:35 PM CST reply actions

We should keep Walker. He’s easy to make fun of.

by Marcus Pettersson on Feb 25, 2008 3:39 PM CST reply actions

BL- Keep it NA Bro! I don’t mean non-alcoholic either.

Forsberg to Colorado was annouced a short time ago. Signing Forsberg is like asking Ric Flair and Harley Race to jump into a cage match in 2008. It is an old, broken down bloody mess of what “used to be”. Forsberg is a chump.

by Answer Man on Feb 25, 2008 3:53 PM CST reply actions

Marcus, don’t you think Jackman looks like a caveman?

AM, I just have a feeling the Blues won’t necessarily keep it North American. I’m giving you 24 hours warning so your system can prepare and Thunder and Lightning don’t go off unexpectedly.

by Brad Lee on Feb 25, 2008 4:03 PM CST reply actions

I don’t know who I’ll be sadder to see leave, Salvadore or Jackman. I think Salvadore is more consistent, but I’ve always liked Jackman.

I also like that it looks like his helmet is a little too small and is just sort of jammed on top of his head (or am I the only one who sees that?).

by Mr. Particle on Feb 25, 2008 4:17 PM CST reply actions

Goodbye Jax, Salvador’s in Taco Bell commercials, much more valuable to our future…

by Mingha on Feb 25, 2008 4:39 PM CST reply actions

Thanks BL. You are very kind. Either way, it will suck major dong if they grab a Euro.

by Answer Man on Feb 25, 2008 4:41 PM CST reply actions

buyers or sellers….why can’t the Blues just be swappers?

and remember Walker actually ASKED to be traded. so he’s definitely being shopped.

I would LOVE to see Jax and Walker to Pittsburgh for Gonchar. they would have unloaded salary space in dumping Gonchar and have room to sign Jax to a raise. Blues get a (sorely needed) marquee puck-moving defenseman in return.

by Dooks on Feb 25, 2008 5:02 PM CST reply actions

BL, yes, in fact Jackman does look like a caveman. Which obviously is an impossible situation. There can only be room for one caveman per team, and our quota is already filled by Donkey King Kong.

There can be only one!

by Marcus Pettersson on Feb 25, 2008 5:34 PM CST reply actions

So if you’re a player (with the Blues or any other team), the worst thing to be traded for is got to be “future considerations”, right? A late-round draft pick is bad enough, but to not even name a round has got to be the worst.

by Mr. Particle on Feb 25, 2008 5:46 PM CST reply actions

nah, a conditional 7th round pick is worse than future consideration imho. cos what in the world could the conditions be to earn a 7th round pick?!?! yikes!!

oh we made that trade once this year too, by the way…

by Childhood Trauma on Feb 25, 2008 5:51 PM CST reply actions

This McKee rumor has legs…be it Jersey or Pittsburgh. Either way, it’s a great salary dump move. I can think of at least one more player to do the same with, if possible (ahem—the man our announcers inexplicably call bEckman). Be sure, at work tomorrow, I’ll be checking in for updates…between actual work and my daily searches for better job opportunities (incidentally, anyone know of any job openings for a fledgling P.R. Professional?). Enjoy trade day tomorrow all…and don’t forget during all this that there’s still a game to be played tomorrow night. I’ll be there and I intend to see my games-attended-win-streak continue.

by TheDuke32 on Feb 25, 2008 6:53 PM CST reply actions

I predict Jackman will sign a contract extension and that we’ll find out just after 7:45 p.m. tonight.

Oh wait, that’s already happened.

by Brad Lee on Feb 25, 2008 7:51 PM CST reply actions

Answer Man wrote:

“Forsberg to Colorado was annouced a short time ago. Signing Forsberg is like asking Ric Flair and Harley Race to jump into a cage match in 2008. It is an old, broken down bloody mess of what "used to be". Forsberg is a chump.”

Love that analogy, AM… and it’s dead-nuts accurate.

Dooks: Gonchar? Oy.

Give me more prospects… give me Bergfors from the Devils as part of the McKee deal. Give me Maxwell from the Habs in exchange for Backman. Give me Hinote’s future wife and trade HIS ass… ;-)

by GT Prospect Department on Feb 26, 2008 5:31 AM CST reply actions

Denis Lemieux (answers phone): Hello?

Ned Braden (to Lemieux): Tell ’em “trade me right fucking now.”

Lemieux (into phone): Trade me right fucking now!

Braden (to Lemieux): Now hang up.

(Lemieux hangs up)

Lemieux: We go to Florida, and I get the money…

by GT Prospect Department on Feb 26, 2008 5:34 AM CST reply actions

Trade Deadline Activity Since 1979-80

Season Date Trades Players

1979-80 March 11, 1980 3 5
1980-81 March 10, 1981 12 22
1981-82 March 9, 1982 5 11
1982-83 March 8, 1983 1 1
1983-84 March 6, 1984 2 2
1984-85 March 12, 1985 4 7
1985-86 March 11, 1986 8 14
1986-87 March 10, 1987 5 9
1987-88 March 8, 1988 8 12
1988-89 March 7, 1989 9 21
1989-90 March 6, 1990 10 16
1990-91 March 5, 1991 14 33
1991-92 March 10, 1992 11 22
1992-93 March 22, 1993 9 14
1993-94 March 21, 1994 18 35
1994-95 April 7, 1995 19 32
1995-96 March 20, 1996 13 21
1996-97 March 18, 1997 18 35
1997-98 March 24, 1998 19 38
1998-99 March 23, 1999 21 30
1999-00 March 14, 2000 12 23
2000-01 March 13, 2001 17 31
2001-02 March 19, 2002 17 35
2002-03 March 11, 2003 24 46
2003-04 March 9, 2004 20 32
2005-06 March 9, 2006 25 40
2006-07 Feb. 27, 2007 25 44