Say that something like this would happen..I’d rather send them steens contract and keep sobotka. His contract is the less painful one.

I like it! But I have to nitpick a couple things.
-No Edmundson. Fixing that should be a priority.
-Bouwmeester will be back before Gunnarsson.
-Mikkola makes the team before Walman (I'm betting).
-Sanford probably starts the year in San Antonio--along with Fabbri (and kudos for not penciling him in on your starting roster, because he won't be ready).
-I'm ok with bringing Barbashev back as a utility forward, but that 4th line is just awful. We need Brodziak, and would really benefit from adding a tough veteran or two (I'm pushing to add Roussel AND Grabner).
-Even with taking on Ryan's contract, I think Hoffman commands a 1st in that deal. It's not like we're not sending money back in that deal with Berglund and Sobotka. And I suspect they would see more value in Walman than in Kostin, and might ask (but shouldn't get) both. I think it's 50/50 they get a better offer than that.
BUT--like where you're head is at.

Steen might be talked out of his NMC protections to go to a contender, but Ottowa isn't there yet. I think the Blues are stuck with him--and that's not a bad thing, because his defensive contributions would be irreplaceable.

What is “small” about these changes? ??