If that transpires, which may or may not be the case, then you trade him at his peak value next offseason. He’s still going to be an RFA
This.
We would get much more for Robertson as an RFA coming off a 25 goal season. I believe we have to think about all of our players as assets to a sustained run of contending over the next four years.
When making the final selections for our roster over the next week or so, we will consider:
PLAYERS WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ON WAIVERS:
Holmberg
Robertson
PLAYERS WE DON'T WANT TO LOSE ON WAIVERS AND SHOULD TRADE FOR SOMETHING, EVEN IF ONLY A MINIMAL RETURN:
Kampf
Jarnkrok
Timmons
Murray
PLAYERS WE CAN WAIVE WITHOUT TOO MUCH DAMAGE EVEN IF WE LOSE THEM:
Reaves
Timmons
Murray
I realize that Timmons and Murray are in both, they are bubble here and we could lose them for nothing without too much regret
PLAYERS ON IR TO START RHE SEASON
Dewar
Hakanpaa
Jarnkrok (possibly)
PLAYERS WE CAN SEND DOWN
Minten
Grebenkin
Cowan (obviously not to the Marlies)
I could see an opening lineup like this.
Knies Matthews Domi
Robertson Nylander Marner
Pacioretty Tavares McMann
Lorentz Holmberg Cowan
Reaves
Dewar (IR)
Reilly Tanev
OEL Liljegren
McCabe Benoit
Timmons
Hakanpaa (IR)
Woll
Stolarz
Murray
We trade Jarnkrok and Kampf, demote Minten and Grebenkin. We could keep Jarnkrok and waive Reaves also. We could also flip Cowan and McMann.
Once the season starts and injuries hit we can shuffle as necessary. It's a solid lineup to start the season and we don't lose any assets of value. We could even recoup a few picks and get some cap space to accrue.