Jason Millen: Some interesting quotes after Game 7 Some interesting quotes after Game 7

What a wild ride. This is everything and more that I ever dreamed of.

Thanks for all the time you put into this season and previous years as well Jason.

Happy for all the blues fans

GM's on tilt again. kevin Hayes gets 7 years and 50mm.

Erik Karlsson having an 11mm cap hit at age 37 (will it look like Duncan Keith's deal or Brent Seabrook's deal at that point?)

Cap is going to be stagnating the next 2-3 years, in order to get escrow lowered and avoid a lockout. Hayes & Karlsson deals are good signs for the Blues, two less teams with the cap structure to be competitive

It's so amazing. I remember watching the game 1 versus San Jose and saying to someone: They are way better than this; but considering how this season went everything from here on out is gravy.

They were truly relentless. Ten road play off victories.

And on Binnington: I told you so😜

Now I am interested in what moves are made. Do we need to pay Bozak $5million a year? Seems kind of superflous with Thomas. There's a lot of youth ready to be served. Sanford and Kyrou deserve ice time. Fabbri needs another season as he never really looked terrible and he still has a chance of finding his game.

GM's on tilt again. kevin Hayes gets 7 years and 50mm.

Erik Karlsson having an 11mm cap hit at age 37 (will it look like Duncan Keith's deal or Brent Seabrook's deal at that point?)
- Jason Millen

Both vast over payments. Hayes is good but not that good. Karlsson is elite but that's a lot.

Of course I think Bozak at $5million is an over pay.

Nice work on this one, Jay.

Hayes and Karlsson contracts are stupid. Every offseason we see this craziness.

Hayes will be a year younger than Backes is right now at the completion of this deal. He’s scored 20 goals once in his career. How is he worth $7+ million a year?

Karlsson will be 37 when this deal wraps. He could have the longevity, but $11.5 million a year is a steep bet, considering the league keeps getting younger and he’s ONE GUY. If the cap goes to $85 million, that’s like 12% of your total team. He’s literally being paid what a good GM could pay two or three players. I’m sorry, but look at what the Blues did this year. It’s not necessary.

Read an article the other day that suggested Edmonton and Vancouver might swap Lucic for Eriksson. Two more bad contracts that teams have juggle (and possibly have to give up good assets to shed).

Both vast over payments. Hayes is good but not that good. Karlsson is elite but that's a lot.

Of course I think Bozak at $5million is an over pay.
- BluemanGuruu

With Bozak being a center, it seems likely that the Blues would be more likely to buy out Steen than move Bozak. I’m guessing you’d want to see both? Seems like Armstrong’s approach is to give his coaches extra face off guys. Also, Bozak’s versatility is like Steen 2.0. He can slide up and down the lineup.

With regard to Thomas, where does he fit? Seems like a top 6 winger with a side job of face offs when needed.

I’m going to make a blasphemous statement here. If the Blues could get a young defensive prospect and a pick for Petro right now, do you do it? Could Zaitsev be an option, considering Parayko will slide up?

Is Jake Allen’s contract moveable? Edmonton?

Btw - sorry if this feels like it’s too soon to be talking this way...

Is Jake Allen’s contract moveable? Edmonton?

Btw - sorry if this feels like it’s too soon to be talking this way...

I love Binnington, but I think we need to hold onto Allen. What if Binner regresses? Gets hurt? Allen thrives in a 1a / 2b situation. We have tons of space and don't need to add anybody. Just play it out and let him raise his value.

I love Binnington, but I think we need to hold onto Allen. What if Binner regresses? Gets hurt? Allen thrives in a 1a / 2b situation. We have tons of space and don't need to add anybody. Just play it out and let him raise his value.
- cuethenoise

For sure. I’m just wondering, with all of the RFAs we’ve got and UFAs on the back line, if we need to find cost savings in the roster we have for the coming year. We’ve seen back ups brought in from outside the organization that looked out of sight for way less money (Elliot, Conklin).

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/blues

RFAs
Binnington
Dunn
Edmonton
Sundqvist
Sanford
Blais
Fabbri
Barbashev
Schmaltz

UFAs
Maroon
Gunnarsson
Del Zotto

Is Schmaltz ready to step into the NHL? Is he going to play the off-side (righty on the left side)?

Also, I wonder if the finances have changed for Armstrong, where ownership will let him spend to the cap...

cup drinkers

GM's on tilt again. kevin Hayes gets 7 years and 50mm.

Erik Karlsson having an 11mm cap hit at age 37 (will it look like Duncan Keith's deal or Brent Seabrook's deal at that point?)
- Jason Millen

So terrible for Philly on the Hayes deal. What does Schenn command next year if Hayes gets 50m?

GM's on tilt again. kevin Hayes gets 7 years and 50mm.

Erik Karlsson having an 11mm cap hit at age 37 (will it look like Duncan Keith's deal or Brent Seabrook's deal at that point?)
- Jason Millen

Jay, do you think these GMs are doing cap projections out that far? Is the league really seeing revenue growth to support these numbers???

I love Binnington, but I think we need to hold onto Allen. What if Binner regresses? Gets hurt? Allen thrives in a 1a / 2b situation. We have tons of space and don't need to add anybody. Just play it out and let him raise his value.
- cuethenoise

I agree. Keep Allen until Husso proves he can at least be your back up (he was terrible last year). Allen very quietly played excellently in the back up role in almost all road starts. Cap space is always important obviously but will become more important next year when Petro and Schenn are both up.

I agree. Keep Allen until Husso proves he can at least be your back up (he was terrible last year). Allen very quietly played excellently in the back up role in almost all road starts. Cap space is always important obviously but will become more important next year when Petro and Schenn are both up.
- Yeah Boyes

I think another component that isn't getting much visibility right now is posturing for the expansion draft. Making sure key younger guys don't get exposed and doing smart deals that leave you in a good spot moving forward with the Cap.

Can easily point to Perron situation and say look we may have to expose you but if you get signed we positioned it so youre an UFA next year. Happy to have you back type deal.

I think another component that isn't getting much visibility right now is posturing for the expansion draft. Making sure key younger guys don't get exposed and doing smart deals that leave you in a good spot moving forward with the Cap.

Can easily point to Perron situation and say look we may have to expose you but if you get signed we positioned it so youre an UFA next year. Happy to have you back type deal.
- Gerk

That’s a great point! Is the Seattle expansion set for next summer?

I'm OK if the Blues would be able to find a viable trade partner for Jake Allen, because of the dollars, but I'm good with him staying here in a back up role as well.

I thought he did a decent job as a back up. As long as he continues to be a good teammate, and is accepting of that role.

Jay, do you think these GMs are doing cap projections out that far? Is the league really seeing revenue growth to support these numbers???
- eggsegan

The higher side of the UFA market is often an overpay. I get the buying of UFA years concept but it still is often an overpay.

I think another component that isn't getting much visibility right now is posturing for the expansion draft. Making sure key younger guys don't get exposed and doing smart deals that leave you in a good spot moving forward with the Cap.

Can easily point to Perron situation and say look we may have to expose you but if you get signed we positioned it so youre an UFA next year. Happy to have you back type deal.
- Gerk

This is very true imho.

I think another component that isn't getting much visibility right now is posturing for the expansion draft. Making sure key younger guys don't get exposed and doing smart deals that leave you in a good spot moving forward with the Cap.

Can easily point to Perron situation and say look we may have to expose you but if you get signed we positioned it so youre an UFA next year. Happy to have you back type deal.
- Gerk

Is Perron going to get picked again, then sign another deal with the Blues once he becomes an UFA?

Interesting news today that confirmed what I have been saying for years.

Sports Capital Holdings LLC, a portfolio of Towerbrook sold it's remaining interest in the Blues to local ownership, presumably to the other existing owners.

There is a lot of word-smithing and inaccuracy surrounding what has occurred over the last 7 or so years based on my sources and knowledge of the situation as well as similar situations. The Athletic may have gotten the closest.

Let's dispel some myths:

Myth 1- Dave Checketts owned the team. Checketts was the face of the ownership group and may have had a very small percentage of ownership or synthentic ownership (think like stock options).

Myth 2- Sports Capital Partners sold the team to Stillman. TowerBrook owned Sports Capital Holdings LLC which owned the vast majority of the Blues. Stillman had a minority interest in the Blues. It is my understanding that TowerBrook through SCH LLC sold a significant percentage to Stillman's local ownership group (add in the Danforth's, Taylors', WWT owner, etc). It is my understanding that TowerBrook through SCH LLC still held a material ownership interest in the Blues.

Let's use a wordsmith example....

Let's say Carcus and other minority owners own 95% of the Blues and I own 5%. I bring in Droogie, Guru, Antilles, Gerk, Bleedblue, Bcal, et all to form a group to buy 46% from Carcus and the others.

Carcus now owns 49% of the Blues so he technically has a minority stake in the Blues. He also technically would still be the major stakeholder. You can be the largest owner and still have a minority stake/interest. Remember how I always say figures lie and liars figure. Words can be used similarly. The percentages are not the actual percentages in the Blues transaction but were used for illustrative purposes.

A lot of the local media kept saying how Sports Capital Holdings LLC (they incorrectly referred to them as Sports Capital Partners) had sold the team to Stillman which wasn't true as they sold only part of their interest to the local ownership group. Stillman was almost being represented like Bill Laurie which wouldn't be a fair comparison.

If you split the local ownership group investment down to the person, I bet it would surprise a lot of people to know how much Stillman's individual, personal attributable ownership is.

This doesn't diminish Stillman or his role. He worked to put the group together and the get the deal done and is the appointed representative of the local ownership group. He also definitely has a ton more skin in the game than Checketts.

None of this really matters to the average fan but the misinformation is pretty amazing considering how some relatively easy research would have corrected a lot of it.

Interesting news today that confirmed what I have been saying for years.

Sports Capital Holdings LLC, a portfolio of Towerbrook sold it's remaining interest in the Blues to local ownership, presumably to the other existing owners.

There is a lot of word-smithing and inaccuracy surrounding what has occurred over the last 7 or so years based on my sources and knowledge of the situation as well as similar situations. The Athletic may have gotten the closest.

Let's dispel some myths:

Myth 1- Dave Checketts owned the team. Checketts was the face of the ownership group and may have had a very small percentage of ownership or synthentic ownership (think like stock options).

Myth 2- Sports Capital Partners sold the team to Stillman. TowerBrook owned Sports Capital Holdings LLC which owned the vast majority of the Blues. Stillman had a minority interest in the Blues. It is my understanding that TowerBrook through SCH LLC sold a significant percentage to Stillman's local ownership group (add in the Danforth's, Taylors', WWT owner, etc). It is my understanding that TowerBrook through SCH LLC still held a material ownership interest in the Blues.

Let's use a wordsmith example....

Let's say Carcus and other minority owners own 95% of the Blues and I own 5%. I bring in Droogie, Guru, Antilles, Gerk, Bleedblue, Bcal, et all to form a group to buy 46% from Carcus and the others.

Carcus now owns 49% of the Blues so he technically has a minority stake in the Blues. He also technically would still be the major stakeholder. You can be the largest owner and still have a minority stake/interest. Remember how I always say figures lie and liars figure. Words can be used similarly. The percentages are not the actual percentages in the Blues transaction but were used for illustrative purposes.

A lot of the local media kept saying how Sports Capital Holdings LLC (they incorrectly referred to them as Sports Capital Partners) had sold the team to Stillman which wasn't true as they sold only part of their interest to the local ownership group. Stillman was almost being represented like Bill Laurie which wouldn't be a fair comparison.

If you split the local ownership group investment down to the person, I bet it would surprise a lot of people to know how much Stillman's individual, personal attributable ownership is.

This doesn't diminish Stillman or his role. He worked to put the group together and the get the deal done and is the appointed representative of the local ownership group. He also definitely has a ton more skin in the game than Checketts.

None of this really matters to the average fan but the misinformation is pretty amazing considering how some relatively easy research would have corrected a lot of it.
- Jason Millen

I've always heard Stillman was in for around 20% and largest single shareholder of the group. To further muddy the waters he is also son in law to Danforth which also holds an ownership %. Sprinkle in a handful of other smaller owners plus Kavanaugh (World Wide Tech) and Taylors (Enterprise). Kavanaugh and Taylors also would be primary owner of any MLS team that comes to town.

Interesting news today that confirmed what I have been saying for years.

Sports Capital Holdings LLC, a portfolio of Towerbrook sold it's remaining interest in the Blues to local ownership, presumably to the other existing owners.

There is a lot of word-smithing and inaccuracy surrounding what has occurred over the last 7 or so years based on my sources and knowledge of the situation as well as similar situations. The Athletic may have gotten the closest.

Let's dispel some myths:

Myth 1- Dave Checketts owned the team. Checketts was the face of the ownership group and may have had a very small percentage of ownership or synthentic ownership (think like stock options).

Myth 2- Sports Capital Partners sold the team to Stillman. TowerBrook owned Sports Capital Holdings LLC which owned the vast majority of the Blues. Stillman had a minority interest in the Blues. It is my understanding that TowerBrook through SCH LLC sold a significant percentage to Stillman's local ownership group (add in the Danforth's, Taylors', WWT owner, etc). It is my understanding that TowerBrook through SCH LLC still held a material ownership interest in the Blues.

Let's use a wordsmith example....

Let's say Carcus and other minority owners own 95% of the Blues and I own 5%. I bring in Droogie, Guru, Antilles, Gerk, Bleedblue, Bcal, et all to form a group to buy 46% from Carcus and the others.

Carcus now owns 49% of the Blues so he technically has a minority stake in the Blues. He also technically would still be the major stakeholder. You can be the largest owner and still have a minority stake/interest. Remember how I always say figures lie and liars figure. Words can be used similarly. The percentages are not the actual percentages in the Blues transaction but were used for illustrative purposes.

A lot of the local media kept saying how Sports Capital Holdings LLC (they incorrectly referred to them as Sports Capital Partners) had sold the team to Stillman which wasn't true as they sold only part of their interest to the local ownership group. Stillman was almost being represented like Bill Laurie which wouldn't be a fair comparison.

If you split the local ownership group investment down to the person, I bet it would surprise a lot of people to know how much Stillman's individual, personal attributable ownership is.

This doesn't diminish Stillman or his role. He worked to put the group together and the get the deal done and is the appointed representative of the local ownership group. He also definitely has a ton more skin in the game than Checketts.

None of this really matters to the average fan but the misinformation is pretty amazing considering how some relatively easy research would have corrected a lot of it.
- Jason Millen

I wouldn't sell.