Quoting: GeneralLandro
Absolutely need a LD2 and RD3 if not RD1
I think Gudas is a stout upgrade on Shattenkirk.
Haag is a minor to moderate upgrade on Benoit.
But that still doesn't address the subtractions of Lindholm and Manson. Maybe Gudas can play Manson's role, at which point were still down a Shattenkirk replacement. Maybe Helleson is a good as shatty was last season, but it's not going to be much of an improvement.
Maybe this group can gel really well and play better than their raw stats. I know chemistry was a big issue last season on the D. Kulikov and Fowler seemed to find a stride together, but everyone we paired klingberg with was screwed, and Shattenkirk continuously turned over the puck thinking he had his man there to pick up the short pass from the boards when he got pinched.
But for this season, who is left? Carolina, Columbus, Calgary, and Buffalo are all carrying extra D at the moment, not sure if they're looking to move any, but we don't have trade relationships with any of them at the moment.
Toronto and Tampa are the only teams not cap compliant to start the season (using LTIR). Several teams blew their loads last season with regards to adding, so I don't know what teams are looking to move out a decent but over the hill D to make salary room somewhere else. Boston needs a 1C, but are capped out, short of loosing Lindholm they have no money for one, and don't really have the draft capital either to buy one with retention.
Who's even left in UFA, I don't think there's anyone I would call an NHLer at this point.