Dubinsky available. Incoming Galchenyuk + 1st for Johnson and Dubinsky.
MB needs to be all over this.
We will.not have to give up our 1st, Chucky for Dubinsky straight up.
As a defensive player and American, Dubinsky has CHaracter. Chucky, being highly skilled and of Russian heritage does not.
This is proven by Dubinsky requesting a trade while his team is fighting for its play off life, because the guy wants to play and be a bigger part of the team. Chucky in contrast has toiled over the years with TOI below that of 3th liners and indeed played on the 4th line, but he has never not once complained. No CHaracter as he doesn't care about playing.
Now some of you may be concerned about trading away a 23 year old highly talented player who not only contributed goals while on the 4th line, but actually produces pretty well when given top 6 TOI and skilled linemates. And, is fun to watch.
However, we would be getting back a true centre. Now yes he is a decade older , gets paid almost a million more than Chucky, has never been a big point producer and indeed is seeing his production rapidly decline a la Pleks.
But, we know that in CJs view, as witnessed by getting rid of that non centre Seguin in Boston, that all that matters to being a centre for him is defense. Sure he would welcome offense, but between those 2 abilities it's defense that matters most.
By getting Dubinsky we would finally have centre depth and could play Drouin on the wing.
Now you might be concerned that our offensive production will drop even more, because it certainly will. But as we play our mistake free system we make 0 mistakes and score 1 or 2 goals, we have a chance.
So have to make this trade.