Slight Improvements

I have nothing against moving Kaiser, Soderblom, and/or picks to make improvements, but Knight is a cap dump. FLA would have to pay us to take him, IMO. They really jumped the gun, giving him that contract. Even if he weren't quite a cap dump, he isn't returning this much. They'd be better off hanging onto him and hoping he bounces back.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Knight traded and unfortunately with his current circumstance we can't be expecting too big of a return, the value is probably fine here although I'd think Florida looks more so at either proven players or picks they can trade for such players rather than prospects/unproven players.

On another note I have questions about Connor Murphy because my understanding is that he's a second pairing defensive defenseman who has been struggling in the past seasons, but I wouldn't be against bringing that type of a player to replace Montour who we likely have to let go... How good is he honestly and what is his value because I could see a trade where Florida flips young unproven Knight for someone who can fill a hole in their lineup...

Swap the Vancouver 2nd for the Ottawa 3rd in the Knight deal and I'd be good with it. A 2nd for Knight is more than the Hawks should be spending. Don't see Walker signing a one year deal.

Hawks would never consider swapping Murphy for Knight. Murphy is a prototype stay at home D man. Hits, blocks shots, clears out the crease. Doesn't offer much offensively. He has struggled mightily the past two seasons. Last season he was paired with a parade of bums as his LD partner. This season he's mostly been babysitting Korchinski, who will likely be good one day but shouldn't be in the NHL this season. Murphy has had no shot to "be good" the past two seasons. He's a solid 2nd pair guy who needs an actual NHL caliber partner to play off of.