Granlund is awesome. He’s a leader, he works hard, he plays both ways, and he’s scoring PPG. Everyone wants a guy like that. San Jose needs more like him. However, his age isn’t a great fit and a late first might help us add long term solution in the top 4, either through drafting or trading it for a cap casualty/rebuild in the offseason
I would trade him for a first. Then, I’d offer him 2x$9M in the offseason. Maybe we get him through an overpay, maybe we don’t- traded UFAs seldom come back. We will have the space and the need. He might be able to get something like 4x$6M though. I’d probably consider that too, though that’s 2 years into Celebrini, Smith, and Askarov’s next contracts which will hopefully be sizable. Combined with Eklund, Zetterlund, Tofolli, and hopefully some legitimate defenseman, that’s a lot of money. Not to mention a likely new contract for this years top 5 pick. Probably sufficient room, but if the team is competing in year 4 and Granlund’s fallen off, might be regrettable.
Nashville (though they moved on), Boston, Vegas (traded first), Vancouver, Toronto (traded first), Colorado (traded first), Tampa (traded first), Buffalo, Minnesota, Ottawa, Washington, Calgary (maybe traded first), St. Louis, and Carolina could all use a top 6 forward and Granlund may be the best available. Aside from Calgary, each of these teams are exiting window, executive hungry for playoffs as proof of improvement (MN, STL, Ott, Buff), or have a sentimental (Oby) desire to make the playoffs.
An unprotected first next year could also be pretty interesting.
If we can steal a first/conditional first we might be in a position to grab one of the many good, but not Schaefer, D prospects. With say the 18-20th pick I think even Hensler/Mrtka (projected outside the top 10 some places) could be in range with some trade ups.
I also think Ceci will return a 2nd (Very few UFA RHD available- Fabbro, Savard). Not bad for a couple cap dumps.
Imagine if we turn Granlund, Ceci, and our 2nd into Hensler? It’s not perfect, but Dickinson, Hensler, Muk, Cagnoni, Wallenius, and Thompson is a solid collection of D prospects while spending all our top 5 picks on forwards.