If we look at the top six heading into 2025-26, it could be shaping up OK right now. Let's cross our fingers that Tomasino was that one rare Dubas find. Malkin obviously is going into his final season, so replacing him in two years time is probably the top priority. If Rakell and Crosby stick together, then we are probably looking to add someone for that line. Hoglander is the big hot rumor right now, but I am luke warm on him. I just don't think Sullivan would want both Hoglander and Tomasino in his top six. I could be wrong, but his reputation precedes him. My dream acquisition for line 1 is obviously Marner, and until that situation is resolved I will continue to hold out hope that Dubas can pull it off.
I started thinking about another player to target in the top six. What about Andrei Svechnikov? He is expensive at $7.75 Million/year but his role in Carolina seems to be diminishing. Necas has turned into a superstar this season, and he is going to need a new deal starting next summer. Carolina is reportedly in the goalie market. I wonder if there is a deal to be made with Carolina involving Svechnikov and Jarry? I don't know how many other pieces would need to be added, but Carolina probably does not need futures at this time. And if they want more depth for a long playoff run, we could definitely help them there.
Under this scenario, Rust could either be traded after his NMC ends or be a mentor for someone like McGroarty or maybe Koivunen on the third line. If you want to trade Rust and keep O'Connor instead, fine. But there is no way I am re-signing O'Connor without making other trades to move out other players. O'Connor would definitely be the guy to block McGroarty and/or Koivunen next season, so he is the type of Sullivan player we need to move on from for the benefit of the non-Sullivan guys in the system. My opinion of O'Connor going into this season was completely different but now I see him more as a cheap trade chip for contending teams who see him as a fourth liner. That is what he is, imo.
Regarding Graves vs. Pettersson, I think this is definitely something that Sullivan is screwing up right now. We are giving Grz so much ice time right now, so if that was for the purpose of flipping him then great! But with this Mass. mafia in place, Grz is far more likely to sign a five-year extension than be a deadline trade casualty at this point. Giving Pickering minutes is also good, because he is clearly one of our six best defensemen right now. He has brought some stability. Shea is whatever. He has a good game now and then, but that is usually when he is on the left side. On the right, he is a train wreck. And St. Ivany is a solid No. 7. Where does this leave Graves?
If we trade Pettersson, Graves would likely get back into the lineup. But that is not a given with 8 defensemen and Graves is clearly No. 8 on Sullivan's depth chart. So what exactly are we doing with Graves here? Not playing him does nothing for his trade value. And if the plan is to keep him as the No. 7, that is a terrible plan.
Could Graves be placed in an O'Connor deal for almost nothing in return? What about our boy Puljujarvi? Does he have any value? I would want to keep him but I also realize he is not Sullivan's cup of tea, clearly!
