I like the Dahlin idea. I'm really hoping the Blackhawks lose a lot of games between now and the end of the season, get as low in the standings as possible, and end up with a top 3 pick in the draft lottery that, if it's not #1, can be traded with the Preds 1st round pick (adding a prospect if necessary) for the overall #1 pick so they can take Dahlin. It'd solve a world of problems with the salary cap and the D for at least the next 3 seasons.

I also like Faulk but I think it's unlikely that the Canes part with their captain and leave a hole in their D to fill their need at center. I don't know their D that well though. Do they have all of their future Top 4 in the younger defenseman? I think the 2020 first rounder, while a good idea to save the 2019 first rounder for the trade deadline and a Cup push, is probably too far in the future to be dealt for both teams.

JVR for 6 seasons from age 28-34 (on the decline) at $6.5m a season would be tough to do with the needs on D, the young forwards they have for cheap that need to play, and cap management. While I think they sign Duclair, Hinostroza, and Hayden to reasonably modest bridge deals around $4m combined this off season, they going to have bigger contracts due for Schmaltz and Sikura in 2 years and DeBrincat the year after that. I think they'll try to keep all 3 of those guys through their next contracts.

The only unrealistic move is the Seabrook trade. No one is ever going to take that contract for 6 more seasons at nearly $7m a season without the Blackhawks retaining at least half the salary. It doesn't make sense for a team rebuilding that's trying to get to the cap floor until a couple more years have passed - it's too long. Plus, Seabrook has a NMC and isn't going to accept a trade to a non-contender. The only hopes to make the Seabrook contract go away are: the Seattle expansion draft in 2020 allows you to expose 1 player with a NMC, early retirement by Seabrook, or an owner's lockout and a new deal with the NHLPA that includes another compliance buyout or two. A regular buyout is even unrealistic because the Blackhawks would be on the hook for 2/3 of the contract anyway and the remaining years double against the cap, so even 4 years from now, Seabrook's contract would be counting against the cap for 8 more seasons. It's better to let him decline and retire on his own. The way he's playing, I suspect he might retire by age 36 anyway. Hopefully, he works hard this offseason and comes back a better player.

firstly, the canes have so much young defenseman to the point where they need to move a few before they pay too much on the defensive side. anisimov will help their forward issue, and get a 1st for it for letting go of a defensive piece and a 4th that will probably turn out to be nothing. i think this move is great for both sides. Secondly, JVR though declining will be getting over 30 goals this year. sure 6 years may be a little long, but those first three years is what your paying for and JVR would be a huuuge improvement to our top 6. Third, Seabrook is not worthless trash. Yes his contract is horrible but you are giving the oilers an improvement in defense, a 1st and a 3rd for luciic's horrible contract iwth only one less year in term and not even paid that less than seabrook. Oilers would take this deal. if i was the oilers gm, i would take this deal hands down. i think this actually hurts the hawks more than anything.

I agree that the swap of Seabrook for Lucic is a decent trade to address the needs of both teams and probably a good change of scenery for both. However, how would you get Seabrook and Lucic to agree to the trade when they both have full no movement clauses until the very end of their contracts? The players have to waive their NMC and I don't think Seabrook does that. He has every incentive to retire as a one-team Blackhawks legend.