Sergachev Trade

I think Evans would have to become Poehling for this to work
or make it this years top 3 protected 1st if not

they need quality somewhere in the deal
sure their cap is tight and they risk losing Cirelli or Sergachev unless they sign 1-2 years 3-3.5m deals which is unlikely as even then they're not guaranteed a payday just a slight bump.

if its me and i'm TBL with Cap issues and a history of drafting well i want MTL's top 10 this year , Mete and Evans for Sergachev now seasoned ready for a top LD role beside Weber

That's fine, but why not just go the offersheet route if you are MTL?

I was thinking of trading Poehling originally, but I would rather keep him over Evans. If I'm trading Poehling, TB isn't getting a 2nd round pick in the deal.

Honestly this is the price I'd be comfortable with, if it doesn't work, try an offersheet.

Giving up what you asked for at the end would be a terrible trade for MTL. Sergachev was drafted 9th overall himself, MTL can draft a player of Sergachev's caliber and just keep Mete and Evans and invest the $4.5M they would be using for Sergachev elsewhere.

i'd go OS route personally but i dont think we'll wiin him that way as i think TBL will match up until their cap limit if Cirelli's not signed already.
then again we could just threaten to Offesheet Cirelli next i suppose if that's even legal (assuming it is )

it would be much easier to get him this way vs the cost of a trade
in a trade TBL holds some cards still but in an offersheet they're left with a yes or no ultimatium if player and interested party are united

As far as where Sergachev was drafted vs where he is.
where he was drafted doesnt overrule his value anymore then where TBL draft D'angelo undermines his .
Most 1st round picks dont make the NHL as a regular for more then a few seasons
we're not guaranteeing them nothing especially with how weak this year D crop is outside Drysdale its all projects needing 2-3 years development.

Segachev is physical , aggressive while being skilled and consistent at such a young age.
You find a D like that maybe a dozen times in a decade if you're lucky

Mete's minutes and production just dont justify him being considered more then a 3rd pair special teams player with a marginal value
Unlike Gallagher this dog has no fight in him so he 5'9 D has limited potential to get better

That and Evans i can live with paying if it gives a 22+ minute top LD who's still young and coming off his ELC.
Seems fair to me even if TBL drafts another solid player MTL now has Sergachev-Weber,Romanov-Petry,Chiarot-Fleury for the forseeable future.

Sounds like MTL becomes young and strong enough to make an impact long term while learning from Weber

I wouldn't* be interested in Cirelli personally, but some team would be I'm sure. If Sergachev accepts a $6.34M offersheet TB wouldnt even have enough cap space to match it unless they got real creative. Everyone on there team has NTC's.

In the end I don't think this scenario is even likely to happen, if the cap stays flat I'm assuming they will give everyone compliance buyouts in which case TB could buyout some of the guys who have NTC's if they want to resign Sergachev. Doesn't mean I still wouldn't offersheet Sergachev, even if it just means TB has to pay a couple more million to sign him. Only way to level the playing field when it comes to the tax difference.