with a few but stastny wont be back, other then staying in peoria, and yes a few free agents need to be signed but overall i think next year they need to let some of the prospects up and see where they stand in the rebuilding project and possible look to trade and upgrade while their values are high

A lot of money and a lot of speculation, so what I’ve got isn’t probably going to be accurate or even make much sense in the long-run. I guess this is just Internet Be A GM 2010.

The Blues need some identity here (among some other things for that damn puzzle). Now, I know we can’t be some All-Star Eastern Conference team like the Caps or Penguins, and I know St. Louis can’t be as flashy (read: bandwagon-accessible) as Chicago.. but what I do know is that St. Louis fans still remember and enjoy old-school hockey. As much as I hate to say it, I think the Flyers play a pretty entertaining game.

What the Blues need is a solid mix between play-making goal-scorers and Ozark-dentists, and this lineup is close to getting that:

Forwards
1. Berglund-Backes-Oshie
2. Perron-Andy-Boyes
3. Steen-Jay-BJ
4. Winchester-Tkachuk-Janssen
Defense
1. Brewer-Johnson
2. Jackman-Polak
3. Weaver-Pie
Goalies
1. NotABackup?
2. Conklin/Mason

This isn’t a roster revelation because I’m far too unimaginative for that line of work. The idea here is a template lineup: poster-boy Backes centering the kids on the Top Line starts off a physical game with scoring wingers and a heavy-hitting offensive (look out, Nash), clearing the path for the Speed Line to play their brand of skill-game. The Defensive Line that we all know and love covers the panic-moments, and the Physical Line comes out to shake things up while keeping a scoring threat (it’s hard to get goals when your hands are filled with teeth). The Defense is a Top-Line that needs to meet expectations, dependabilibuddies throwing checks and “You’re an Idiot” looks left-and-right, and a reliable defensive-d who can cover for the newbie’s mistakes while killing Blackhawks. In net, we have an emotional decision: Mason’s contract is over, Conklin’s isn’t. Have to go for one of the two, and start searching for a franchise player (probably sooner than later).

So all in all?
On the offensive, we have strong physical play, batshit-insane scoring, reliable forwards to keep us anchored and a line that keeps the teeth-business booming. On the defensive, we have enough “you’re an idiot” looks and dangerous monkey-boys flying around to keep the net safe. In net.. well let’s hope we find someone to plug that gap.

Why would anyone want this?
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I don’t care if we ever get a Stanley Cup as long as we’ve got a team more exciting than a three-ring circus and an NHL that has a healthy fear of the rumble in the river city. Bettman may have forgotten about the West, but I still have a signed Kelly Chase/Tony Twist mousepad on my desk that demands blood.

I guess I’ll give my thoughts as well. I think the best way to go about this is look at what we have right now, and were they would fit going forward.

Forwards Signed Through Next Season on NHL roster.
Andy McDonald, Brad Boyes, David Backes, Jay McClement, TJ Oshie, Patrick Berglund, BJ Crombeen

Defensemen signed through Next Season on NHL roster.
Eric Brewer, Barrett Jackman, Roman Polak

Goaltender signed through Next Season on NHL Roster
Ty Conklin

That leaves us with this depth chart
McDonald/Backes/Boyes
?/Berglund/Oshie
?/?/?
???/McClement/Crombeen

Defensemen
Jackman/Polak
Brewer/?
?/???

Goalies
???
Conklin

Now, I’m not nearly as good as reading cap info as I used to be, but we’re looking at a good deal of cap space. Lets assume that we re-sign each of our “big 3” RFA’s, and either Cam or King, and update our depth chart.

McDonald/Backes/Boyes
Perron/Berglund/Oshie
Steen/?/?
???/McClement/Crombeen
Healthy Scratch: Jannsen

Defensemen
Jackman/Polak
Brewer/Johnson
?/?

Goalies
???
Conklin

Course, Jannsen could fit more into the “healthy scratch” role, and McClement and Crombeen, in a perfect world, are still more along the lines of PK duty type of players (Or McClement grows past it, which he’s close too. He still screams “really good 4th line C” to me.

Now, lets look at the prospects that you have to think are gonna be given a real shot at making the NHL roster. This year, there are 2 obvious canidates. Lars Eller is leading Peoria in points, is a former 1st round draft pick that’s been getting accustomed to the North American style of play. I’m not sure if you wanna call him a “lock” to make the NHL next year, but I’d say the odds are really good, and that it won’t be in a 4th line role.

Then there is Alex Pietrangelo. The development of Alex has been slower then I think we’d like, but the talent is there, and we put ourselves in a difficult position when we signed Sydor with him. I’d say there actually is a chance he goes to Peoria to play last year, but for sake of the argument, I’m going to assume he makes the NHL roster.

That leaves us with…

McDonald/Backes/Boyes
Perron/Berglund/Oshie
Steen/?/Eller
?/McClement/Crombeen
Healthy Scratch: Jannsen

Defensemen
Jackman/Polak
Brewer/Johnson
Pietrangelo/???

Goalies
???
Conklin

Now things are starting to come together! From here is when I stop being useful. If Tkachuk returns, he could fit into the 3rd line C role, if he retires, we could sign a C or RW since Eller is well versed at either. We can pick up a 4th line defensive minded player without much problem. Weaver could be a good 6th D-Man option, and Carlo could come back as well. There is also the possibility that we buy out the last year of Brewers contract.

The Goaltending front,, honestly, I have no clue what to say about the best options around.

Honestly, our free agent spending will probably be cheap players unless we get ballsy and make a run at Kovalchuk.

I still think we have to let the kids mature another year before we can get a more accurate read on what their ceiling is. As far as goal tending is concerned we talked about making a run at RFA Josh Harding last year and I would love to see that again. Or do what we have the last 3 years with a career backup being the starter (Conklin) and have him split time with Big Ben. Stempniak became a favorite of mine when the blues were complete shit so I am all for him returning. I know the blues have been painful to watch but I think trading away a Berglund/Perron/Petro and they become the players the blues thought they were going to be when we drafted them would be way more painful. Sign Stempniak cheap try to make a run at Kovy or offer some RFA contracts i.e Ryan, Backstrom, Wheeler

for next year

perron/macdonald/backes
kariya/oshie/berglund
steen/jay mc/ crombeen
winchester/thackuk/eller

johnson/brewer
jackman/ pietranglo
polak/cola

we should trade mcClement and jackman to the caps for neurwith and a young forward prospect. bring neurwith to camp and watch him win the starting job.