CAR has a new owner , no GM and going through re-structuring so the odds of them giving up a pick are slim to none .
typically in these situations just like when Molson bought the habs back typically former GM's prospects are bundled for an established player they think can help like the Gomez trade in MTL.
(although the Gomez trade was a clear win for NYR MTL got what they asked for in Gomez and despite his short lived tenure he took us to the ECF as top Center love him or hate him and it was our weak D that cost us that series with PHI Gomez showed up . plus Subban upon Gomez retiring credited him as a mentor )

my point is that it would be far more likely you see Rask ,Fleury ,Skinner ,Nordstrom and Faulk be moved out for picks and established talent .

something like Pacioretty , 2020 1st rounder (not protected) and Lindgren for Rask and Fleury
this would give CAR a star now , an additional 1st round pick and a top goalie prospect who is waiver exempt and on contract .
this would give MTL a 2nd line Center for bulk Faceoffs and a potential 2nd pair LD that currently plays as a call up / bottom pair D as he's just 21 .(we have his brother a RD playmaker coming up so it would be good for Laval while they develop and hopefully pay off in MTL later)

as far as retaining cap thats pointless most years CAR has to pick up a contract just to make the minimum cap requirement even now they just barely hit it so retaining is actually something that would hurt this deal because it just forces them to add another contract later.

I agree with the comment above. ?

agreed with the top comment but I don't see Byron being worth a first so that deal wouldn't go through unless a 4th and/or god forbid a 3rd were involved.

Good point but i heard that the new owner is a Melynuk 2.0.that ia why i decided to retain Pacioretty contract.Noah Hannifin is RFA this off season and Fleury next year.So i don't think Carolina will have any more problems getting above the minimum cap

do you see Ryan Reaves being worth a late first?

PIT did

do you see Thomas Tatar being worth a late first ?

VGK did

do you see Ryan Hartman being worth a late first?

NSH did

do you see Andrew Vermette being worth a late first?

CHI did .

after the 20th pick its basically like having a high end 2nd round pick .
they call it the first round but it doesnt mean all 31 players are first round worthy most years .

heard from where?


also those 2 both RFA , neither arbitration eligible and will both get a bridge deal of 1.5-2.5 m for 2-3 years
their contracts doesnt allow them to play hard ball ,they have zero leverage and cant go to market on offersheets.

like Trouba they'll sign to play or they can sit .

They looking for the cheapest GM available not the best

i disagree because if he doesnt put in an honest effort in CAR they'll never let him relocated back to Houston .
(this is the gentleman who wanted to be included in expansion talks but thought buying a team like CAR)

he'll spend so much effort that if the attendance and profit doesnt match the success he could argue to Bettman relocation is more profitable to all and provides a bigger arena.
this is a stance they can only take if they create a greater demand then they can supply in CAR .