Why would the Flames pay a 1st and a 3rd for Cernak when they could just OS him?

It's a valid question. But the answer is quite simple.

Cernak would probably get OS's from other teams as well and Calgary probably wouldn't be his first (or second, or third) choice. Trading for him ensures that Calgary has control and they can match any contract that gets offered, thus making sure that they get the player.

Gourde isnt a top 6 forward or 2C lol, especially not on columbus where we dont have nearly the offensive star power of tampa. You are gonna have to pay a team to take his contract and it wont be us

1st and a 3rd seems a bit steep but I do appreciate your reasoning.

If a guy averages 0.6 points per game in the NHL he's a top 6 forward. Thats a 50 point forward.

Gourds will cost a 1st to move even with some retention. I dont think you break even until you retain 1.5M. Plus he has to waive his NTC.

Cernak isn't worth a 1st. The most he'd return is a 2nd and a 3rd.

Way too much for Cernak, hes a good #4 but a 2M player. Definitely not worth a 1st and any GM offering that is loosing their job

Gourde isn't being moved anyway, and Tamoa wouldn't be adding a 1st nor taking just a 7th. Very few ppl on here see anything more than his stats for a few months this year; thankfully that's not the case with organizations. Gourde is a .6 ppg player who is an effective two way player as well. Having one bad stretch this year and being buried on the 4th line for most of the year have hurt his numbers for this season. He is still very capable of being a 50-55 point player as evidenced by his 11 points in the final 16 games this season, when he was given a chance in a top 6 role. Tampa won't be giving him away this offseason, and he likely doesn't get asked to waive until after next season, when his contract will be in a similar position as Johnson's will be after this year.

Killorn may only get a 2nd and 3rd, it all depends on how many teams on his list are interested. If two or three want him, he could get closer to the Miller deal or even the Goodrow deal. Hard to say at this point.

Cernak should be signed in the 2-2.5 million range, but if Tampa can't make him work, then of course they would take a 1st and 3rd. I think they can get him re-signed to a 2 year, ~2 million type deal, but he is the one rfa that has a realistic chance of getting moved.

Gourde's trade value here isn't defining of his talent level. Rather, it reflects that he has a full NTC and will have full control over where he ends up, along with the fact that he has a long-term high AAV contract that will be tough to move. Whichever team he accepts a trade to won't want to be paying much for him given that they'll already be doing Tampa a huge favour taking that contract.

Agree on Killorn. I could see someone like Nashville being interested among others. I also think it would be shrewd of Brisbois to trade him via a 3rd team who retain some salary like Vegas did with Brassard. That could work on well for all parties if the 3rd team gets a nice asset and Tampa can maximise value on Killorn to get a 1st. For example, Killorn ($1m retained) to Dallas for a 1st + 3rd, with Detroit getting a 2nd from Tampa for retaining that $1m x 3 years. Or something to that effect. Making Killorn available at $3.45m would certainly open up the market for him considerably and get more teams to the table.

Regarding Gourde, he likely doesn't get asked to waive because he is a better 2 way player than Johnson while Johnson is a slightly better offensive threat, Johnson has just 1 year left before his contract becomes modified to a 20 team list so he can be selective now. Tampa would very likely take less for him due to this(3rd+conditional pick, 2 3rd's, 2nd+4th or 5th, even just a 3rd if necessary), but clearing 5 million (or even 4 or so if they retain) would be huge in keeping the rfa's. Gourde will be in the same position after next.year, so ideally with an expanded role next year then perhaps a similar position as Johnson, Tampa gets a decent return for Gourde. The team that trades for him then has him for a year, and hopefully Gourde would be a 50 or so point player for them. If the new team wanted to move him, for whatever reason, after 1 year with the new team his contract becomes a m-ntc with 23 possible trade locations.

Nice idea re: Killorn, very creative and could also see something similar perhaps.

I’m not sure Nashville makes sense considering who they’d protect (4-4-1) in the expansion draft.

That's an interesting point, I hadn't thought of that. Nashville probably have to take the risk of adding a decent forward this offseason though given that Granlund is hitting UFA so they need a forward.