I think this is a year where the Jets can make some magic happen in the playoffs, so if I were Chevy, I would make a big splash for some help on the defensive end and some offensive depth.
Ekholm --> Kristian Vesalainen, Sami Niku, Johnny Kovacevic and a 1st round pick.
There is definitely going to be a bidding war for Ekholm, and this trade should win it without giving up any of our big defensive prospects. Kristian Vesalainen is the A-grade prospect that has top 6 potential and is good enough to play in the NHL right now. Sami Niku and Johnny Kovacevic are both B-grade defensive prospects, Sami Niku can play right now and has some decent upside, just never fit into our system, but could thrive in a new scene. Kovacevic is a few years away, but has upside and has played well in the AHL and overseas. With our deep left side for defensive prospects (Stanley, Heinola, Samberg), he doesn't necessarily have a spot in our future. The 1st round pick is a given in this deal, and I feel like its a good enough return to seem valuable to Nashville but not an overpay on Winnipeg's end.
Nick Cousins --> 2nd round pick.
This part of the deal may be a slight overpay, but the extra value here pours into the previous part of the trade for Ekholm. Here we get a solid depth player without giving up much. So we get an upgrade on Nate Thompson at the 4C spot to play with Trevor Lewis and Perrault, which I feel is a much better fourth line, and our depth after an injury or two during the playoffs wouldn't be too bad, as Nate Thompson would be the first man up, followed by Jansen Harkins, Dominic Toninato, Suess/Luoto. Defensive Depth is solid with Beaulieu, Stanley and Heinola that could come up, too.
Got really bored and really went in depth lol, let me know what y'all think!
Don't think Kovacevic needs to be included at all and adding Cousins is unnecessary so would just scrap that part altogether, personally I'm against the Ekholm idea as I think he'll cost too much and he complicates the expansion draft, would prefer to add a smaller fish UFA dman or two and that's it, the Jets don't need any forwards at all.
McDavid, Connor
$250,000)
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