That’s not even close for Lindholm.

Athanasiou sucks defensively and you need to add more in the ANA trade.

Unlikely season starts on Jan 1 so Marchand could return but if it does, he'll be on IR. Pastrnak only one on LTIR.

That ain’t it for Hampus

Possibly. But on a market where Schmidt goes for a 3rd and Toews for two seconds I'm not sure what the price for a solid, but not overly point producing defenseman is anymore

Vegas and NYI didn't have the benefit of time. Vegas was hot on Pietrangelo and the Islanders are trying to stave off the potential offersheet on Pulock and Barzal- meaning they have/had a limited window to clear cap. Anaheim is only a million over the cap and just need to sign a backup goalie, and they can stay that way all the way until the season starts. And we don't know when the season is going to start. They can wait until the right deal falls in their lap.

I don't disagree, but it's not an out-of-this-world scenario I present here, is it?

Also Kesler’s contract will be on LTIR, so Anaheim actually has about $6 million in cap space right now. They don’t need to move anyone, and they aren’t just downgrading Lindholm for no reason.

No on Athanasiou. Bruins don’t need him.