NJ has enough in the AHL that can make the jump, that they don’t really need to offload AJ like this. He’s more useful as a body in case of injury

Girgensons is a rental for a playoff run and it frees up over a mill in cap

Columbus would probably accept, as Bryson could be a decent 2nd pair guy to replace Gavrikov for a year or two, but I don’t see why Buffalo would make that trade.

Isles wouldn't have interest in Okposo as there is no spot in the lineup for him and doubt Buffalo wants to trade their Captain.

Maybe if NJ trades for a higher quality rental (like a Meier) they’ll need that cap soace, but in a funnel Girgensons isn’t super needed in the lineup, especially with that cost to get a small amount of cap

Fitzgerald has been very publicly anti-rental. If he's buying, it'll be a player with term.

Honestly, I might accept that as NSH even though I really don't like the idea of moving Jeannot... Mittelstadt, Nadeau + '23 2nd I can definitely live with if we're going to call the season a wash and sell instead of buy (the rest is all spare parts on both sides imo)

I don't see them resigning him, just looking for a playoff spot for him

I don't think the Jackets would do this trade. They brought Olivier in for a purpose and he has done fine in that role. I actually hope they bring him back next year.

What if Buffalo swapped Asplund in for Girgensons

Rather have Johnston to protect our guys. He will be taking Martin's spot full-time next year.

His role is to fight and be a punching bag on the 4th line…. If someone is offering a 2nd pair defenseman for him you take that.

Yeah, I would, but I think Bryson is basically a bottom pair D.

He’s better defensively than Christianson and Bayreuther is and with Werenski and Bean out he would come in as the 2nd pair LHD behind Gavrikov, and with Gavrikov likely being traded by the deadline Bryson can fill in for 2 years until Bean is ready for the spot or we have a LHD prospect ready to take the spot.

I like the Isles deal - Okposo isn't a PPG player or anything, but would be a cheap enough veteran to bring depth in for the playoff run, and I'd be happy to take away Lou's favorite toy.

But that's probably why there's zero chance of this deal happening.

Probably not for a pick and not at this stage. They have to get him away from Mittlestadt tbh and he'll be back to what he should be

"Better defensively than Christansen and Bayreuther" is like saying "better offensively than Olivier" - that's not a high bar to clear and it does not give me confidence that we're actually getting any improvement out of the guy. I would much rather have our guys take those development minutes with Werenski to shelter them and keep the guy who's actually meeting expectations.