I would push over 10 small children to see Sakic swing a way to bring Cirelli in at 3C, but I would cry if it cost Newhook. Can't see him making that deal. The biggest problem with going the OS route would be the draft picks. We'd end up basically just sitting out next years draft completely. Yes we're just entering what should be a long cup contention window, but you can't completely sit out draft years if you want to keep the pipeline of ELCs healthy. We're in great shape for the next 5 years or so, but you don't want to completely sacrifice the years after that if possible. I'm 100% on board with wanting Joe to figure it out, but after the other moves we've made I just don't think it's possible. Could trading Jost's rights net a high round pick? Compher? Donskoi? Lord knows Cole won't. If any of those could be moved for a 2nd rounder, I'd love to see Joe go all in with a final move like this.

Getting Cirelli almost certainly means one of Compher or Donskoi is moved (imo), meaning there is a spot for Jost. He made a lot of strides defensively last season, including pk at the end of the yead and in the playoffs, so I'm hopeful he can grow into that role. Someone to help him out at the dot would be good though. As it stands, I'd like to see him at C with JT taking the more important draws. At least give it a shot and see how it goes. I think in the long run Jost could be a better 3C option than Compher.

We'll see though. Should learn a lot about where he'll end up this coming season.

Only way I could see this working was if you find a way to move both Cole and Donskoi. That probably requires an additional late round pick, at least with Cole. Based on everything floating around, you have to figure that Toews will get somewhere in the high $4M-$5M range, and hopefully for 4-5 years at that. He's a stud and you don't give up 2 second rounders without the intentions of keeping him around for a while. The Graves contract looks a little funny now in highsight, but can't imagine Joe knew that the Toews trade was going to go through when he signed that deal for Graves. But either way, gotta figure that Toews + Cirelli would end up costing about $10M between them. We've got some cap space to work with still, but we're pushing right up to the limits...

I think Sakic had every intention of making the Toews trade before Graves signed. He played a blinder by getting Graves locked up before bringing in another LHD.

Graves would probably see the writing on the wall with Toews/Girard/Byram in the fold, and not be so willing to sign a team-friendly deal. By acquiring Toews after signing Graves Sakic ensured that he wouldn't have two arbitration-eligible LHD's competing for the same money and comparing their AAV's one to another.

Compare this situation to how Bergevin handled the Gallagher and Anderson situation and it's night and day. Bergevin should have signed Gallagher before signing Anderson to an outrageous deal, as Gallagher was always going to raise his asking price when he saw what Anderson got. The same thing would have happened had we acquiring and signed Toews to around $4m.... Then Graves would have wanted close to $4m as well.