Proposal: Players who I would move at deadline

[jacketsnation]

Share Your Ideas to Improve the Roster

It’s no secret that Waddell is eager to improve the roster and isn’t the type to sit back and wait and it’s exciting to speculate about what moves might be coming.

Even though I see our young players taking a step forward and don’t want to rush the process, adding a veteran or two would really speed things along. Look at what Sean Monahan has brought to the top line — his leadership, experience, and ability to elevate those around him have been invaluable. Strategic veteran additions could do the same for other areas of need on the roster.

How do you balance trusting our young guys to develop while strategically bringing in veterans to elevate the roster now? Let’s hear your thoughts on how to make this team even stronger.

Trade Considerations:

• Ivan Provorov: Could be included as part of a package to acquire a top-6, right-handed winger. His value should be high enough to fetch a 1st-round pick and a B-level prospect or contribute significantly in a trade for a key roster upgrade.
• Luca Del Bel Belluz: Only trade as part of a package to upgrade the top 6. While we have plenty of centers in the pipeline, his skating needs improvement to make a long-term impact.
• Sean Kuraly: Replaceable and could likely fetch a 4th-round pick in a trade.
• Kevin Labanc: If the team stays healthy, he may find himself scratched often. A 7th-round pick is better than losing him for nothing.

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Trade/Acquisition Suggestions:

1. Right Wing (RW): Trade for Brock Boeser, ideally with a 7-year, $7M contract signed as part of the trade. Boeser would bring skill, scoring, and a steady presence in the top 6.
2. Defense (D): Target K’Andre Miller via trade. He would be an excellent fit as a second-pairing defenseman with strong skating and defensive skills. Additional suggestions for filling this need are welcome, as other comparable options are limited.
3. Goalie (G): Claim Tristan Jarry off waivers, ideally negotiating with Pittsburgh to retain 50% of his contract. Jarry has proven to be a reliable veteran goaltender with valuable playoff experience, which is increasingly rare. His recent AHL stint has looked promising, making him a strong candidate to stabilize the goaltending position. Finding solid veteran goalies is notoriously challenging, as evidenced by teams like Colorado and San Jose, who got lucky this year – a situation that isn’t the norm. Having Pittsburgh retain half of his contract would make this move less of a risk with a potental high upside.

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Team Needs Recap:

1. A strong, second-pairing defenseman with solid skating ability.
2. A right-handed winger for the middle-six forward group (targeting a top-6 option like Boeser).
3. A veteran goaltender with proven experience (Jarry being a top target).

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[S1N4TR4]

jarry has already passed thru waivers and is with the penguins’ minor league team, WBS currently.

 

[alphafox]

If We are a Buyer I am looking for High level Secondary Scoring and a second pairing D-man who would pair well with Mateychuk. I would entertain trading Sillinger, LDBB, Chinakov, Jenner, Any D not named Werenski or Mateychuk. For extreme returns I would also entertain Lindstrom our 1st.

Targets would include
Scoring:
EP40
Brock Boeser
Bjrokstrand
Luke Evangelista

D:
Rasmus Andersson
Noah Dobson
Rasmus Ristolainen
Ryan Lindgren

If we are Sellers. Assuming we are going after futures I'm leaning in to selling on Sillinger, Jenner, Kuraly, Danforth, JVR, ZAR, Provy, Severson, Elvis (if someone will take him to back their number 1). Realistically every one of those guys (with the exception of if we offload both Provy & Severson) can either be replaced from the inside (LDBB, Brindley, Svozil, Jet, Ivanov?) and/or upgraded through Free Agency. Assuming we sold off Proverov for a 1st+, Kuraly for a 3rd in 2026 and JVR for a 5th you could easily finish the year with a roster still better than where we are currently at and another set of picks. Eve if you sold on one of Jenner/Chinakov I think you still end the year with a better roster than we have now with a boatload of additional draft capital for the next two years.

Vronk-Monahan-Marchy
Chinakov-Fantilli-KJ
ZAR-Sillinger-Brindley
Pyythia-LDBB-Olivier

 

[CBJWerenski8]

With our tough schedule, the Rangers getting hot, and other teams around us trying to get going, I think we're probably going to fall back in this race which will put Don Waddell in the "sell" category.

If thats true, I would sell the following guys:

Provorov, Olivier (if unsigned), Kuraly (if unsigned), JVR, Harris, and Labanc.

I think JJ stays as a positive locker room guy. He has his cup, he's a veteran probably on his last contract, he probably just wants to stay put and finish his career here. And I think Waddell will let him do that. I think at best we'd get a conditional pick out of him anyway.

Could also throw Danforth in there as well depending on what his market is and what Waddell sees in him long term. Could see him picking between him and Kuraly as the 4th line C moving forward.

 

[majormajor]

My plan is to acquire Gus Nyquist right now. Immediately.

Then watch the team closely over the next six weeks. We'll have to see how they do and see who gets healthy before we can commit to a course of action.

 

[S1N4TR4]

With our tough schedule, the Rangers getting hot, and other teams around us trying to get going, I think we're probably going to fall back in this race which will put Don Waddell in the "sell" category.

If thats true, I would sell the following guys:

Provorov, Olivier (if unsigned), Kuraly (if unsigned), JVR, Harris, and Labanc.

I think JJ stays as a positive locker room guy. He has his cup, he's a veteran probably on his last contract, he probably just wants to stay put and finish his career here. And I think Waddell will let him do that. I think at best we'd get a conditional pick out of him anyway.

Could also throw Danforth in there as well depending on what his market is and what Waddell sees in him long term. Could see him picking between him and Kuraly as the 4th line C moving forward.

can’t imagine danforth fetches anything better than a 5th round pick.

 

[majormajor]

can’t imagine danforth fetches anything better than a 5th round pick.

It's funny that's the name you pulled out with Harris and Labanc right there. Those guys might not have a return.

 

[Palmu]

We should be buyers and sellers. Doesnt matter if we are on a playoff race or not.

Definitely sell Provorov. Then sell some UFAs that you wont resign.

Buy players with next season(s) already in your mind. If we make to the playoffs new players can build up chemistry with the rest of the team, so they will be ready next season.

 

[EspenK]

So if the Jackets are say 3 points in or out of last playoff spot at the deadline what do you do? Sell, buy or stand pat?

 

[koteka]

Targets would include

D:
Rasmus Andersson
Noah Dobson
Rasmus Ristolainen
Ryan Lindgren

You can’t get Andersson at the deadline - you can’t extend his contract yet. He is a summer acquisition. He would cost too much as a 1+ year rental and there would be no guarantee that he would go to free agency.

Unless you get Ristolainen cheap, I don’t see it. What is 2+ seasons of Ristolainen worth? If we still had a guy like Jiricek and believed he was two seasons away, then it is a different story.

Dobson would be the guy that would be a great pick up. But he would cost a lot. I’d be on the phone with the Islanders.

 

[alphafox]

So if the Jackets are say 3 points in or out of last playoff spot at the deadline what do you do? Sell, buy or stand pat?

Primary focus would be selling. If the Provy deal is really looking for 8 yrs he is the first that you move. Assuming he is worth another 1st+ that is quite the deal making positon. Further, I start to clear the roster to make way for trial runs out of the AHL. If I can I would try to flip Jenner (I know not happening) or Chinakov as part of a package for scoring wing to go with Fantilli (i.e. Boeser). If we can't land help that will be with us for the next few years then I just sell and stockpile assets for the draft/offseason.

 

[Cheddarcheese]

TBH i think you stick to the plan and continue to set us up for the future of being a powerhouse.
sell

Danforth
Provorov
Kuraly

look for a big trade in the summer that helps us.

 

[koteka]

So if the Jackets are say 3 points in or out of last playoff spot at the deadline what do you do? Sell, buy or stand pat?

I am trading Provorov no matter what. Then maybe I’d buy a cheap right D. What would our old friend David Savard cost if Montreal is out of it? I might break my “no ex Jackets” rule for a defensive right D with his name on the Cup. Pick up a 1st plus a prospect for Provorov. Give up a 3rd or 4th for Savard. Maybe even give Savard a one or two year contract and he can take over the JMFJ role next year.

 

[DankoCBJ]

Yes trade Provorov no matter what.

Other UFA players dont really matter that much because they have very little value. Waddell said this himself basically. It is often not worth it for a 5th round pick for example.

If some team overvalues some of our UFAs, make the trade.

And Waddell should be open to buy too, if it is the right fit but obviously not for rentals.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

can’t imagine danforth fetches anything better than a 5th round pick.

Maybe not. But it’s still better than nothing if they don’t plan on keeping him.

It's funny that's the name you pulled out with Harris and Labanc right there. Those guys might not have a return.

Probably not. If they have no market then they can stay. I’d just have their name out there if someone wants to take a chance.