Other teams will off a considerable amount more for Chychrun.

This offer would also likely get declined by the Sens.

I don’t think the jackets consider this. Especially throwing in a third rounder. Maybe if it was Campbell and a first for 400k retention on Elvis. No point in trading an average NHL starting goalie for a guy who has struggled in the AHL since the salaries are similar

Lmao that's a joke offer for Chychrun

Putting aside Matinpalo, Currie, and the 6th, and Formenton who is never playing in the NHL again, Ottawa is giving up a 1st pair Dman and retaining 1.35mil this year and next to get:

Bad defensive Dman who has a long track record of being bad IN Ottawa
Nothing AHL player
Former high-ish pick who is not really a prospect anymore, bordering on nothing AHL player
A 2nd (best piece in the deal)
A 4th (who cares)

Ceci is actually not bad. But of course far from valueable for Sens.

You seem to have good insight in these players. But a Chychrun trade would probably only be feasible in the summer of 2024. Also Oilers fleeced both teams here I think. Of course I love that. But it is not realistic. Sens would demand that 2nd to be a 1st plus someone like Hollywood I think.

why does "Staios might not be a Chychrun fan" turn into "so they'll give him away for a few scraps"

I just don't think Broberg is a piece of interest for Columbus. The defensive depth chart is stacked already, and long term it looks like Werenski, Jiricek, Severson (for better or worse), Mateychuk, and then the bottom pair is two of Bean, Blankenburg, Peeke, Boqvist, Gudbranson, Svozil, Ceulemans, Christiansen, or any number of other outside shots, all of whom have played in the NHL or AHL this season. Maybe Broberg becomes the 3rd-pair guy long term? But that's probably the best outcome.

If Columbus is just going to buy out a goalie in the offseason...yeah, it makes sense to trade for the cheaper one theoretically. But a Merzlikins buyout only costs $1.5M more lifetime in real money and $450K against the cap lifetime compared to Campbell's, who would have a higher cap hit in 2025-26. That and a defensive prospect you don't need just is not something you trade a 3rd for, especially when the goalie coming back can't make it in the AHL currently.

The better option is to just keep Merzlikins for the rest of the year, let him prove he's a starting-caliber goaltender, and hope someone takes him for a mid or late round pick and a shorter-term cap dump. Plan B is to just buy him out anyway.

If Edmonton is dead set on making Elvis their goaltender this year, Columbus certainly isn't sending any picks back, and something more significant has to come our way.

Edit: I forgot about Provorov, who I see as a Mateychuk placeholder