This is the latest I've come up with:
Step 1: injury retire special deal w/Kreider, not a standard buyout
recover his cap
1. NYR-CHI
Shesty 11.5 x 8 + Berard 867,500 x 2 = cap hit 12,367,500
for
CHI 2025 + 2026 1sts, both unprotected, plus return NYR 2025 1st
Spencer Knight, 4.5 x 2 Cap hit = 4.5
Why Blackhawks:
a) 8 yrs primo elite G – a known commodity – will help make CHI closer to competitive faster, also keep Bedard happy
b) thought I saw somewhere there is a prob in that Bedard is way faster than other Fs and has to slow down. Berard may not have a long NHL career due to being undersized, but he should be a good 2-3 yr stopgap at min providing speed for Bedard
Why Rs
picks obv; think Garand has higher upside, but Allaire tutoring Knight may up his game and create a good trade chip
also, 8+m cap relief
2. NYR-LAK
Zib at half = 4.25 per x 5 + Schneider 2.2 x 1 ->rfa
for
Byfield 6.25 x 4, Dvorak 870k x 3 elc, Helenius 805,833 x 1 + LAK 2026 1st unprotected + LAK 2027 2nd
cap is ballpark =, slight savings to LA
Why LA:
supposedly hesitant to sell Spence or Clarke b’c concerns if Doughty falls off a cliff they’re effed, no reserves
hate to give up Schneider, but they pay top $ for him
Zib likely they are hoping for scoring W, but can be a depth pivot; max retain x 5 ups his value
They are on borrowed time w/Kopitar, so moving Byfield is a wince. But their immediate pivot depth can briefly support this.
Why Rs
Again picks, but also a potential 1C. Dvorak is a big LD first round prospect. Helenius looks good and is huge w/speed.
3. NYR-DAL
Panarin retained 5.6+ to 6m x 1 expiring + SEA 2025 3rd
for
Bichsel < 1 + DAL 2026 2nd + 2027 1st (unprotected) + rfa rights to Nils L.
Cap is roughly 5m savings to Rs
Why Stars
All in move w/high end W. Surrendering Bisch is a wince, but worth it at full retain. NY can take a cap dump if nec but DAL should be good w/cap increase, roster revamp, etc
Why Rs
good young D [lefty shot we think maybe he can play either side] + picks, move vets, recover cap
Assuming we keep jtm + trochek, main ? is keeping moving Fox while we can IF there is overpay – put on the side for now
extend Edstrom, Rempe, Cuylle + KAM longer term
take a shot at Peterka, Drew Helleson + Morgan Barron, but let’s not presume they are a get just yet
Wait until LaF gets chemistry + returns to a high value, then sell high + replace w/Gabe P
so looking like something like
Cuylle - Byfield - jtm
LaF - Tro - Carrick
Edstrom - Helenius - Rempe
Othmann/Parssinen - Brodz - Chmelar/best option
and again, Fox on the side...
KAM - Borgen
Bichsel - Soucy
Vaak - Jones/Nils L
quality prospects Dvorak/Fortescue/Emery marinating
G: Garand reinforced Quick + Domingue
Knight I expect dealt once enuf on the table
lots of cap space + picks to use/upgrade youth->even better youth