Edited Dec. 28, 2023 at 12:06 p.m.
Hey man, honored to have you reference some of my ideas here.
I've liked the idea of picking up Laine, I previously proposed using Z as a trade piece for Laine +, but the goal at that point was to get a scoring 1RW for Leo to playmake for, really need a guy with an elite finish for that line, but you've solved that riddle with Reinhart. Columbus also likely wants a better return, and Laine's talent is still there, he just keeps getting hurt, so the second would likely need to be conditional on Laine playing at least 65 games getting bumped to a first.
The flames would need to be at the point of a buyout to accept that deal, and by then Huby wouldn't be a top line piece. While reuniting him with Reinhart could spark him to do better, I don't see the need to have him on a line with Leo who is a phenomenal playmaker in his own right. And as much as I am rueing the Killorn signing, I think we're stuck to ride that one out. I don't believe that trade is really a possibility, Calgary would likely get a coach consistent with Hunt and Kadris style first.
I'm also concerned with the cap situation you've put yourself in. Carlsson, Mints, Zellweger, Drysdale, Zegras, and Laine would all need new contracts with only Fowler and Gudas falling off.
I can see Vatrano being extended here, I think one of Reinhart or Laine is suffice, as we still need to see how the D pans out.