Rather go after someone like Brandon Manning or Calvin De Haan then pay $4.725mm for Jack Johnson to play 3rd pairing. Could save 1.5-2 mm on that spot.

I really like De Haan, could be a steal on the market. I like the trades, Teuvo might require a bit more but he's a guy that'd be a great target for us.

I wasn't jumping up and down about signing Jack Johnson but if he was anchoring the 3rd pairing it'd be solid. I think other teams will out bid the Blues for De Haan.

I like the thought on Teuvo. I hadn't really thought down that path; however, I don't think that anything more would be required. Teuvo only has one year left before RFA and giving up 2 solid prospects, a first and a second in my opinion for 1 guaranteed year is enough.

I'm not sold on picking up Tavares for the Blues. Don't get me wrong. He would be an incredible pick up, but at $10.5 to $11 million per....yikes! That's a lot of money for one player and not a lot to put around him. I like one of your earlier posts looking at a Parayko for Draisaitl ($8.5 million long term and younger) trade.

Then filling the RD gap with a UFA/RFA - Carlson, Green, Dumba, Miller, van Riemsdyk. As you mentioned, bring up Schmaltz and see what he can do. Maybe bring up Walman too to fill the LD. Or look for another option there - De Haan would be an interesting replacement for Gunnarsson.