I’d take a first for Novak but apparently your GM doesn’t want to move his 2024 first cause he wants to be apart of the draft in the Sphere

Have you watched the games recently? That third line (50-22-24) has been incredible. No point in sending away the first for a bottom six that is not suffering whatsoever.

The Smith deal is okay. I personally would like Duclair.

Point being - we can do well this deadline without parting ways with our premier assets (Kakko, the 1st, Othmann, Sykora, Gabe, etc.).

Make a move for the 1RW and perhaps a depth forward.

That claim by Dreger was false. Larry brooks disputed it and said they won’t spend a 1st on a guy who they don’t think is worth it

Brodzinski isn’t gonna be your 3C next year lol you have to plan on Chytil being done for his career and if they could sign Novak to a $3m 3 year deal that would be great

Also brodzinski would strengthen the 4th line and cuylle/Kakko have shown they can play with and carry anyone

I’m not high on Duclair. He isn’t good and Smith is a known playoff performer

I understand that line is playing well now, but what happens a month from now? Is Brodz the long term answer there? No way.

If anything Cuylle/Kakko carry other players very well. Plus brodzinski helps the 4th line and you get a possible 3C in Novak next year if Chytil is done for

Unless they are rebuilding, Dubas isn't retaining that much on Smith. Remove the retention and reduce the return by a lot.

Then I’d go for Eberle. No room for Smith at full cap

I understand. Just can't see a justification from PIT's perspective. Maybe a swap with Goodrow, but again, that would require Dubas rebuilding.

It PIT is retaining for this year and next, id counter with a 2nd and a 3rd or a prospect

I don't think Smith in general is worth retaining on. And if they were retaining that much dead money, they would only do so in a full rebuild. In which case they need to be justifying it with a better return which isn't likely to be Smith in the first place because there are much more valuable players to move on retention.