If Bittner is developing in any way close to predicted that's an overpayment for Hanzal. Rental UFA you could pursue in the close season.

What if JJ is taken in the expansion draft? Then our LD depth is eviscerated in a matter of months. I don't hate the proposed trades, but it doesn't seem to consider the future (which Jarmo has gone on record saying if they're going to add, it's going to be a move that takes into account the future of the team)

Hold on for a sec. We are absolutely stacked at LD. We have Kukan in the AHL and he is doing pretty good. We also have Heatherington down there as well. Both those guys could be solid contributors at the NHL level as early as next year. Then there is Carlsson. Now he may still be developing but again the LD spot is not a position of weakness. As for Johnson, yeah there is the risk of losing him. RHD are hard to find. Especially with a contract as affordable as Hamonic. My point though, is it is not crippling like you are insinuating.

The idea isn't bad, but I will never be okay with trading Murray or Jenner. You don't build successful franchises by trading away your young talent.

Those guys are all developing and have not shown the ability to play in the NHL. That is a pretty small basket to throw all your eggs into. I personally don't see Kukan or Heatherington as NHL defensemen. Maybe as rotational 6-7 guys, but certainly not top-4 caliber like Johnson and Murray. Carlsson could someday, yes, but he isn't likely to arrive for a few more years. I have to agree with steinosaur19 that this this could really screw us up especially if Johnson is taken in the expansion draft. Just when we have finally done the right thing and built from the back out, you want to tear the defense back apart? Doesn't make sense. I could see trading Johnson for some expansion protected players, but they have to keep Murray. He's only 23 and plays a very high-level game.

Bittner was injured last year and has 2 points in 19 games in the AHL this year. Now I haven't actually watched him play this year, but that sure doesn't seem like good progress to me. I think he is a good asset to trade away because he still has some upside, but he certainly not one of the top prospects at this point.

I understand where your coming from but you're overlooking some things. First thing is, while Jenner and Murray are good players you have to maintain the cap. Murray when everyone is healthy is playing on the third pair. As you see how the the Blackhawks have had continued success, you cannot be afraid to deal away young talent. You have to rely on your scouting and drafting. Second, Kukan had some playing time here last year and did not look out of place. He likely would be with the CBJ now if it weren't for Harrington, whom the Jackets don't want to lose via waiver. Heatherington was injured coming out of camp. Heatherington may never be a big point producer but he does play good defense and is physical. Finally, both Jenner and Murray are up for contract at the end of next season. There is a good chance we would end up having to move one anyway, because we also have the Atkinson and Bjorkstrand extensions at that time as well.

Hey hey wait a darn minute here, I thought Murray was coming to the Habs in the offseason for Juulsen and Hudon?

I feel like you try to trade Murray in every single one of these. What is the case for ever trading him? He is going to be a valuable top 4 next year once we lose JJ or Savard to vegas, and he is doing a sound defensive job playing with a rookie 7th rounder in Nutivarra. Murray has a great contract and his next contract will probably be a great contract. That needs to be considered in the salary cap era especially among D men. Also, if anyone takes Prout off our hands it'll be for free. he isn't worth anything.

This. We're a young team with proven players, why trade those proven players to "make room" for more young players who haven't proven anything in the NHL or simply aren't ready for NHL ice time?




I really think you're blowing this whole managing the salary cap thing out of proportion...how much are you planning on giving to Bjorkstrand on his next contract? What about Kukan (he may leave NA if he doesn't get a spot next year - also he hasn't exactly had the greatest year in the AHL)? What about Heatherington? None of these guys have stuck in the NHL, and they are all team/cost controlled RFAs which means they're cheap. Wennberg and Atkinson are the only major players who need raises, and that is absolutely manageable with the cap, which will continue to rise.

You mention the Blackhawks, but fail to make a good comparison between the Jackets and them. Chicago is a proven winner. Columbus has yet to do anything worth mentioning in the same sentence as the Blackhawks. They can afford to move their young pieces because they have proven players who have won.

The Blackhawks have traded away guys who were about to get $6 mil AAV contracts that they couldn't afford. Jenner and Murray - at least right now - are not getting those contracts. We can definitely afford to keep them. If you want to clear cap space you need to move out a 34-year-old with a cap hit of $4.75m, or a 30 year-old with a $4.35m cap hit, not a 23-year-old with a hit under $3m.