Brent Burns

I feel bad for the team that takes that contract

As much as other fans on here try to say that Burns is declining fast and everything like that, I think he would be a solid addition to Dallas if he can be had right around that $6-6.5m cap hit. Dallas is an older team anyway right now so they are likely looking to win now with Benn, Radulov, Pavelski, etc. They have some solid young players too, but they've got some older ones as well. And although Burns plays defense, he would help the offense out tremendously I think. Hopefully that would get the offensive players -- Benn and Seguin specifically -- to get back to their old form. If San Jose is willing to eat salary on Burns, I think he could be a solid addition here. I really think adding Burns would help push them to being legit contenders for at least the next two seasons.

Also, whomever Seattle takes with the expansion pick should hopefully give you some extra cap space too.

The biggest struggle with taking a long-term D is the fact that we'd lose him right in the expansion draft. Although Burns might just be the right guy to be of good level while not in risk for being taken by Seattle, as he's over 36 by the point ED is due.

As for Burns, I honestly wouldn't pay much for the guy. Taking him would be such a risk. The most I'd give is Cogliano+Macherin+conditional 2022 1st, and the condition being that Burns is able to score either 100 points during the timeframe of 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons (or possibly over the rate of 0,65 point per game if there's injuries to be considered). If that condition isn't met, SJ receives no pick in the exchange because by that point we'd just taken almost 35 mil bucks worth of dead money off their hands...

I certainly wouldn't take him for my two teams, and they both need RDs. Even a team that can ostensibly afford him this year might run into trouble next season, as I allude to in my last sentence. Maybe the plan would be to move Klingberg on.

Just being 35 years old, 5 years left on the deal, and being a defenseman? not a good mix imo. Klingberg could get moved but their RHD would be thin as paper.