I like it im hoping we get Stephenson too or someone like that. I feel like we could use at least two more good centres and should just shift Malkin to Crosby's wing. Which would especially be useful if there are centerman injuries for us. Right now Eller or Acciari would maybe be our 2nd line center if Malkin or Crosby got injured.

0 chance Stephenson is signing that contract.
That 3rd pairing needs replaced. They need guys who are legit defensemen who can PK in their 3rd pairing. It's just not an option.



Neither Eller nor Acciari are 2C.
Malkin does need to move to wing... but not on Crosby's line. That will never work. Nor would Sid be happy with a guy who doesn't play defense. It's spells unneeded conflict and creating an odd situation.
What they really need is a 2C who can win faceoffs. So we don't have to watch Malkin drop the draw and TB go down the ice the other way and score on him. He's never been a good faceoff guy.
If they could find a 2C who could win draws and keep the puck in the Ozone and just let Geno shoot, that would be ideal.

Easy pass for Columbus. Waste of five million dollars when there are plenty of middle six wings already in the org. Goal scoring isn’t Columbus’s problem, goal preventing is. And Smith is useless for that.

We can in fact afford those two contracts at that point lol

Not only does Columbus decline that Smith trade, we likely outbid you for Stephenson if that's all you're going to offer.

I agree our defense needs that too. Never 0 chance of any signing