St. Louis to Make Many Changes

With the upset of Turek's play in the Conference Finals, St. Louis Blues General Manager Larry Pleau knows some changes need to be made before training camp next season.

First and foremost, the Blues top need is at 1st line center. It has been said that Larry Pleau will not resign the 31 year old Pierre Turgeon. This will undoubtedly leave a big hole in the Blues roster. Larry Pleau has recently been disgruntled after Roman Turek and deadline pick up Keith Tkachuk did not play to their potential in the post season. For this, he feels he needs to make a big deal .. and soon. For this reason I would think that the Blues will make a mighty offer to Joe Sakic, who came off of a 118 point season. However, it is suspected that Sakic will stay with the Avalanche. Another reported deal would make Mats Sundin the Blues top center. After this weeks transaction of the Leafs acquiring Reichel from Phoenix, they are willing to give up the struggling center for some young offensive support. It is well known that young prospects are common in St. Louis in forms of Daniel Corso, Marty Reasoner, and Jochen Hecht. The Blues are most likely to give up Reasoner in the off-season after another disappointing season. There are also hints that they will make a run for Lapointe, but if they retain Tkachuk to a reasonable salary, look for Lapointe to head to the Islanders along with Jagr.

The Blues will most likely make a good offer to retain Scott Mellanby. He was a great leader for the season and post season and has said he would like to stay in the Blues uniform.

Look to see the highly coveted Mike Van Ryn to dress in a Blues uniform next season. Its highly known that the Blues aging defense needs speed and young agility that Van Ryn, with training, can achieve. Al MacInnis will most likely have only next year or one more after that and then he will call it quits.

If Pleau wants a Stanley Cup ring on his finger, don't count on Roman Turek to be playing for the Blues next season. If the Blues do not retain him, he will become an unrestricted free agent. The most likely situation will be that the Blues will sign Turek to a low-income contract; most likely around 2 to 3 million a year. Then, the Blues will milk his talent for another goaltender, which is looking to be Nikolai Khabibulin. When Khabibulin took that fateful trip to Tampa Bay, he immediately told his agent he wanted out. With a lot of talent and leadership that the Blues have, it would be very possible to pry Khabibulin away from Tampa. Something around Turek and the often-injured Demitra could go for Khabibulin and either a couple high picks or a great prospect such as Ekman or more. Along with the center situation, don't be surprised if Lecavalier comes to St. Louis. Although most would say Tampa would never trade Lecavalier, Brad Richards stepped up his game and Lecavalier's leadership is running low on such a young team. If Pleau can't lang Khabibulin in the city of the Arch, look for him to make a gigantic offer to three time Conn Smythe winner Patrick Roy. Its reported that Roy would like to move out of Colorado after the jail situation happened between his wife and he. The town then only supported him when he played well. Patrick Roy would like to go to a Stanley Cup contending team and it would be of no surprise to him coming to St. Louis under a gigantic contract. It will be interesting what Larry Pleau will do in the off-season and we all can't wait to see where greats like Jagr, Audette, and Lindros could go.

Go Blues!

By IceBlaze41