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.

 

[Xoggz22]

Some have already mentioned them, but I think they still have to consider moving Provorov without hesitation (I don't see him re-signing and as much as it's going to likely hurt the back end for March/April, you just can't get nothing at this stage of the rebuild). I also move any other pending UFA that gets a nibble and then I would hope they suggest moving the year out on the nibble to gain a round. I don't know that we need picks this year (not all of them if we move multiple players) and seriously hope they consider in lieu of a 2025 4th, maybe they get a 2026 or 2027 3rd (for example).

I think a lot is going to depend on who actually returns to the lineup. If Boone is back and healthy by the deadline, that frees up a guy like JRV, Labanc (although I'm not sure they get a 7th for him unfortunately), Danforth. Chinny does the same (although I don't like his injury history and have long term concerns iwth him but that's a different topic) - you can move a lower end forward for a low pick. Moving Provorov can be filled with Gudbranson or even Jake for the short term. Bring up Hunt or Svozil if needed (although I think if Guddy comes back you wouldn't need to and your top 4 of Z, Fabbro, Mateychuk and Severson would be fine. Play Jake and Guddy on the 3rd pair with JJ to support.

Ultimately, I think the UFAs we're likely to have available are good fits and decent players but they are more complementary and may be more desirable to a team that likely can go deeper in the playoffs. They can be replaced, maybe not completely effectively, but they aren't guys that are players we can do without (Aside from the fit with the team and morale - big, yes, but bigger picture thinking needs to take control).

 

[cbjthrowaway]

realistically the only guy they have who they could move as a rental would be provorov. could aim for a 2026 1st + a roster player in that kind of move.

i don't see guys like kuraly, JVR, danforth or harris generating enough interest to be worth moving for picks. could see any of those guys (particularly harris) being moved to balance contracts if the jackets take on a cap dump.

would also be taking calls on severson, but they'd need something lined up before pulling the trigger if they also plan to move provorov. same story with elvis, although the goalie market seems a bit light.

as far as targets (edited a few times):

• big fish
  • elias pettersson – the canucks seem likely to move miller instead but if pettersson is actually available the jackets should push hard to make a deal happen. elite two-way 1Cs in their prime are hard to find, and this is a rare opportunity.
• top targets
  • k'andre miller – by far my top target here (and top realistic target overall) – he has size, can skate, and has shown skill. would benefit from a change of scenery as well
  • brock boeser – top line quality player who could elevate fantilli, a bit of a pricier option who would require an extension but imo would be worth it
  • oliver bjorkstrand – can fit any line and has another year left on his deal
  • simon nemec – would be peak irony to do this after moving jiricek, but i'm a big believer in the talent and think he'd be a good long-term partner for werenski.
  • ryan pulock – would be such a slam dunk fit in our top four
  • matias maccelli – i assume UTA will look to keep him
  • a goalie – vejmelka, ingram and wedgewood all stick out
• secondary targets
  • nick bjugstad – big veteran RH center but can play wing, ideally a third liner but would look awesome between ZAR and olivier on a bully line
  • matias samuelsson – imo he's a really good player buried in a bad situation on an awful team, the size/skating combo and age are appealing. ideal buy-low guy imo.
  • dylan cozens – the sabres are a mess. he has traits (size/skill/pedigree) that are appealing, and imo a move to wing would do him a lot of good. like samuelsson, has some runway before the U26 buyout window closes
  • joel farabee – super talented player and i think PHI would let him go for very little to get out of his contract
  • jamie oleksiak – size and reach, potential cap dump, etc. – i like the fit with severson too
  • philipp kurashsev – have always liked his game and he looks like he's on the block. could see chicago flipping him for someone like jordan harris.
  • luke evangelista – not a veteran but i like his game and he's not thriving in NSH
  • gustav nyquist – can fit a lot of lines/roles
• tertiary targets
  • brandon saad – a shadow of his former self at this point but not a bad player and can play up and down the lineup
  • ilya mikheyev – not worth his contract but brings a lot of speed to the bottom six, potential "reclaim now, retain and flip later" guy
  • nils hoglander – don't love the extension but he's fast and competes hard, nice plug-and-play option
  • mario ferraro – young-ish veteran who is getting over-played in SJS and could have a more suitable role here
  • jonathan quick – solid veteran goalie

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

realistically the only guy they have who they could move as a rental would be provorov. could aim for a 2026 1st + a roster player in that kind of move.

i don't see guys like kuraly, JVR, danforth or harris generating enough interest to be worth moving for picks. could see any of those guys (particularly harris) being moved to balance contracts if the jackets take on a cap dump.

I agree with this. Could also just move a player like Harris just because you can. Like JVR or Danforth are ostensibly useful for the remainder of this season even if you don't plan on bringing them back. Harris not so much, which is unfortunate IMO but it is what it is.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

I agree with this. Could also just move a player like Harris just because you can. Like JVR or Danforth are ostensibly useful for the remainder of this season even if you don't plan on bringing them back. Harris not so much, which is unfortunate IMO but it is what it is.

yeah i don't think harris is a "trade for picks" piece, more of a "trade for a player someone else doesn't want" piece. someone like kurashsev or farabee.

 

[majormajor]

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.

That's my general view but I'd at least ask Guddy and Monny about it, they might know something here.

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.

We would pay to avoid Ristolainen (and Lindgren).

Dobson would cost a 1D price, for a pillowy soft defender. What folks here say about him doesn't match what Isles fans say.

 

[koteka]

Dobson would cost a 1D price, for a pillowy soft defender. What folks here say about him doesn't match what Isles fans say.

Is that because Isles fans actually have a much higher standard for good defense that we don’t have so they view him with a more critical eye? Serious question.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

Dobson would cost a 1D price, for a pillowy soft defender. What folks here say about him doesn't match what Isles fans say.

to be fair, lots of CBJ fans (i wouldn't say a majority, but some) said similar things about werenski.

dobson has an absurd amount of talent, i just don't think he's necessarily a great fit with werenski or mateychuk. but a defensive core with werenski and dobson each carrying a pair and being high-activation play-drivers would be one hell of an engine for a playoff team.

if we're looking at NYI, though, i'd much rather go after pulock.

 

[majormajor]

as far as targets (edited a few times):

• big fish
  • elias pettersson – the canucks seem likely to move miller instead but if pettersson is actually available the jackets should push hard to make a deal happen. elite two-way 1Cs in their prime are hard to find, and this is a rare opportunity.

How much pause does it give you that he'll often go on such long pointless droughts? Just 3 games with points in the last 13.

People say he's just an unhappy camper there, but he seems like the type to carry that around with him. I don't know if I want that.

 

[majormajor]

Is that because Isles fans actually have a much higher standard for good defense that we don’t have so they view him with a more critical eye? Serious question.

You can ask them. Let them know what qualities you're looking for in a defender.

to be fair, lots of CBJ fans (i wouldn't say a majority, but some) said similar things about werenski.

dobson has an absurd amount of talent, i just don't think he's necessarily a great fit with werenski or mateychuk. but a defensive core with werenski and dobson each carrying a pair and being high-activation play-drivers would be one hell of an engine for a playoff team.

if we're looking at NYI, though, i'd much rather go after pulock.

For a playoff team I'd rather have a McDonagh type of player than a Dobson type of player. Dobson just seems like the wrong category for what we need. Both Pulock and Pelech have more appeal.

 

[cbjthrowaway]

How much pause does it give you that he'll often go on such long pointless droughts? Just 3 games with points in the last 13.

People say he's just an unhappy camper there, but he seems like the type to carry that around with him. I don't know if I want that.

neither of these things bother me whatsoever.

pettersson is still driving play offensively and still has extremely good underlying defensive metrics. he's also not a rental. the long-term benefits of adding him go beyond his individual impact – they make the entire roster build an easier process because it sets the 1C position in stone, gives them runway with fantili, and a potential elite 1-2-3 down the middle of EP40, monahan and jenner down the stretch this year.

as for him being unhappy there… i don't exactly blame him? jt miller has been a problem in more than one market now and it doesn't seem like hughes, as a young, soft-spoken captain, is the best guy to defuse that. the FO has also played hardball with him a few times and the media there is insane.

leaving that toxic situation behind and coming into what is clearly a great room and a FO that loves the player seems to be the perfect recipe to make him a happy camper (similar to eichel suddenly not being a problem in vegas)