Agree on all but Stepan, honestly. And you've ranked them in my order of preference. HOWEVER.

To bring in any of them other than Haula (who'd likely cost less), you're looking at moving out Wennberg and at least one of Savard/Murray, and probably Jenner too just to clear the cap room for the new additions as well as extensions for PLD and Gavrikov. If we're going to offer-sheet Cirelli, it needs to be for more than three years to justify losing those picks; I wouldn't offer anything under five years, maybe even six.

If you're looking for a 2C that won't break the bank, can I interest you in the very fine Adam Henrique? A man who put up a reasonable amount of points, has outstanding possession numbers, and can slide up and down the lineup as required. Also has an affordable cap hit.

Could look something like:
Ana: Henrique
CLB: Wennberg+Nuti+2nd

Downgrade that 2nd (which we don't have till 22 anyway) to a 3rd or 4th and I'd love to make that move.

Hmmm...would you do Bemstrom instead of the pick?

I wouldn't, personally. I'm a big believer in Bemstrom's future and think the Jackets got a steal in him.

If you go 5 years it walks him to FA, and if you go 6 years and adds to the cap hit increasing the picks. I was also thinking 3 years so that we can get Jones, Werenski’s and others signed before we likely have to go 8+ to Cirelli (depending on how he does). 5 years- really bad, 6 years even worse. I wouldn’t go anything more then 4 years On an offersheet.

As for Stephan it’s a low risk trade that could be high reward. Wennberg need a change as does Stephan. That’s why it’s 1 for 1.

That's a good point on the offer sheet calculation. I'd still say four years at minimum, trying to space out the contracts a bit.

I personally don’t have much interest in Henrique. He’s more of a defence first center and hasn’t had more then 50 points in a lot of years. Imo he also doesn’t have good possession stats. This was the first year he was +50 Corsi since 13-14.... I’d also say he’s the wrong side of 30 for a 4 year 5.8 contract. so the most I’d pay for him is Wennberg.

I'd do Stastny for a Wennberg 50% retained buyout + a 2nd.

If Wennberg can still be bought out under the 25yo rule, that would be a cap hit of around 220k x 3 then just under 450k for another 3 years for each team. Vegas can then re-sign him for 1 year at 1.5m.

Actually if it were to go that way Columbus would be able to sign Wennberg, not Vegas. Just like Washington and Colorado did with Optik. But if VGK didn’t buyout Wennberg Columbus couldn’t afford the retention.

I don't see him re-signing with CBJ after they take away 10.7m from him in a 1/3 buyout...
He probably wants to prove himself away from Torts as well.

Columbus wouldn’t be buying him out.... Vegas will. Otherwise the trade wouldn’t work. We can’t send you a player and get him back 50% retained, we also can’t send half the players buyout one way. Vegas would have to buyout Wennberg... not Columbus.

What I'm saying is Columbus wants his cap dumped or bought out. I don't think he'd be too keen with them no matter who buys out his contract and causes him to lose 2/3 of it.

I mean if you’re considering Statsny and Stepan, wouldn’t you consider Bozak? Makes 1.5 less than both, is better defensively than both, offense is on par with Stepan and not too far behind Statsny. Blues are definitely willing to move him for a mid round pick. I’d love to work something like Bozak and a pick/prospect for Anderson.

Bozak is more of a 3rd line center. He’s more defensive minded, that’s not what we need. Both Stephan and Stastny would be acquired for much less. The only way I’d go for Bozak would be in a trade with Wennberg, who’s would likely go back in either trade for Stephan or Stastny.

Yeah I get that, but I think at this point he’s a better option than Stepan. Stepan and Statsny also have had better line mates than Bozak in recent years so maybe Bozak produces more with Nyqvist or Bjork

He’d likely get Folingo and Foudy.

Bozak-(35) 29 points, 13 goals, 51.5 corsi, 31 oiGF, 27 oiGA, .43PPG
Stastny-(35) 38 points, 17 goals, 56.7 corsi, 45 oiGF, 42 oiGA, .54PPG
Stephan-(30) 28 points, 10 goals, 49.0 corsi, 35 oiGF, 38 oiGA, .40PPG
Wennberg-(26) 22 points, 5 goals, 48.6 corsi, 24 oiGF, 35 oiGA, .39 PPG

Stephan also had a pretty good playoffs for Arizona, Stastny has been kinda meh this playoffs and Bozak wasn’t good in the playoffs.

Stastny - Wennberg and a 3rd (ish)
Stephan- Wennberg
Bozak- Anderson and 4th.

As I said, not teading for Bozak unless it’s for Wennberg.

Blues fans would happily do Anderson and a 4th.

You kinda missed my point. Columbus would have to send Wennberg back. I doubt St Louis would make that move.