The Danny Bri-era

As you seem to view Bouchard as either a 1RD currently or soon-to-be 1RD, you should understand that there's not a team in the league that would trade a young 1RD for a goalie- especially not a "franchise goalie" whose contract is set to expire and whose numbers hardly inspire confidence. If you switched Skinner out for Campbell, you'd be closer but, put simply, Bouchard is a non-starter. I'll give you credit for at least considering EDM's cap situation.

Honestly I thought Nurse was right handed and that with his cap hit Bouchard would never overtake him on the top pair . So that’s on me for not looking more closely. With all of that said and now realized, you’re right , it is unlikely that they will trade him. As far as Hart, he still has one more year on his contract and then would still be a RFA, so under team control. Your argument would be the same for Bouchard who’s contract did actually just expire and will need a new one.

No worries!

My point was more that for a goalie to come close in value to a young 1RD (current or soon-to-be), he'd have to be incredibly consistent year-to-year and have cost certainty. Even if I grant the former under the assumption that he'll continue to bounceback (no guarantee with goalies), he would likely end up needing a healthy raise next offseason as he'll be a goalie playing behind a team aiming to contend. Meanwhile, chances are high that EDM already has a good idea of what Bouch's new contract will look like for the rest of the current McDrai window (likely a 2 or 3-yr bridge deal).

Wings are gonna pass, Ras isn't available.

TK

For

17th overall
43rd overall
Zadina

Agreed. But they could probably even take out Zadina and replace him with Sebrango or Hanas