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I hate those "How I would Improve the Blues" articles. So I wrote one. I traded everybody on the Blues roster for Sidney Crosby, Dominik Hasek, and the 1972 Montreal Canadiens. (Sounds like Army's plans, except replace the Canadiens with the 2002 Dallas Stars.) I hated the article. I hated myself for writing it.
But then Jason Spezza asked for a trade. Spezza was a target of the Blues before they went after Ryan "5%" Miller. Rumors are out there again. Supposedly Ottawa wants a player, a prospect, and a first round pick for Spezza.
Anyway, let's look at the lineup if we get Spezza. A few necessary assumptions:
Say goodbye:
Ott, Morrow, Roy, Cola, Miller.
Resign
Schwartz 1 year $2.5m (It's about what Oshie got in his bridge deal.)
Sobotka 3 years $3m/yr (Using Berglund as a yardstick)
Patrik Berglund, Ty Rattie, and something for Jason Spezza.
Not sure I would give up yet another first round pick for Spezza. He has only 1 year left on his deal which could be a minus if he walks after one season. Not sure why the NHL doesn't do those NBA-style sign-and-trade deals. If I could lock Spezza in for another 2 years at a reasonable number (say $5m a season) I would like a trade a lot better.
Filling out the roster:
Call up Jaskin and Porter. Resign Cracknell. Move Sobotka to 3C. Move Lindstrom in to 4C.
CAPGEEK.COM ARMCHAIR GM ROSTER
CABF Option 4
FORWARDS
Alexander Steen ($5.800m) / David Backes ($4.500m) / T.J. Oshie ($4.175m)
Jaden Schwartz ($2.500m) / Jason Spezza ($7.000m) / Vladimir Tarasenko ($0.900m)
Magnus Paajarvi ($1.200m) / Vladimir Sobotka ($3.000m) / Dmitrij Jaskin ($0.773m)
Ryan Reaves ($1.125m) / Joakim Lindstrom ($0.700m) / Chris Porter ($0.675m)
Maxim Lapierre ($1.100m) / Adam Cracknell ($0.600m)
DEFENSEMEN
Alex Pietrangelo ($6.500m) / Jay Bouwmeester ($5.400m)
Kevin Shattenkirk ($4.250m) / Barret Jackman ($3.167m)
Roman Polak ($2.750m) / Jordan Leopold ($2.250m)
Ian Cole ($0.825m) /
GOALTENDERS
Brian Elliott ($2.500m)
Jake Allen ($0.800m)
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CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(estimations for 2014-15)
SALARY CAP: $71,100,000; CAP PAYROLL: $62,489,167; BONUSES: $971,667
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $8,610,833
The cap will probably be less than $71.1m, but this still leaves enough to sign another winger.