Poll & Discussion: Is Colaiacovo Expendable Now?

by Cole Youngner on Dec 2, 2011 7:52 PM CST

[Promoted FanPost.]

Wanted to pose this question to my fellow GT'ers, and I guess the more general question of what to do with our defensive roster once Cola and Huskins return.

I looked at our depth chart on D, noting the so far positive trade for Russell and the overall defensively solid play of Ian Cole. Eventually, Huskins will be back too, leaving us with 8 NHL-level defensemen: Petro, Polak, Jaxx, Shatty, Huskins, Cola, Russell, and Cole. Pretty sure we can all agree that Petro, Poalk, Jaxx, Shatty aren't going anywhere. I'd argue the same for Russell since he's a Hitchcock guy and has played well so far for us.

What does that give us? Three guys for the 6th spot, with one of the other two riding the bench as the 7th d-man. There is always the option to send Ian Cole back to Peoria and having either Russell, Huskins, or Carlo as the 7th guy. Still, I feel like Cole is getting ready to make the jump to the NHL, and I'd rather have him up here. That said, we could then trade Russell, or in my opinion, Cola since both are younger (24 & 28) and have offensive upside, which teams tend to desire or over-trade for. Right now, with Russell's play and Cola's recurring problem with injuries, I feel like trading him would be best. Of course it depends on what we can get for him, but in the end, it's a great problem that we have depth this year. That said, trading Huskins is an option (not sure what trade value there is in Veteran, defensive d-men), but I don't see it as a likely one.

What does everyone else think? Clicky on the polly because Kent Huskins cares.

Poll

What should we do with the Roster once Cola and Huskins are both back from injury?

Send Ian Cole Back Down & Have one of Russell, Huskins, Cola ride the bench

55 votes

Trade Russell

7 votes

Trade Cola

110 votes

Trade Huskins (he cares, do you?)

36 votes

208 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 1 recs |

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Comments

Okay, if management trades Colaiocovo...

Where does he go and what do the Blues get in return? I don’t think we’re going to see a Shattenkirk & Stewart for Johnson & McClement type of trade here.

Pros: decent defense & shot blocking. The shutdown half of a D pair.

Cons: Made of carnival glass.

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by Paperwork Ninja on Dec 2, 2011 2:03 PM CST reply actions

I always thought of cola as more of an offensive dman,

more so than a shutdown. He seems to be a puck mover more than anything. Especially when he first joined the team. I just think his defensive game has improved massively since he joined,

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by stlbluesfan029 on Dec 2, 2011 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

agreed

He is more of an offensive defenseman, imo

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by cold on Dec 2, 2011 5:06 PM CST up reply actions

You Two

are both right

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by Boomer9393 on Dec 2, 2011 11:41 PM CST up reply actions

wooo

first thought is both. i.e. cola is somewhat expendable and somewhat not tradable at the same time

it is the return to consider

coal is

last year of moderate contract

ufa next season

still with a large injury label on his forehead

so what do the blues get trading him? we know what we get keeping him, and i suspect, unless a team iinjury occurrs to change values, that what we get with cola when he is dressed is greater than what we get today if we traded cola

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by Childhood Trauma on Dec 2, 2011 5:55 PM CST up reply actions

I don't advocate a trade, but . . .

who else, really, would it be? Colaiacovo is a known commodity that doesn’t outwardly fit the new system here, so he’s my first bet being out of town.

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by Donut King on Dec 2, 2011 3:19 PM CST reply actions

Doesn't Ian Cole now have to pass through waivers to be sent down?

Or am I mistaken.. again…?

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by DanGNR on Dec 2, 2011 3:56 PM CST reply actions

I don't think so, because he's still on an ELC...

…but if I’m wrong, I’d like to change my answer in the poll.

I’ve always been a fan of Colaiacovo, even back when he was a Leaf, and I’d like to see him stay in St. Louis. But if I had to choose between Cole and Cola, then I keep the guy the Blues drafted… and if Cole can’t be sent down without passing through waivers, then Colaiacovo is the asset that would return the most in a trade, I think.

The organization is short on pro-ready center and left wing prospects. If the Blues could get a solid 21- or 22-year-old AHL player at either of those positions, and a third-round pick, for Colaiacovo, I’d take that at this point.

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by Tomorrows Blues on Dec 2, 2011 5:17 PM CST up reply actions

worth noting

- Not sure when Huskins returns (early January?). Carlo is probably back sooner.

- By the time one or both of those guys returns, what are the odds another defenseman is out hurt?

- Russell is more desirable to hang onto, still young (24). Plus the Blues traded a young defenseman for him, so its unlikely they’ll move him for the sake of moving him. Also, he is pretty cheap: 1.3mil for this year and next and then an RFA.

- Huskins is cheap and expendable and oldest. 1mil for this year then UFA. Probable trade bait for a team looking for a steady veteran plug-in (i.e. like the Blues were before the season started)

- Carlo is more expensive and expendable. Signed for 2.5mil for this year (slightly lower cap hit), then UFA. Probably trade bait for a team needing a power-play-capable defensive boost.

- Moving either Huskins or Carlo makes the Blues defensive corps just that much younger, which was probably the point of bringing Huskins in, in the first place. Though in actual games played terms, he is hardly an aged veteran. In fact, Russell and Carlo of each played more career games, though they are both much younger. Also Huskins hasn’t played in that many games for the Blues this season (no fault of his).

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by cold on Dec 2, 2011 5:35 PM CST reply actions

the thing is though

we have defensive depth in Peoria as well, cade fairchild played great. and few others as well

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by DESTROYER on Dec 3, 2011 3:04 PM CST up reply actions

yeah

Fairchild is green enough that he probably will stay back in Peoria for more seasoning, once the other guys come back from injury. He did look promising up in the bigs, though.

Am I right in describing Fairchild as sort of a Shattenkirk-esque guy?

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by cold on Dec 3, 2011 3:49 PM CST up reply actions

also

how has syvret looked, anyone know? he’s got a bunch of nhl time, i just don’t know how good he is, he’s bounced around a lot as a number 7.

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by Boomer9393 on Dec 3, 2011 11:41 PM CST up reply actions

given how the blues are prone to injury

i say keep everyone. more than likely, with the blues’ luck, they’ll need all the depth they can get.
i’m super excited for the rest of this year and next.
perron is back, and when happy meal comes back we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
next year bring in the tank. if he’s even half as good as he’s hyped, mmmmmmm.

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by Mars on Dec 2, 2011 5:47 PM CST reply actions

As long as you would be ok with not a ton in return.

I doubt he has much trade value considering his injury history. I bet we end up sending Cole back to Peoria, so we have insurance in case someone gets hurt. Or late in the season we give Jackman some nights off to keep him fresh for the playoffs. Either way I don’t advocate hurting our defensive depth.

by mulax6 on Dec 2, 2011 7:42 PM CST reply actions

esp

if we manage to keep up near the top in the standings, the depth will save us if something goes wrong.

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by Boomer9393 on Dec 2, 2011 11:42 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah

I’m starting to think this is the safest option. I also don’t think we will get much for Colaiacovo unless he starts playing well and putting up good numbers once he’s back.

Like Brian mentioned earlier, I’d take a decent AHL prospect and a draft pick for him…better than letting him just go to free agency imo

by Cole Youngner on Dec 3, 2011 1:57 PM CST up reply actions

Nope

Coli is good when he is healthy, let someone get some rest while he plays 12 good games then trips and breaks his leg getting out of bed. I love this guy, think he is great, but has a lesser degree of Gaborik disease. I will score a shit ton of points, especially on the powerplay, but then I am going to sit out 30 games. I don’t even think it is Coli’s fault, lots of freak shit, but damn, unlucky is unlucky, just ask Marc Savard.

by Whatablue on Dec 3, 2011 2:35 AM CST reply actions

Injury Prone

Cola Is the odd man out due to not being able to stay healthy , it is what it is. We will see what management decides but the majority has cola being traded, and I concur

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by Steve A Reno 1965 on Dec 3, 2011 6:40 AM CST reply actions