Cozens+ for Petterson, Byram for a true top 4 D or top 6 winger. Futures trade for the top 4/6 player Byram was not used for. Throw in something to grab Kaako too he is great 5v5. Players that need to be gone: Joker, Samuelsson, Bryson, Krebs, Kulich (sorry I am using you for a trade), Peterka is officially off of my don't trade list.
Tear down is not smart. Pushing the young kids who can't play defense down is the idea. Start planning for 2025 now since it takes so God damn long to make a move.
Just one small thing ... why would the other teams make these trades? Who is trading a true 1C for Cozens+ unless that plus is Power or Byram? I agree about Kaako, that'd be a great target for building a strong 3rd line with McLeod and another vet.
They're royally screwed with this core because Tage can hardly play Center, Cozens is historically bad at his cap hit, Tuch is a middle sixer, Peterka & Quinn are folding/stagnating and can't seem to play in Lindy's system and Benson is simply too young and should be developed on line 3. They basically don't have a single player they can count on to score when times are tough. Just look at Tage and Tuch's production during this streak...it's embarrassing that these are our first liners. We basically have every single player playing in a role they're not suited for or talented enough to handle. As I've been saying for far too long, they all truly have the anti-clutch gene and cannot rise to the occasion more often than not. It cannot be a coincidence at this point. The lesson here should be never sign a core long-term that hasn't proven they can be good in games that matter.
Lastly, I'm basically willing to trade anyone outside of Dahlin, Benson and probably Power (I know he's been a bit rough). I'd prefer to keep McLeod considering what we gave up and he's good in the right role (will he want to stay is another question? He looks miserable here). With Dahlin out, we can now see how he's far and away our best player and only elite talent. I shutter to think what he'd do in a real organization with real 1st liners on a PP. I'd also lean towards keeping Quinn simply because his value is very low atm and I think he has potential to be a good top 6 winger. I do think they need to trade one of him or Peterka and at least two others in this current core group (I'd lean towards Peterka/Cozens/Tuch being gone). Goalies I have no idea what to do there. I don't think either of them are very good and certainly not ready to be a No. 1 goalie on a good team with expectations.
According to reports, Byram wants to be a 1D wherever he signs long term. Maybe it's time to find a team that really wants him and is willing to give up a lot. That trade is looking extremely regrettable until we see what they can get in return for him. I highly doubt he'd sign here long-term any way. I'd also be looking to buyout Samuelsson this offseason at 1/3 or see if anyone will take the bait. They need to find two top 4 defensive d-men, stop trying to have a team of all puck movers. I don't think we have anyone in the system that is remotely close to this. Mostly third pairing-type prospects in R. Johnson, N. Novikov, etc.
Whomever becomes GM needs to look for the Gratton for Briere or Warrener for Drury trades. Not sure if moves like that still exist but that needs to be the idea. This group will never be good enough and anyone with eyes can see that.
