Honestly I would just wait for Salo. Giving up a first round 3 years in a row is not a good decision and plus a potential top 4 defensemen with that, not good. I wouldn't mind the Isles not making the playoffs because next year the isles will have money to spend and we would not have defensmen personal issues

If you're ok missing the playoffs after 2 straight ECF runs I can't help you. That's insane lol

And what personal issues? Lindholm?

I think this discussion about going after an expensive d, or be patient and wait for a potential Salo breakthrough is so hard to argue on both sides. On one hand I believe it to be foolish to give up your 1st three seasons in a row. At the same time, we were gifted Räty at 52, who’s definitely a 1st round talent. William Dufour could be a 1st rounder if you re-drafted the 2020 draft. But, at the same time I am a strong believer (like Lou) in that you go for it when the team has the potential to win a cup. This team have shown that for the last 2 seasons. It would be weird for the group if Lou all of a sudden didn’t reinforce this team by trading for our biggest hole (2LD) after Toews and then Leddy. The group knows it needs to be fixed. And even how much we fans want it to be true, I don’t see a scenario this season where Lou will be so impressed by Salo that he doesn’t feel the need to adress the d-group with a proven good player… this is just how it works. I just hope when he makes the trade it’s not an overpayment for a player like Chiarot (or something similar), that would be really bad. I think he knows we need a good puckmoving d alongside Mayfield and one way or another Lou/Barry needs to adress it sooner rather then later.

If he trades for Lindholm, which I certainly would be ok with, he needs to re-sign him to a 8x5.5 ish for it to be worth giving up a 1st+ in my book.

Agree with everything you said. I'd give up a 1st without the extension in place though. Doesn't need to be part of the initial trade. Lou has time to make the numbers work. We'll have that 8th year option up until UFA opening

Yeah imo the 8 years are important to us, cause we have to keep the aav down. Then trade both Varlamov (if Sorokin’s ready, which I strongly believe) and Bailey, then go for a big-ish offensive player. Gaudreau would be nice. Think he’ll resign with the Flames though. Forsberg would be nice to, I’m just a little nervous about his age-curve…

I have two posts in my drafts which do a majority of that.

Next year: trade Varly and recoup the 1st. Signed Lindholm $6x8. Golyshev LW3. Holtby new backup.

2 years away: traded Bailey. Signed Barzal $9.5x8 and Wahlly $5x6. Raty and Holmstrom make the team. It's a good squad even without adding a forward next summer. I'll share links

Yeah I like that initially a lot for sure. And I think you’re close to what they’ll get. One big thing to remember is that winning, a new arena, world class management etc. creates an environment which players want to come too. I do believe players would sign with us to have a great chance at winning and be part of what we - nowadays - are. I’ve seen many people speculate that Lindholm will get in the range of 8-8.5 AAV, I don’t think that, if Lou trades for him. I’m pretty confident he could be signed to a 8yr/5.5-6 mils. That would be great imo.