We may as well just suck it up and live with knowing Mika and his buddy are here until next Summer ....and maybe longer for at least Mika .
Does anybody have a possible scenario for our D next season which I would consider to be the backbone of team success and or lack of . Will it all hinge on what we do with Kreider ??? I know we will need some/how many ? additions but I have no idea on what we have to spend on the D . Can we retain Borgen-Urho and Miller.............................Lindgren ?
Can we or would we want Lindgren back for 2 ?? Million a season as our 3rd pairing guy and we play a zone D ? He is a loyal soldier....he might stay for a 3 yr deal . I think he would be fine in a new system and at #6 position back there . Slotted/priced correctly I think he stays .
A lot depends on the type of cap space that’s available and what they are able to secure at the deadline. It’s possible that a possible Kreider trade returns a good, developing young defenseman who could start in the NHL next year in a depth role.
Overall, I think the right move is Lindgren gone, possibly Borgen as well. I’d consider signing Borgen as a UFA if he makes it. I’d seriously consider Gavrikov at ~$5.75-6.25m per season as well.
Just as an example of what I mean:
Deadline
Borgen to Colorado for COL 2nd + 3rd
Kreider to LA for Jeannot + 1st + 2nd + 2nd
Lindgren to Minnesota for 2nd + 5th
Smith at 50% to Vegas for 2nd
Jones to Utah for 3rd + 6th
Offseason
Id consider trading a 6th to Colorado for Borgen’s rights to re-sign him. Say 4 years at $3.25m per season
Sign Gavrikov for 7 years at $6m per season
Gavrikov-Fox
Miller-Borgen
Vaak-Schneider
That’s a much improved defense and it’s not really all that expensive honestly. You could convince me of trading Miller in a package or by himself for a comparable young forward and signing Orlov to a 3 year deal. I like the way he plays in general and I think he’d fit with the type of player the back end could use.