Quoting: BrodeurBro30
This isn’t a final deal by the way. Just kicking tires and seeing what Anaheim wants. Henrique hasn’t been talked about as much, compared to the other TDL candidates. I do believe the structure of the trade wouldn’t look wildly off from the package I put forth. Maybe it’s another draft pick added, different prospect or a 2nd instead of a 3rd.
We spoke at length with Colorado fans over the last few months about Henrique, and the consensus was that with 50% retention at the 2023 TDL, a 2024 1st was the price, plus some discussion of throwing Kaut in as the team had made it clear they wanted to move on from/didn't have a spot for him and he was a waiver claim risk. Even next (2024) TDL, we would expect to get a 2nd and a B prospect for a 50% retained Henrique, which is better than the offer of a future 3rd and two C prospects (Okhotiuk progress seems to have stalled out a few years ago in the AHL, while Thompson has taken a step back in the AHL this year, both are long shots to make it in the show)
Now, ignoring all of that, lets look at things from Anaheim's side. We are running Henrique at 1LW. We don't have really have any other top 6 LW on our roster, or anyone in our system that is ready to take the role. Its a **** year for LW on the FA market, the top guy right now on points is Bunting from Toronto. Next two guys under 30 are Kerfoot and Milano. Maybe we could give Zucker a one or two year deal, might make a nice homecoming story since he is from Orange County, but I would imagine he wants to chase cups at this stage of his career. So lets assume we can't buy a 1LW in FA.
Now we've got to trade for one, of the top LW in the league this season on points, the players without trade clauses are as follows, in order of points, and comments about being able to obtain them
Jason Robertson Not Moving
Kirill Kaprizov Not Moving
Klye Connor Not Moving
Timo Meier Could be acquired
Brady Tkachuk Not Moving
Andrei Kuzmenko* Not Moving, extended with clause
J.T. Miller* Not Moving, dear god keep him away from my team
Carter Verhaeghe Not Moving, too good for the cap hit
Clayton Keller Could be acquired
Brandon Hagel Not Moving, too good for the cap hit
Alex DeBrincat, Potentially could be acquired, depends on what Ottowa wants to do
Andrei Svechnikov Not Moving
Cole Caufield Not Moving
Jared McCann Not Moving, just resigned
Artturi Lehkonen Not Moving, just resigned
Dominik Kubalik Not Moving, too good for cap hit
Michael Bunting Don't think he is really that good, success is because he is on Matthews Marner line
Adrian Kempe Not Moving, just resigned
Pavel Zacha* Not moving, extended with clause
Victor Olofsson Could be acquired
Cole Perfetti Not Moving, too good for cap hit
Scott Laughton Could be acquired
Lawson Crouse Just resigned, but probably could be acquired
Casey Mittelstadt Could be acquired, questions about his ability at LW
Tomas Tatar Not Moving
Dillion Dube Could be acquired, maybe
Marcus Johansson Could be acquired
Joel Farabee Just resigned, but could be acquired
So, our options realistically are
Meier, almost guaranteed not to happen because division rival, but would be the best pickup
Keller, not sure what the cost is or if AZ wants to move him
DeBrincat (maybe) unsure if Ottowa views the acquisition as a mistake
Olofsson great goal scorer, does nothing else, not great to pair with Zegras/Terry
Laughton kind of like Henrique light, not convinced he's the guy
Crouse would be a good guy to pick up, Zegras Terry really needs a power forward.
Mittlestadt not sure he is that great at wing, also not really a top 6 guy.
We would need at least half the acquisition capital for one of Meier, Keller, DeBrincat, or Crouse to come out of a retained Henrique deal if we were to do it in 2023, meaning multiple 2nd round picks, or a first. Otherwise, we keep him around until the 24 TDL and deal him then.