Thinking Ahead

Anaheim accepts

-I don't think teams are going to be lining up to take Foegele's deal, but i also don't think you need to sacrifice Puljujarvi *and* trade out of the 2024 1st rounder to get him off your cap. At the very least, you can do next summer what Minnesota did to shed Dmitry Kulikov this summer, and get a team with space to just take him for nothing.

-Vegas, hilariously, is literally already over the cap for 2023-24 with their current contract situation. I would be very surprised if they traded McNabb ($2.875M) for Barrie ($4.5M) without more cap going out. I think the package is acceptable, sure, but logistically I can't see the Knights having the room to do this as of now.

-Minnesota runs away with this deal before you can change your mind. Foligno is a fine player, and I know you're looking for more sandpaper with these deals, but he's literally a 35-40 point guy. His offensive spike the past two seasons is built on the back of an insane 24.6% shooting percentage that is, obviously, due for some regression. Giving up a 1st by itself is a lot, and throwing in one of your better prospects is just overkill. The Wild thank you for your service.

-There are probably a dozen AHL-level guys like O'Brien that you can sign for free and keep the pick if you want a face-puncher. Cody McLeod, Rich Clune, and Zac Rinaldo are all guys with NHL experience you could get for nothing. Bad type of player to spend a pick on, IMO.

Edmonton declines all trades. LMAO.

Trading away guys like Puljujarvi, Foegele and Samorukov when you're trying to get "harder to play against" is completely illogical.

Yeah, even looking through the lens of an Anaheim fan, the picks in that deal are unnecessary. At worst Foegele is reported to take a 3rd to move, at worst Pulljujarvi's value is a third. Worst case scenario, both of them for FC is a deal, no need to add.