By my count, we have 2x2nds, 3x3rds, and 4x4th available to be traded. Picks in later rounds are insignificant when talking about trading for higher end to elite players.
So if we made a big splash for a Nelson, for example, or any other elite player, Romano plus a couple picks may get it done. But when you also include conditionals on an OA season, those picks have to be tradable picks this year. Once that happens, we’d lose the opportunity to use those picks this year to further improve this team. And those conditionals would have to be significant pick(s) for a player of Nelson’s stature.
Not to mention Saginaw may be in on the bidding for him which puts us at a disadvantage from the get go with their draft cupboard.
As far as I’m concerned, going with Martin as the 3rd OA completes the top six. That’s a very strong top six period. We have a very strong 4th line. It’s the 3rd line that is the issue and if it isn’t improved, when we get deep in the post season, what Saginaw will throw at us as a third line will be likely as good or better than most team’s 2nd lines. To get through a long playoff run, depth is a major factor.
We have seen what Ellinas, Stark, Romano and Morey can provide. They had almost half a season so another few games won’t make a difference.
Lam is a good 3rd piece on a pretty good third line. Ellinas is ok but I feel the same about him as a key piece on the 3rd line as I do Campbell or Reid as a 2nd pairing D on a contender. Once we go deep in the post season, they’ll be exposed. I like all three, but not this year in 3rd line / 2nd pairing roles on a top contender - which we are. I don’t mind Lam as a 3rd piece in a 3rd line and maybe ditto Ellinas - just not at the same time.
So I feel, because of our thin draft cupboard, and the likelihood we won’t trade Reid, that we need to address our depth and that will make us pretty damn good. Adding a couple 3rd line forwards and two middle pairing veteran D puts us where we want to be.
Another reason to make sure we have a strong 3rd line and deep D is a reason nobody is talking about. What if we suffer an injury or two among the top six or top 4? Injuries happen sometimes. Especially during a long playoff run. Having a strong third line and deep D allows for a better opportunity at a successful “next man up” should there be injuries.
With the non ‘24 draft picks mentioned above, along with a Romano, and Ellinas (buy low sell high), we should be able to address our needs.
If we agree that we can’t afford to make a big splash for an elite player, these players here are the type we may be able to afford who’d address the depth on our D and 3rd line:
LW- Sandis Vilmanis - Sar
LC- Ryan Abraham - Win
C- Andrew LeBlanc - Sar
RW- Zachary Lavoie - Nia
LD- Konnor Smith - Pet
RD- Luca D’Amato - Osh
LD- Tnias Mathurin - NB
D- Jacob LeBlanc - Sar
D- Blake Smith - Flint
Not all these players are of the same calibre. We could afford one of Abraham / Lavoie. One of Smith / Mathurin. Then go with a less expensive second F and D.
We don’t want to touch our ‘24 picks, but if we get down to having to move the 2nd’24(ER) to get a deal done, I’d do it if we can hold onto the 2nd’26(Sag) that came over in the Schmidt deal. That way, we could do a draft week deal where the 2nd’26(Sag) plus another pick or two could be moved for a 2nd’24.
Today, I believe Flint has 3x2nds’24 and 2x3rds’24 so they’d be a good draft week trade partner since I don’t think they’ll be all in to move those picks at this deadline
Current tradable assets (desirable young players and picks):
Reid. Romano. Ellinas. Campbell.
2x2nds. 3x3rds. 4x4ths.
Not saying MM has these guys on the table, and I’d be pretty surprised if we dealt both 16 year olds. But they are the players, depending on the return, who are able to be traded, that would intrigue trade partners.
