I think you’d have to attach at least a 1st for any team to even consider taking Lee. He is a boat anchor. At this point I think the best thing the isles can do is move Nelson at the deadline, along with any of the ufas that have any value.
Go into the offseason with at least 2 first round picks, and hopefully a few extra midround picks. See what becomes available in the offseason.
There could be something there for a team like Chicago without having to add anything.
Say, Lee and Mayfield for Seth Jones?
In such a case, Chicago would be taking on an extra million for the remaining two years of Lee's contract.
But those are two players who can help on the ice, in the locker room, and theoretically in the toughness department for a team that will be needing to protect Bedard considerably in the coming years while just plain deepening the quality of players they're surrounding Bedard with. That's a team I can see Lee getting some dirty PP goals for as well.
I can also see Lee having Chicago on the 15-team list. Much closer to home and right around the corner from his alma mater.
We wouldn't free up any cap space, but we'd free up a LW spot for a better skater and we'd upgrade CONSIDERABLY on defense.
You don't ideally want that money wrapped up in one blueline, or even one side of the blueline, but it's something to think about. And if things work out, maybe there are options to move Pulock when Dobson's payday sets in.
For those not in the know, Jones can be a beast. The hockey world has simply come to know that he can't bare the burden of entire blueline squad the way a Chicago would need him to, despite what he's being paid. But you get him on a team like this and you've got another Pulock with 40-50% more production offensively.
