Blues Trade Leopold to Blue Jackets

[bluenotekidd]

http://blues.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=739300

Clearing cap space maybe?

[STLADOGG]

An NHL player for a 5th rounder?
$2,250,000.

[drwoland]

Must mean they think Cole is ready to play more. Wish they'd call up someone younger instead of Butler and his -23 last season..

[cardsfan04]

Definitely a cap move.

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I'm not sure what JR is referring to about cap space growing. Not sure if he means more moves are coming over the next few months or if being below the cap one day adds room to the cap the next day making it progressively increase cap space.

[not_a_wings_fan]

Well that was left field. Glad Leo will get to play. He's a veteran guy and should be on the ice or moved where he can be.

Cap space. Nice.

5th rounder? /scratches head.

[APOD]

An NHL player for a 5th rounder?
$2,250,000.

Rather get something than not play him all year and let him walk at the end.

[Winning Unlimited]

I thought the Blues would unload Leopold much earlier. I think the catalyst was Gunnarsson returning from injury, and has lately been a presence for our blue line. The rumors are now going to circulate around how the extra cap space can be used best. Personally, I think this should be used to facilitate a lucrative round table discussion with boardroom professionalist arrangements.

But seriously, Berglund is approaching Brewer's intimidating presence. It is difficult to see how the Blues / Armstrong could get fair value for him. Straight up... Berglund for Chris Stewart? What about.... Trade Berglund for picks and bring back SoboCop?

[dmiles2186]

Those fretting on how we are going to sign Senko, here is step one. Even if we make a "buy now" move at the deadline, it won't hurt us in the long run. Reall, we get cap space, a low pick, and Leopold can stop rotting in the press box. I'm fine with it. It's not Earth shattering but not every trade is. Curious to see if Army has something else up his sleeve in the next month or two.

[glen a richter]

This is definitely step one. Never liked Leopold being on the team anyway.

Now to clear up another 6 or 7 mil to guarantee Vova retention.

[cardsfan04]

Yeah, agreed it's definitely step 1. I'm curious what step 2 is and when we'll see it. Is step 2 more cap space, a trade before the deadline, or using the cap space for offseason signings.

I doubt we see step 2 for awhile though. If we could trade Berglund or Ott to free up some more space, I'd be all for it. I'm not as down on Ott as some of you are though. I think there's a really big contrast between Ott last year and this year.

[glen a richter]

Yeah, agreed it's definitely step 1. I'm curious what step 2 is and when we'll see it. Is step 2 more cap space, a trade before the deadline, or using the cap space for offseason signings.

I doubt we see step 2 for awhile though. If we could trade Berglund or Ott to free up some more space, I'd be all for it. I'm not as down on Ott as some of you are though. I think there's a really big contrast between Ott last year and this year.

If it were at all possible, I'd swap Ott out and Barbashev in right now.

[The Flake]

Great News!! I was never sold on Leopold (above most of the other D talent we had now or at the time of the trade...especially for the money) Same for Ott. I don't care for either on the Blues. Hopefully he is next.

I'm pulling for Berglund to get his head out of his butt but I'm afraid he is next in line to depart. As opposed to others on this board, I still believe he has some value to another team in the open market.

[cardsfan04]

Yeah, agreed it's definitely step 1. I'm curious what step 2 is and when we'll see it. Is step 2 more cap space, a trade before the deadline, or using the cap space for offseason signings.

I doubt we see step 2 for awhile though. If we could trade Berglund or Ott to free up some more space, I'd be all for it. I'm not as down on Ott as some of you are though. I think there's a really big contrast between Ott last year and this year.

If it were at all possible, I'd swap Ott out and Barbashev in right now.

Every time I hear his name I think of Barbasol.

[ecbm]

If it were at all possible, I'd swap Ott out and Barbashev in right now.

Agreed. Ott isn't as useless as he was when playing hurt last year but his $2.7 cap hit is ridiculous for a nailed-on 4th liner with very little scoring upside who takes penalties but doesn't fight. He's no more productive than Reaves, has less energy and costs more than twice as much. Leopold falls into the same boat for me and, honestly maybe even Berglund. All guys who the Blues may hope look more valuable to other teams than us who will then take them off our hands despite their somewhat significant salaries. I think #21's gonna have to score some before that happens though. Three years at $3.6 per is something most teams will think long & hard about before taking.

Good move to clear space; he's basically another Jackman and one of those is quite enough, thanks. As for Butler, he'll be a healthy scratch and the prospects can keep getting ice time. This means more time for Cole. We'll see how that works out...

[ViPeRx007]

Shouldn't the title be, "Blues Give Leopold to Blue Jackets"?

I mean, really, a 5th rounder 2 years from now? You couldn't have gotten anything better from a team who is desperate for D help? I realize that money is the main reason for this move, but still.

[ecbm]

Shouldn't the title be, "Blues Give Leopold to Blue Jackets"?

I mean, really, a 5th rounder 2 years from now? You couldn't have gotten anything better from a team who is desperate for D help? I realize that money is the main reason for this move, but still.

It's a cap move, man. Do the rules allow you to give a guy away for nothing? If so, they might well have done that. You know the old "Future Considerations". The Blues are up against it and looking even just medium-term #91, 17 & 34 are going to have to be paid in the next few years. The ice time freed up will give some D prospects a chance to play too.

Now hoping for more desperate takers for Ott & Berglund.

[ViPeRx007]

Shouldn't the title be, "Blues Give Leopold to Blue Jackets"?

I mean, really, a 5th rounder 2 years from now? You couldn't have gotten anything better from a team who is desperate for D help? I realize that money is the main reason for this move, but still.

It's a cap move, man. Do the rules allow you to give a guy away for nothing? If so, they might well have done that. You know the old "Future Considerations". The Blues are up against it and looking even just medium-term #91, 17 & 34 are going to have to be paid in the next few years. The ice time freed up will give some D prospects a chance to play too.

Now hoping for more desperate takers for Ott & Berglund.

I understand that. I know it was a cap move; I basically said that at the end of my comment. It's not like Leopold is garbage though. He's a veteran who's fairly dependable and would be a starter on a lot of teams. I guess we're desperate for cap space, so it makes sense to just dump some people for whatever we can get. I'm just greedy and was hoping to pick up a few bonus pieces; nothing huge, obviously, but something a bit more than a 5th rounder.

[gaijin]

Shouldn't the title be, "Blues Give Leopold to Blue Jackets"?

I mean, really, a 5th rounder 2 years from now? You couldn't have gotten anything better from a team who is desperate for D help? I realize that money is the main reason for this move, but still.

It's a cap move, man. Do the rules allow you to give a guy away for nothing? If so, they might well have done that. You know the old "Future Considerations". The Blues are up against it and looking even just medium-term #91, 17 & 34 are going to have to be paid in the next few years. The ice time freed up will give some D prospects a chance to play too.

Now hoping for more desperate takers for Ott & Berglund.

I understand that. I know it was a cap move; I basically said that at the end of my comment. It's not like Leopold is garbage though. He's a veteran who's fairly dependable and would be a starter on a lot of teams. I guess we're desperate for cap space, so it makes sense to just dump some people for whatever we can get. I'm just greedy and was hoping to pick up a few bonus pieces; nothing huge, obviously, but something a bit more than a 5th rounder.

I have to agree with Viper. We really couldn't get a 4th Round pick? We had to settle for a 5th Rounder?

[glen a richter]

Getting something other than a draft pick would have really defeated the purpose. A body we don't want to pay for a body we'd have to pay? A draft pick was the best option, and even though it's buried deep into the draft, it's not unprecedented to get someone good in the 5th round. I don't take issue with the return for a guy we were never using again anyway.

[ViPeRx007]

Shouldn't the title be, "Blues Give Leopold to Blue Jackets"?

I mean, really, a 5th rounder 2 years from now? You couldn't have gotten anything better from a team who is desperate for D help? I realize that money is the main reason for this move, but still.

It's a cap move, man. Do the rules allow you to give a guy away for nothing? If so, they might well have done that. You know the old "Future Considerations". The Blues are up against it and looking even just medium-term #91, 17 & 34 are going to have to be paid in the next few years. The ice time freed up will give some D prospects a chance to play too.

Now hoping for more desperate takers for Ott & Berglund.

I understand that. I know it was a cap move; I basically said that at the end of my comment. It's not like Leopold is garbage though. He's a veteran who's fairly dependable and would be a starter on a lot of teams. I guess we're desperate for cap space, so it makes sense to just dump some people for whatever we can get. I'm just greedy and was hoping to pick up a few bonus pieces; nothing huge, obviously, but something a bit more than a 5th rounder.

I have to agree with Viper. We really couldn't get a 4th Round pick? We had to settle for a 5th Rounder?

I can't tell if you're making fun of me now or not...lol.