ok I promised another bern blueprint by w'e
this is it...
Per my usual, best hope for at least 1 if not multiple cups = EXTEND the window
this means deal vets for youth, few exceptions notwithstanding.
The out of nowhere Zib meltdown has complicated things with great negative forces. Even a premium payment to remove him must be acceptably profitable to a trade partner and that is not readily visible other than gutting nyr to an intolerable degree.
1. Rs-‘nucks
Zib max 50% retained 4.25 to 4.25
for
Juulsen, Raty, Forbort, Desharnais
cap
For Rs, we are looking at 4.25 structural cap recovery. Juulsen ok bottom pair. Raty fine to add at position of need. Forbort is possible 3LD depth after selling Lindgren in separate move. Finally do VAN a solid adding the useless cooked python Desharnais.
This leaves VAN thin on bottom D depth, but that can be added easy ‘nuff, including follow up w/Rs if nec
2. NYR-LAK
Shesty 5.6+ now [ext is next season, he agrees to waive b’c Rs are a mess]
Trocheck - 5.6+
NYR 2026 1st
Jones 800k+
Vaakanainen 1.1+
ballpark cap = 13.2
for
Byfield 6.25 x 5
Helenius 800K+ elc
Clarke 800K+ elc
+ LD prospect Jakub Dvorak, elc, 870k x 3
ballpark cap = 8.5
Deal enables dumping Rittich 1m expiring, to be sold elsewhere for a 7th, or if LA prefers, Rs can take
cap dif = roughly 4.7 which is easily covered by 9.9+ cap space
Assessment:
While surrender of Byfield is a major concession, Kings win this deal, but it is still a fit for Rs. Due to surplus depth, this pivot of the future is getting time at W, I am to understand. Trocheck assume he waives b’c the band is being broken up and LA is a good landing spot w/an emerging team, is face off win % leader. So Kopitar remains 1C this season and maybe 1-2 more, w/Tro at 2C ready to challenge, pushed by Danault at 3C, and others 4C.
But elite Shesty = best NHL G right now, Ks have serious wood to acquire, and he is locked up 8 seasons after this. THAT justifies this deal. Also 2025 Rs pick may/may not be lottery, and ditto 2026 pick for presumably improved Rs club, but it is still a 1st. Vaak = good stopgap for now, and Jones is very good skater, effective puck mover. Loss of quality youth is a wince, but enough youth retained while LA upgrades team from compete to contend.
Rs add quality youth w/height and mobility. Kreider for now stays w/Byfield at pivot and we’ll see at RW, w/Gabe Perreault likely there next season. Helenius betw Edstrom LW and Rempe RW can dominate and do more than just check once playing together -> chemistry kicks in. Add a quality LD prospect and RD Clarke, highly touted but just adding mins now.
Win win, too much on the plate for either team to refuse
3. NYR-OTT
Fox 9.5 + a later NYR 2nd [like 2027]
for
Pinto 3.7, Kleven elc < 1 , Grieg also < 1 per, say an estimated 1.8-ish for both =5.5
ballpark cap dif [9.5 - 5.5] = 4, which Sens have suf cap room 6.4 +; also Rs can accept expiring cap dump [Harmonic? at 1-ish] if desired.
Assessment
Fox is 1RD top end complement w/Sanderson. This slightly thins OTT pivot, but the wince can be absorbed. Pick swap is down the road, so possible.
Rs get young D + Cs
4. Sell off surplus Lindgren at half + Bogen + Scanlin + Robertson to Avs for return of NYR 2024 2nd + a later good pick
Bogen + ballpark value = a 2nd, Lindy at half a 3rd-ish + 2 prospects for later worth a 2nd to Colorado now + a bigger pick long deferred
EDIT ADD: I erroneously traded Vaak twice. Have corrected and adjusted
5. Smith, Carrick [back to Oil ?] for highest bidder
result for now
Kreider - Byfield - Brodz/Berard
Panarin - Pinto/Grieg - Othmann
Cuylle - Chytil/Raty -
Edstrom - Helenius -Rempe
forward depth = enough there ^ but usual suspects in the A if nec
Kleven - Schneider
KAM - Clarke
Forbort- Mancini/Juulsen
marinating: Dvorak, Fortescue, Emery
usual suspects for D depth: Harpur/Mackey/Ruhwedel
Rasmus Larsson and Hank Kempf may be close enuf for cup of coffee if available
G: Garand reinforced Quick + Domingue
