Offseason

I am one that really does think that Hughes uses the addition 1st and his depth to land a top 6 player...... Ideally a C, which Johnston can play albeit debatable.

This issue with the package is the Jackets have D depth similar to that on Montreal, and Harvey-Pinard I don't think makes their lineup. The picks are certainly great, but Johnston has more game than he has shown in his sophomore year.

Quite possible there is a fit here, but I would suggest it is part of what would be more a blockbuster..... possibly involving a retained Laine (like he is still only 25).....

Not about to figure that one out, but I think that package is rejected. Just no need for the players, and the 1st is too deep in the round.

Jackets would be more interested in a 1-1 swap for Johnson which this isn’t. Later picks and fine young players are good but we’d be looking for top line scoring potential player in a trade.

I’ve got to imagine that they’d want to start making a push really soon with the age of Gaudreau and others. I’d offer up Alex Newhook + if that’s their angle, personally.

Not really of interest. Don’t see newhook having the upside we’d be looking for.

While we do have gaudreau and Severson at 30ish years old, the rest of the core is young to mid 20s. Fantilli, Johnson, voronkov, marchenko, chinakhov, sillinger, jiricek, mateychuk are all 23 and under. And half of them can’t legally drink yet. So not really in a position to push the chips in and go for it.

And if it were pushing for a cup, we’d target an already established player who’s older and can produce at an elite level already. Think jt Miller last year when he was rumored to be on the move.

Suzuki
Slafkovsky
Reinbacher+
Your unprotected 2024 1st

If you're not sending one of those for KJ, it's not worth the conversation. We need the same things (elite-potential players/forwards) and have similar things (tons of lesser prospects) and timelines to compete (2-3 years); Montreal and Columbus aren't good trade partners.