super bowl bound

First, you can only retain salary up to 3 times per year, and if I have counted right, you have retained on 6 players. The first 3 trades are ok, but the picks might have to adjusted, lower. The next 3 trades aren’t even considered. Then there is the ramp trade, which could happen, but probably not to Tampa.

I presume you are dumping Dadonov from Vegas in order for Vegas to be able to bring Eichel into the lineup. Vegas likely end up trading Smith, as he will fetch a pretty penny, whereas Dadonov probably doesn’t, plus Vegas doesn’t want Bjork, so he wouldn’t be a part of that transaction.

Then there is the Carolina trade, which the canes already aren’t trading Drury, as he has already shown that he is NHL ready and will most likely end up playing full time next year, and Drury being on his ELC still is better than Dadonov’s cap hit. I see the canes making a move at the deadline for a big winger, most likely a LW. Dadonov could help our power play, but it won’t be at the expense of Drury.

Finally, the Arizona trade. Keller is untouchable, full stop. He is signed long term at a pretty reasonable cap hit, and the Coyotes won’t trade that, especially for the pennies you are offering. I could see Shmaltz being traded, but Keller and Chychrun won’t be traded.

All fair points. I wasn't aware of the retention rules, so thank you for pointing that out.

Yeah for Vegas, Dadonov is definitely the odd man out and I figured Bjork is a cheap yet competent-enough player to give them some bottom six minutes. The flip to Carolina was simply because they are a good team and an experienced winger never hurts. Drury fits into the Sabres timeline, which is why I picked him, but I know he's basically off-limits (would have been fun to have another Drury roaming around the ice in Buffalo). It certainly wasn't a real expectation.

A writer up here put out an article on Keller a few weeks ago and I liked the idea due to all the points you pointed out as to why they would keep him. Just an idea there but again, no real expectations.

I don't expect Buffalo to really make any moves, at least any big moves. They'll most likely add maybe one "key" signing or trade, but I would expect them to promote from within.

Pens aren't making that move. No way. While Miller brings some nice offensive punch, he's a 3rd pairing dman and both Ruhwedel and Friedman are far better defensively than Miller. Miller is not worth a 2nd even with retention.

There’s nothing wrong with any of the first three trades. In fact there’s almost no reason to retain on Hagg or Hinostroza when their contracts are already so cheap and would have 2/3 of it already paid out. Miller should definitely get a second round pick in return especially half retained. The Sabres may not even want to trade him, instead giving an extension because right handed defenders are a hot commodity and hard to come by. But I probably would because the second round pick is an asset, and you can always bring him back in free agency.