The St. Louis Blues quickly got to work with newcomer Pavel Buchnevich, agreeing to terms on a four-year, $23.2MM deal with the restricted free agent forward. The contract will carry an average annual value of $5.8MM, giving him quite the raise after an exceptional season.
This kind of cap hit is exactly why the New York Rangers traded Buchnevich recently, as they were never going to be able to afford a raise of that magnitude–at least not with the way they want to fill out the roster. The 26-year-old was eligible for salary arbitration and is coming off an outstanding offensive campaign that included 20 goals and 48 points in 54 games.
Over the last three seasons, in fact, Buchnevich has scored at an 82-game pace of 25 goals and 58 points, while also carrying a heavy load on the penalty kill. That kind of versatility, adding defensive value as well as offensive upside, is exactly what the Blues are looking for as they say goodbye to several of their other key forwards. Vladimir Tarasenko is expected to be traded, while Jaden Schwartz, Tyler Bozak, and Mike Hoffman are all pending unrestricted free agents. Buchnevich can slide into one of the top two lines to replace some of that outgoing talent while potentially even improving over the next few seasons.
This deal buys out four years of unrestricted free agency and takes Buchnevich through his age-30 season, a perfect window for the Blues to purchase as they look to contend for the Stanley Cup. If he works out and continues his high level of play they can extend him down the road, without ever really risking the decline phase on this contract. That was never really going to be the case in New York, where younger wingers were going to need playing time and extensions before long.
Army does it again.
Instead the Rangers have a couple of players for the 4th line and a couple of million dollars per year. Not sure that was the wise move and could’ve gotten more. Want cap room, move Kreider and/or Trouba. Buch was young and just entering his prime while Kreider and Trouba are being paid for previous successes. Last year wasn’t impressive for either player other than Kreider’s little goal hot streak.
And so begins the Drury era.
I agree the Drury era isn’t off to the best start but something Drury has done were two things we needed to do: add size/grit and make cap room going forward. Buchnevich is clearly gonna be out of our price range and unless you wanna give up futures or retain salaries all for no meaningful return Kreider and Trouba are going nowhere, right now. Keep in mind the latter’s bad contract is a Gorton contract, Drury can’t be penalized for it
Neither Trouba nor Kreider can be traded because they have a full NMC. Both of these contracts were given out by Gorton and not Drury. A No-Movement Clause prohibits a team from moving a player by trade, waivers, or assigning that player to the minors without the player’s consent. This keeps the player with the pro team unless the player approves one of these moves. Sure the return was low but ST. Louis knew the Rangers needed to trade Buchnevich and could lowball Drury. NYR could not afford a $6M contract when they have to sign Mika, Fox, Igor, Chytil Kaako, Kravtsov, Miller, Lafrenierre all in the next 2 years. Just the way it is in a flat cap era.
Aware both Kreider and Trouba were signed previous to Drury, but Drury can move them – though I wasn’t aware of the NTC in the contracts (though he could ask to have them waive the clause). I get the other signings, they are core, but a second rounder was not my thought of a good return for Buch. Late first rounder, or even a first rounder down the road would’ve been sufficient.
Doubt they would waive them but you never can tell if an intriguing option – for the players – is presented. I think tomorrow’s free agency will show us why Buchnevich was traded so low. Probably could have gotten a 1st at the trade deadline but I have a feeling Drury needed the cap space for free agency and for Chytil and Shesterkin deals.
Not so fast. Rangers were not able to sign Buch to a $5.8M contract and sign both Mika and Fox. Good for Buch as he deserves the contract but we can’t judge Drury’s move just yet. If that’s the only move then I with ya all the way.
@pad & jan tbh at this point i’m surprised that any nhl gm would pick up the phone with stl. army must have have dirt on every gm and soon to be gm because the moves he has made the last few years are like video game moves with fair trades off. don’t get me wrong blais is a good player but he’s not the same player as buch. i agree (and this is from a blues fan) nyr got robbed they should of tried to move someone else. from what i’ve read on buch he was one of the bright spots on a team that is mediocre. imo the nyr needs to to look a hard look at there team and figure out what team they want to be. atm nyr seem to me a team that doesn’t know if they want to be a fast and skilled team or a heavy grinding team. i hate to say this but until the nyr decides on a direction on what they want there team to be there going to be stuck in .500 hell.
Hey NYR fans-do you like that contract? LOL.