We dont need left handed d. So graves is out. And i wouldnt pay seattle to take eakin. I wouldnt give mittelstadt one red cent more than i had to. 9 million per year dedicated to those 2 goalies sounds like too much, fortunately i think ullmark is leaving and not even considering offers from buffalo.

You make the deal for Matt Tkachuk, then you want to hand him to a division rival? He’s a potential captain for this team in Eichel’s absence. Not only do you keep him you sign him to a long-term deal the moment the deal is done.

Wish I could "Like" this twice.

COL doesn’t want 2nd rd pick in 2021 draft would just as soon let the Kraken pick him.

So wait... they'd rather lose him for nothing than grab a high 2nd? That makes no sense at all.

They have to lose somebody. So they trade Graves AND lose Compher or Donskoi for a 2nd rd pick in a shallow draft that might help them in 2 or 3 years? Yeah it’s kinda crazy but losing one guy out of the lineup is better than 2 and in Graves case they will have Byram, Timmins, and EJ to fill out the d-Corp with Barron looking to be ready to make the jump soon after.

I'm fairly sure they'd be okay with losing Compher for a high 2nd. Donskoi may be another matter, so hmm maybe you're onto something.

I like Tkachuk as a player, it's his contract I don't like. His AAV is $7mil, which I could live with, but in his last year of the contract is $9mil in real money. So his qualifying offer starts at $10mil which I don't think he is worth.

Ristolainen might be useful here, but not at the price of losing Jenner and a 1st.

It would be a very late 1st and Jenner who is an UFA after this year. Risto could sign long term and be replacement for Jones on RD.

Qualifying offers no longer require a raise.

If it’s the 2022 draft no brainer. But they have actively tried to trade out of the 2021 draft, fewest picks. I could see them trading more of them if the right guy is available

Which is kinduva silly tactic. The 2021 draft isn't low on talent, it's low on the chances teams have had to scout the talent over the year and change.

Compared to 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 it’s low on talent especially high end talent. I think it is a sound tactic if you are unsure of talent because you haven’t been able to scout talent. At the very least don’t acquire more assets in the draft. And by actively trading out they are still acquiring talent ie Toews, the trade deadline acquisitions.

Yeah, they weren't saying that in 2019. Suddenly, COVID hits and leagues shut down and then they can't go watch when the play returns. It's not that 2021 lacks talent, it's that some are having trouble sorting it. There's just as much a chance of taking advantage of this in 2021 as there is of coming up disappointed.

2019 had Dach, Byram, Cozens, Zegras, Turcotte, Krebs(before his late injury), Podkolzin, Boldy, Caulfield, Knight, and Newhook in the discussion with Hughes and Kakko to be top 5 picks. 2021 lacks high end talent. But yeah it is impossible to get a read on it when the OHL didn’t play guys jumped to Europe to try and get games etc…. Is there going to be some studs from the draft without a doubt but because of so many kids not playing the fear of missing imo is very high.

No, I mean they weren't saying that about the 2021 class prior to COVID. I wasn't referring to what they said about the 2019 class.

Oh gotcha. Everything I’ve read and listened to has had 2021 class as light on difference makers and the depth of consensus talent wasnt deep. I agree completely with you that they don’t know what to make of it for scouting how could they?

Risto would be an interesting experiment here. Jenner has earned the opportunity to stay; we're not getting rid of him that easily.