have to think Bonino is a highly sought after player come TDL

Wild fans in previous threads seem to be reasonably Ok with a 3rd+prospect for him. The point of contention was simply the amount of retention.

The deadline will be tricky to navigate due to travel restrictions, and the fact that Minnesota and Colorado play twice in Minnesota just 4-5 days before the trade deadline offers an opportunity for a smooth transition without pause for Bonino.

Would be cool to see what Kovalenko could become on the avs but this seems fair. Looks good for the playoffs!

Also, Bennett on the wing and Jost as center.

Thanks for the feedback. I too think Kovalenko could become a nice little player in our bottom 6, but you've got to give to get.

Regarding Jost and Bennett, either would be fine as 4C but I put Bennett there as he's better at faceoffs. In open play though I'd fully expect Jost to be the more defensive one of that trio (kinda like Landeskog on the top line) while Bennett and O'Connor run wild together in the OZ. That pair could work really well together as LOC is quick at getting to loose pucks and throwing pucks at net, which is where Bennett tends to do most of his damage offensively.

Already expressed my views on Bennett enough but the Bonino trade I'd be fine with even though I'd like to see how Kovalenko turns out for the Avs.

Would the Wild deal Bonino if they're in playoff contention? In other words, would they rather have the pick and prospect rather than a slightly better chance at winning in the playoffs? I think Guerin is thinking more long-term than this season but you never know.

I don't think Calgary would want Compher but if they think they can play him on the wing, it might work.

Guerin acquired a lot of pending UFA's last offseason with the obvious intention of trading them as rentals this year, so it would be surprising if he didn't stick to his plan. That team isn't going to do any damage in the playoffs as is.

I could see them favouring trading Bonino to the eastern conference though so that they don't strengthen a division rival who they could potentially face in the 1st round.

I imagine he'll take whomever offers him the best deal because, yeah, they aren't going anywhere in the playoffs with that team.

LA isn't retaining $1.5M over 3 years for two draft picks that have a very low probability of turning into NHL players.

What then? A 3rd round pick?

The Kings are pretty much done with their rebuild, so they're going to want something that they can use within a season or two, not 4-5 seasons out. So probably a B prospect. If you want the trade to happen prior to the expansion draft, it would need to be someone who is draft exempt as well.

I suppose Avs could send a B prospect to LA instead of a pick (i.e. someone in the Beaucage/Kovalenko/Ambrosio/Stienburg/Wiess/etc tier), and then Calgary can send a mid or late round pick to Colorado to share the value of getting the retention.

To Colorado: Bennett + 3rd
To Calgary: Compher ($500k retained by LAK)
To LAK: Beaucage/Kovalenko (note: Beaucage is currently 3rd in goalscoring in the QMHJL)

Better. I could see the Kings considering someone like Beaucage, especially considering how shallow they are at winger prospects.

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated.

To summarise:

Colorado: Compher + Beaucage for Bennett + CGY 4th
Calgary: Bennett + CGY 4th for Compher (@$3m)
LAK: Beaucage for $500k x 3 retention on Compher.

Looks ok from LA perspective, can't comment on Calgary's side though.

I would never judge player values based on other opinions on here. They are so far out of whack it's not even funny.
I think there are a few teams looking for a 3C this TDL. That's gonna drive the price more than anything else. Number of teams + market.

Sure, there will be plenty of teams wanting a 3C, but there's also going to be plenty of 3C's available - moreso than in previous years imo.

Bonino, Bjugstad, Johansson, Haula, Glendenning, Copp/Stastny/Lowry, Gaudette, Zajac, Staal, Tierney, Compher possibly, Wennberg, Soderberg, McCann, Cizikas, Laughton, Zacha, Getzlaf, Lizotte, Jenner, etc.

That's Just a few names that could be available depending on which teams are in playoff spots.

Bonino could get a 2nd or 2nd+, but people saying that he can get a 1st forget that not a single pending UFA was traded for a 1st at last years deadline. Not one. Unless you count Hall as a deadline rental even though he was moved in mid-December, giving Arizona an extra 2 months of regular season action with them.

Skjei and Zucker were moved for 1st's but had lots of term left. Goodrow and Coleman got 1st's, but again they had another year of term. Pageau got moved but he was resigned immediately by NYI.

Bonino is the wrong side of 30 and a pending UFA. He's not getting a 1st. Possibly a 2nd or 2nd+, but a price of 3rd + decent prospect is at least in the ballpark considering that he's not having a very good season. Recency bias counts a lot in hockey where players would be acquired only for a couple of months.

I don't think most of that center list is available. A guy like Jenner isn't going anywhere if CBJ doesn't make the playoffs. They got 1 year left on that deal and would probably like to extend it. And guys like McCann are not centers.
Some of the ones that are, really won't be sought after, like Cizikas and Bjugstad.
Not that there won't be anyone but the centers to buyers market probably favors the seller at this point. It's too hard to judge this right now. You are like 16 games in. There will be injuries, etc..
My point being, a guy like Bonino who plays a strong 2 way game and is decent on the dot probably draws a lot of interest. He knows his role and he plays it well. Teams like guys like that.

I agree with you that Bonino will be sought after. Certainly a top 5 target for Colorado imo. Sakic isn't one to move high draft picks for rentals though. Rather, his M.O. is to use 3rd's and 4th's on rentals if the last two years are anything to go by (i.e. Brassard + 6th for a 3rd, and Namestnikov for a 4th). Haula for a 3rd or Bonino for a 3rd + prospect is probably going to be his range.

Also, I forgot to mention it earlier but the expansion draft is going to be a big factor as well. Expansion exempt assets (including draft picks) are going to be more valuable than in other years. So even though it could be a sellers market you might not see teams willing to part with high draft picks as much as usual.

I think teams who feel they have a real shot will take it no matter the cost.
You only get so many. I also think older teams are more likely to spend. Boston for example could be a big spender. They just don't have many chances left.
I would think teams like Boston, TB, TOR, VGK, and MTL will spend. Mainly because this might be the best shot any of them have in a while. TB will get harder to win due to cap, Boston age, TOR might think this is their year, and MTL will probably go all in before they need to sign rookies to deals. VGK always seems to be in the middle of something.
I don't know if COL is really looking at it like this is their year. But I think some teams are.

Older teams definitely should be going all-in. I doubt teams with young cores like Toronto or Colorado are going to be doing any bigger moves to mortgage their bright futures though. Colorado are pretty deep as it is, only really lacking a 3C and a backup/3G, both of which are certainly gettable at the deadline for reasonable prices.

Boston should definitely being making a push. Marchand, Bergeron, and Rask (pending UFA) aren't getting younger, and potentially losing Rask to UFA would all but close their window.

I think for TOR they may look at this as their easiest path to the cup. If the divisions are normal they have to play TB and a loaded Metro every year to get to the cup.
The west is probably a weaker conference. Which is why I think they go all in.
You got MTL and VGK over there and that's it. In the East with normal divisions you got TB, CAR, MTL, OTT, PHL. as younger up and coming teams loaded with talent. On top of BOS, PIT and WSH still capable.
At some point you got to pick your poison and choose your best chance. They are playing well, on the weaker side of the conferences. It's a good time to get to the cup where anything can happen.
So I got to think they go for it, as the normal east is a much harder path to get there.

Avs don't really have an easy path at all. They'll likely face St. Louis in the 1st round, and then Vegas in the 2nd round. That's probably the toughest path any contender will have. Fair point on Montreal and Toronto, they definitely have an easier path this year than other years though.