Winnipeg says no.

OTT doesn't want to win right now, so the added salary just handicappes their ability to sign the prospects

I think they would. Statnsy obviously isn't the solution long term, but could make a strong centre ice with Schiefele/RNH/Statnsy this year. Perfetti won't step in for another 2 years and won't be ready for 2C at least for next 3/4. I think thats a problem you handle when the time comes. If you makes it better, you could do RNH + Larsson (only RNH would have extension) for Laine to even it out value wise IMO

Its a one year deal, so they could flip it at trade deadline with no impact on being able to sign prospects.

If they want to win they keep RNH, too many hockey/Oilers fans don't realize how truly lucky Edmonton is to have RNH, take it from a Jets fan who's also a huge Laine fan, having a spare 2C like RNH is a luxury that Holland would be a fool to trade away.

Yeah, you are free to believe that the Jets would do it, but realistically they wouldn't. RNH will be leaving his prime and looking for a large raise and the Jets have Perfetti coming in, so RNH isn't a need. Adding a low end 4D rental like Larsson does nothing to close the gap in value between RNH and Laine. So, with age, team needs and value, I can't see Chevy considering it.

You would need to be starting with a young, guaranteed top 4D for Chevy to look at it.

Ottawa jumps at this, a third is not free, but it's not a lot either. I think it takes more than a third to get Larsson, unless the Oilers are desperate to unload his contract.

Larsson can be signed to a lower cost, short extension, through the dead cap era, maybe $4MM X 2-3 years.

He's not getting $5MM anytime soon, and maybe never again, and next season the GM's will be just as frugal when it comes to signing UFA. Larsson should just grab the two years and wait.

For the Ottawa prospects, JBD and Lassi Thomson, this gives a buffer for them to develop properly without being thrown to the wolves. Zaitsev isn't going to be around when his signing bonus money is due again.

Top4 RHD
20/21 Zaitsev & Larsson
21/22 Larsson & Zaitsev/JBD after Zaitsev is traded near the trade deadline
22/23 JBD & Larsson/Thomson after Larsson is traded near the trade deadline
23/24 Thomson & JBD

It's easy to just say a guy can be traded, but teams want that D vet at the deadline. If Ottawa has to unload them, then they add and unload them.

BTW, JBD can be on the 3rd pair in 21/22, and Thomson can be on the 3rd pair in 22/23, at least for part of the season.

The best they can get is a 2nd

Five years (x $6M) for a 31-year-old guy - what could possibly go wrong?!