from a columbus POV, the only framework that would really work is:
- CBJ gets:
- one of matheson or dach
- cap dump (dvorak, armia or price's LTIR hit)
- MTL gets:
- patrik laine
- a second roster piece (one of boqvist or texier)
- the jackets 2nd round pick (36OA)
i assume i'm gonna get some angry habs fans replying to this, but here's my rationale:
that deal lines up more with team needs (maturation + stability + improvement) and asset sheet (excess RFA-age players + a pipeline that doesn't benefit from non-top-15 picks).
the jackets wouldn't be interested in adding the 26th overall pick for laine. waddell wants to improve the team right now – the jackets are better off just keeping laine and trying to do a better job of maximizing his talents.
if he bounces back and they're still out of it at the deadline, they can flip him at 50% ($4.35m) as a multi-season rental and get a much bigger haul than the 26th pick.
hence the counter-offer: adding the 36th pick + another young roster piece to laine and taking back a veteran cap dump in order to pry a piece that helps them more now (matheson/dach) but isn't a one-year rental.
matheson would be a perfect second fiddle to werenski, and free them up to move provorov (who they can easily retain on) to recoup the futures used on this trade. alternatively, dach gives them a long-term #2 to play behind fantilli.
unless you're gonna offer a laine trade that makes the jackets better right now, or offer up actual
premium futures, there simply isn't an offer intriguing enough to outweigh the upside of giving him another year.