Blues' offseason roster moves hinge on re-signing Tarasenko, Allen
ST. LOUIS -- Less than a month away from the start of NHL free agency, the St. Louis Blues appear to have two key in-house items at the top of their checklist.
First is solidifying the contract of impending restricted free agent Vladimir Tarasenko, who is still on his entry-level deal. It's what Armstrong identified as a priority for the club at the offseason's outset, and there's no reason to assume that's changed. Besides, until that dollar figure is solidified, it's difficult to know how much space is left, or what else needs to change, to negotiate other contracts.
In an interview on KMOX last Sunday, Armstrong said he recently exchanged texts with Tarasenko's agent, Mike Liut, and that they "hoped to get together in the near future."
"I'd like to get both on the phone to set the ground terms for the contract," he added, referring to Liut and Tarasenko.
After Tarasenko, it's likely the Blues' next priority will be a contract for goaltender Jake Allen, also a restricted free agent come July 1. Last year, the club signed netminder Brian Elliott to a three-year contract, yet the more the organization talks, the clearer it becomes that Allen is part of the young core of players to whom the Blues are shifting focus.
"Last year, it was Elliott's job to lose," Armstrong told KMOX. "Now, at worst it's a dead heat. Jake is our goalie of the future."
He's also about to get way more expensive. His overall paycheck last year equaled $850,000, according to the Post-Dispatch. But if you've identified him as the goaltender of the future, who's already possibly nudged your $2.5 million-per-year-average cap-hit goaltender out of his starting job, you've basically broadcast that he's worth a nice payday, even if it's a bridge deal.
With Tarasenko and Allen virtual locks to get new contracts, where does that leave the rest of the roster?
In this instance, the tea leaves are hard to read on who else stays, and who goes in either free agency or to make room for the Blues' newly professed playing style headed into next season. A few appear to be locks: In addition to Tarasenko and Allen, Armstrong identified Kevin Shattenkirk, Alex Pietrangelo and Jaden Schwartz as players with long-term futures in St. Louis. The teams want faster, more reckless play in 2015-16, which could easily be solved by promoting young players within the organization's system, a move Armstrong indicated he'd at least attempt at the beginning of the season. Of course, add too many, and you end up dealing with plenty of rookie mistakes that, considering the franchise is not in a full-fledged rebuild, appear unnecessary.
To add anyone, however, there has to be a roster spot to move them to. It's unclear to what extent that involves thinning out the "aging" Blues core, as Armstrong identified it -- players in their late 20s/early 30s. Coach Ken Hitchcock said he could use the personnel he already has to alter the team's playing style, but that doesn't guarantee there won't be changes. If the Blues decide they need outside help, it may require shifting some franchise stalwarts to make financial room. Very few of their forwards are heading into free agency -- the list is essentially Chris Porter and Marcel Goc. Goc had a cap hit last year of $1.2 million, while Porter's salary, according to the Post-Dispatch, was $700,000. Goc ended up playing in only four of the Blues' six playoff games, which makes it unclear whether the team will think he's worth the price tag. Forward Olli Jokinen, who played sparingly for the club after his March arrival and didn't see ice time in the playoffs, is likely not part of the conversation.
The defense is another issue. There's Robert Bortuzzo, a restricted free agent. Armstrong has indicated he'd like to bring back the blueliner, who fits the younger, reckless style the Blues hope to embody next season. He's also interested in giving AHLer Petteri Lindbohm, who saw some time with the club this season, even more opportunity, which takes up another spot on defense. Meanwhile, re-signing the Blues' free-agent class on the blueline would be expensive -- Barret Jackman's cap hit was over $3 million last year, and Zbynek Michalek, acquired from the Coyotes in March, had a cap hit of $4 million headed into last season. Chris Butler's two-way contract was $650,000, but he also spent most of the year as a healthy scratch.
All told, the news looks least promising for Jackman, a victim of both the age and financial considerations. Should the Blues let him walk, it will also require tweaking their penalty-kill unit -- Jackman had the third-most shorthanded minutes of any Blues player this season. Michalek, meanwhile, seemed to have a good rapport with the club, particularly thanks to his shot-blocking ability. His biggest hurdle will likely be financial, as the Blues figure out his value to the club relative to the size of his contract.
Overall, it's going to be difficult to figure out logistics until Tarasenko is signed, and the salary cap is set. But one thing is certain: The window of time before the July 1 deadline is closing.
You can follow Elisabeth Meinecke on Twitter at @lismeinecke or email her at ecmeinecke@gmail.com.
