Doug Armstrong: Blues will match offer sheets for all RFAs

[Canada 02]

lots of hand wringing here in Blues land as contract talks have not started with any of their big RFAs including Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk, Chris Stewart and Patrik Berglund

“We haven’t really moved ahead with anyone yet,” Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said. “We’ll probably do that, I’d say, 10 days before the draft (June 28) to two weeks before the draft. We’ll talk to guys if they want to get something done sooner, we’re prepared, but history shows that these guys usually don’t sign until after the free-agency period starts.”

“We’re going to want it the way we think is proper for the St. Louis Blues. If there’s an offer sheet there, we’re very content with where we are with the NHL salary cap, we’re going to be able to match any offer and we will. These are core players that we’re not going to let go.”

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hocke...f9d474726.html

[Rapidfire999]

Offer sheet pietrangelo!

I bet pietrangelo will get an offer sheet from a team

[malcolmk14]

What else would he say?

[kirant]

Offer maximum salary to all of them!

[Erick Estrada]

Easy to say but the last few RFA (WEber and ROR) contracts were ridiculously high contracts and I don't believe for a second the Blues have the money to start handing out a bunch of those types of deals. IMO this is simply a swatting at the vultures.

[Brodie66]

Originally Posted by kirant

Offer maximum salary to all of them!

[The Yen Man]

Haven't checked if they could or couldn't (not sure if they have all their picks), but I expect Philly to offersheet Pietrangelo.

[bubbsy]

really curious what the blues internal cap is.

they have $24.5 million but have to sign some key guys:
Forwards:
- stewart
- berglund

Defencemen:
- pietrangelo
- russel
- shattenkirk

goaltenders:
- halak
- elliot

Not that they're necessarily signing those guys, (or other guys i didn't mention). They could likely fit all these guys in, but would require them to spend close to the cap.

[Knut]

Stewart and Russell will likely be gone. Pietrangelo is the big fish to get locked up. Halak and elliot... i wonder if Halak gets moved ?

[the-rasta-masta]

The Flames have the cap space... it would be worth tossing an offer sheet at Pietrangelo.

[Knut]

Not really... would need multiple first rounders.

[Canada 02]

From Pietrangelo's draft class, Doughty makes $7M, Karlsson makes $6.5M and Myers makes $5.5M. Alex slots in somewhere between Myers and Karlsson, say at $6 to 6.25M

Shattenkirk numbers favorably comparable to John Carlson or Roman Josi's new contract. So perhaps something in around $4.25 to 4.5M

Berglund and Stewart have career numbers similar to Perron and Oshie, so contracts in the $3.8 to 4M range

$18M+ to go with the current $41M for 16 players.

I'd expect the Blues to move Halak, if possible. Perhaps packaged with Berglund or Stewart, preferably Stewart.

[WilderPegasus]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

The Flames have the cap space... it would be worth tossing an offer sheet at Pietrangelo.

The Flames are not a stage in their rebuild where it makes sense to give up first rounders for any player.

[united]

From the 2013 CBA:

GROUP 2 COMPENSATION CHART
OFFER SHEET-------------------COMPENSATION
$1,110,249 or below-------------None
Over $1,110,249 to $1,682,194--Third Round
Over $1,682,194 to $3,364,391--Second Round
Over $3,364,391 to $5,046,585--First Round and Third Round
Over $5,046,585 to $6,728,781--First Round, Second Round, and Third Round
Over $6,728,781 to $8,410,976--Two First Rounds, Second Round, and Third Round
Over $8,410,976----------------Four First Rounds

[Locke]

I cant believe they havent locked up Pietrangelo.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by the-rasta-masta

The Flames have the cap space... it would be worth tossing an offer sheet at Pietrangelo.

It would cost us our next four 1st round picks...

[GilmourforLeeman]

I know we have 3 goalies for camp next year but do you consider Halak? Considering the Blues need the cap space, Halak may be had for cheap??

[CalgaryFan1988]

I'd offer them a 2nd for Bouwmeester to help free up cap space for them. Im all about helping.

[Canada 02]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

It would cost us our next four 1st round picks...

$8.4M+ for Pietrangelo? That would make him the 5th highest cap hit in the league

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Canada 02

$8.4M+ for Pietrangelo? That would make him the 5th highest cap hit in the league

If I remember correctly, offer sheet compensation is calculated over a total of no more than 5 years. So if we offered him a 7 year, $52.5M contract, we'd have to pay compensation equal to $52.5M / 5 years = $10.5M

My numbers are probably wrong, but I'm pretty sure it goes something like this.