Pilut left Buffalo, hes worth more and wont sign with them. No reason for Fleury with UPL coming up because the exact reason you said, Dahlin and Jokiharju extensions coming up. No reason to trade Staal at the deadline. The Sabres should be fighting for a playoff spot not trading away their top 6 forwards. Asplund isnt a 3rd liner, maybe in the futurewont be shocked if thats where Mittelstadt ends up though

Lol yeah okay.

OTT is going to pay for old C depth when were already clogged at the position.

OTT rejects

I like your thought process.
If Cozens was ready to assume the role of 2nd line center I could see Staal being traded.
If Skinner and Reinhart were the wingers for Staal, I think you would get more than a 3rd at the TDL, if he were to waive his NTC.
I always thought Okposo was being wasted as a fourth line player.
Only Jack, Sam and Victor scored at a faster rate than he, and that was playing with two scoring machines, Johan and Zigmus.
I know Kevyn did a great job getting Staal and Hall, but we may have the most expensive fourth line nearly $11KK and it will be a drag for at least the next 2 years.

it was just a concept of a trade. But Staal in that young ottawa squad would not be a bad fit.