Let me get two things out of the way before i start with this little description: 1) I am very sorry if i appear to be shoving these particular trades down your throat, and 2) I wish that CapFriendly could let you put punctuation marks and parentheses in titles. I really do.
After about a full weekend of brainstorming, i put together these updates for the trades i have made multiple times before.
Scenario: I, a professional dip****, take over the Blue Jackets GM role. Immediately, i fire Torts and hire a coach that's better with the players so that we don't get a PLD situation.
Trade 1: Elvis Merzlikins and a 1st round pick to Edmonton for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
I put together this a couple weeks ago, and got a bit of praise for it, but the biggest criticism was that it was a risk for EDM to take Elvis for RNH. Edmonton needs a goalie because let's face it. Mikko Koskinen ain't it, chief. CBJ needs a top line center since Torts killed Pierre-Luc Dubois's enthusiasm, and RNH wouldn't get primetime behind McJesus and Leon Draisaitl. It's a lot like Toronto trading Nazem Kadri to the Avs. Originally, there was a second round pick, but taking the worries of taking the Elvis gamble into account, i upped the pick up to a first rounder to sweeten the pot that little bit more. If the Elvis Experiment (tm) doesn't work, they could use the 1st rounder to pick a goalie for themselves. With this new coach and not Torts, RNH, a star player would likely resign. I hope.
Trade 2: David Savard, Trey Fix-Wolansky and a 2nd round pick to Philadelphia for Travis Konecny
The only reason why i put together this trade in the first place is because i found a TK Flyers jersey in my closet and i have no idea how it got there. At first, i put together Jack Roslovic instead of Savard, TFW and the 2nd rounder, and that was given mostly negative "reviews" (if that's the best term to use). The one criticism that motivated me the most was this comment from @wolsen92: "I think if we ever trade TK its for a Top 4 D-man". I put David Savard into the trade because trading away Zach Werenski and/or Seth Jones would have the boys in the top ranks of the organization, the players, and most importantly the fans calling for me to be thrown into the sun if i were the GM, and i thought that too many people would have said they would have declined if i Inserted Gavrikov, so i was cornered into giving Savard to Philly.
PHI declines easily, but I wouldn't do that EDM trade if I were CBJ. Too risky to move picks and young G for a C they have no long-term leverage over, especially considering their problems this year.
I don't see the benefit for Edmonton, honestly. Merzlikins isn't enough of an upgrade IMO and now they're left with a hole on the left side - not to mention 4 goalies and a huge amount of their cap space dedicated to the position. Other than the first 12 games when they only had 1 goalie (and ran Koskinen into the ground), goaltending hasn't been an issue for Edmonton this year. Since Smith came back and Koskinen was able to get some rest and practice time in, the Oilers have allowed just 2.29 GA/GP, 5th best in the NHL. There is exactly zero urgency for Ken Holland to upgrade the goaltending in-season, he can get a similar goalie in free agency for similar money without giving up RNH.
Since Smith came back
Koskinen: .932 (5th in the NHL)
Smith: .922
I Don't see it in the EDM trade nuge has been a key role in our success and has played here for a decade, I'd say kosk would have to go the other way if EDM even wanted to pick up the phone. I'd say:nuge koskinen for: merzy, 1st rounder, 3rd, and a b level prospect.
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