All of these guys are hard to value because we don't know what they're gonna want for new contracts. I'm biased, but I'll speak on Laine at least. IMO, if he isn't signed by Columbus it's because he's asking for $10+ mil and not budging. I don't know that anyone around the league would sign him for that kind of money so it probably results in him being traded and signing a 2 or 3 year bridge again to prove his worth. At that contract length he's probably getting the Jackets a 1st and a good prospect or a single very good 20-22 year old player. I just don't see a scenario where anyone acquires him and signs him to a $7.5-8.5 mil contract long term like what is proposed here regularly. If he'd settle for that then I have no doubt he and Jarmo would have agreed to a 5 or 6 year deal already or they're just waiting for cap space to clear before they announce it.

Don’t think Miller to the Isles makes much sense. Y’all have no good young RHD available or top prospects

They have Dobson

I think the most realistic is Miller because we were close on him once already. If Lou is pissed about how it went down I could see Tarasenko being the next target. Laine probably fetches the most out of anyone on this list in terms of value.

I'll throw another random name out there: Clayton Keller? Arizona will clearly listen on anybody. I also made an ACGM last night about Timo Meier which Nichols promptly used on a blog the next day lmao

Legit no shot lol

Your explanation section is missing loads of context. For instance, Vegas was in a horrible cap situation - they did that to themselves and no other team is in the same predicament. As for Chicago, they're just idiots. Just because Vegas and Chicago are dumb asses, that doesn't mean other teams will be.

Fiala got moved for less than his compensation value too. At some point what is the line between being an idiot and actual market value

But he’s not available

To be fair, the Fiala case is another one where the team was under extreme cap duress thanks to their own stupidity. Just not as stupid as Vegas and for a much younger player.

To piggyback on that thought, and just basing this off of what CF has on the front page right now (meaning that some contract details are not 100% confirmed right now so this could be out of date in an hour):

Vancouver currently has $85.251M in contracts committed for next year, and even after they put Michael Ferland on LTIR they'll still only have ~$700K cleared under the cap (and won't be accruing cap space since they're using LTIR to go over $82.5M.) They're not in the same cap squeeze that Minnesota or Vegas is in, necessarily, but when you look at their cap space next summer it becomes obvious that there's no home for JT Miller. I still think it's more likely he's a deadline deal, but Vancouver could breathe a lot easier without him.

Columbus is pretty snug too - they've got $3.17M in cap space right now with Emil Bemstrom and Patrik Laine needing new deals. At this point, they *could* trade Gustav Nyquist and raise that cap space to a little less than $8.7M, but I still don't think that's enough to even bridge both those guys.

St. Louis is probably at least *pushing* the cap - but looking at their roster, they probably want to move someone on D before they move Tarasenko. 7 guys already signed with Perunovich and Mikkola's RFA rights (tho I heard Scott had signed already?) so they've got a bit of a logjam. Maybe Isles sweeten a potential Tarasenko deal by taking Scandella off your hands?

I know it was a joke cause he said NYI doesn’t have prospects or young RHD

With Leddy in the boat I think they want to move Krug and let Perunovich QB the PP. if not Scandella is probably the odd man out. I think Vlad is gone after this year no matter what. If I had to try and read the tea leaves it looks like Doug is trying to make room for next year with ROR and Kyrou still needing contracts and a native son speeding towards UFA status. Next year is a good class so a first and good prospect would probably get it done. Need cost controlled assets to get to the next cap bump.

I can’t see this team being better than last years so minor strip back this year to free up cash for next might be best

Not sure why everyone has the Blues moving Krug. Part of the Blues problem is transition game and Krug is very good at that. He also has a full NTC. He's not being moved.
They will offload Scandella's contract and have Perunovich be the 6th man. It was a mistake signing Leddy to 4 years at that price too. Tarasenko should be moved and will fetch the biggest return if all things are kosher. It would be a mistake not to move both Tarasenko and Scandella. Then when the Blues are not in a position to win come TDL, maybe offload ROR and get some more assets. I dont see this team being any better than last season sadly.

The Krug rumor was circulated by a few ppl in the media. I personally would prefer to move Marco but Doug gonna Doug and he’s earned my trust whatever he does.

I’m with you on the deadline deals though. I’d really like to see us move some expiring contracts this year if we aren’t in contention. Very good class next year

The Jackets page is actually counting 26 players for their cap number right now. Taking away Tarasov, Gaunce and Meyer brings them up to $5.7 mil and a full roster of 14F, 7D and 2G. Moving Nyquist would bring them up to $11.2 mil. They can easily re-sign Laine, Bemstrom and Blankenburg at that amount since both Bemstrom and Blankenburg would get little more than the league minimum players they'd be replacing once signed. They can realistically sign everyone and still have about $1-2 mil in space just at the cost of Nyquist. That is a very painful cost for them though considering he has been very open about his desire to stay beyond the end of his contract. I think for that reason Jarmo might be looking for a way to keep him and make room for Laine. I'm not sure that's going to be possible though.

Circulated by whom in the media? I'm really curious as it makes no sense.

Seravalli, Curt Price, it’s been everywhere

Seravalli hasn't been earning himself the best reputation lately. Take anything he says with a grain of salt.