JCShutout wrote:I think I always liked Perron, but didn't like bringing him back when we had guys like Berglund, Sobotka, Lehtera, Bouwmeester (injured and making $2m more per year), Gunnarson (making almost double his current salary) (etc) all over the roster. We were overrun with overpaid, mediocre guys who could be replaced less expensively and were in dire need of 55-70 point guys. I saw Perron as a "tweener". A guy who could play on a scoring line with good players and find 50 points, but was probably more suited to being a good third liner who can consistently score 17-22 goals and move up a line if needed. (See, Sundqvist) We already had like 5 of those at the time. However he's adjusted his game and shot, he's a legit scoring line player and has been for 3 years now. I was wrong.
Acquiring Schenn and ROR while dumping Lehtera, Berglund and Sobotka changes everything. That and Bouwmeester being only slightly overpaid this year, as well as Gunnarson's new deal being just about right, and the emergence of Sunny and Barbie, who, unlike the Lehtera, Berglund and Sobotka deals, are making about what they should for what they provide.
What also helps is the Blues are flush with young guys making little $ who have a lot of skill and upside. That wasn't as much the case a few years ago.
The only "problem" contracts are Bozak and Steen, (Give Faulk some time, though there is likely a little overpay there) and those guys aren't terrible, just getting $2-3m too much per year, and those contracts are up after next year. So instead of having 5 problem contracts, we have two, which isn't horrible, especially when Tarasenko's and Parayko's deals are a bargain atm. On any team in any year, someone is going to decline or be injured or something. Having 1-2 overpays is manageable for a contender, especially one with lots of good young depth. Having 4-6 is a problem.
Even Bozak and Steen being problem contracts is a testament to the depth this team has. They were both signed (and paid) to be top 6 forwards and they rarely play in the top 6. Steen is expensive for a 4th liner in his current role, but the fact that the team has the luxury of putting him there and letting him age gracefully is pretty incredible.
Replacing the likes of Berglund, Backes, and Sobotka with Schenn/ ROR / Perron has been revolutionary for this team.