The cup is never guaranteed. We will take our chances with Ekholm and Fabbro.

Karlsson for Ekholm would not work out for Nashville financially. Karlsson making around 11M, Subban at 9M, Ellis at 6.25M, Josi one more year at 4M. Just year over year our defense budget goes from a top 4 combined 19.25M to 30.25M with Josi's salary likely doubling the season after.

I guess I missed the Preds re-signing EK in this thread. I think the OP made this team specifically for ‘18-19. Personally, too many RHD for my liking but what a stacked lineup!

Why would we ever trade Ekholm, Hartman, 1st rounder, and our best defense prospect (Fabbro) for a rental? Poile would have to lose his mind to make that kind of trade if he didn't intend to re-sign him.

My thoughts were based on this team’s name, “Guaranteed Cup”, which I happen to agree very well could be the case with Karlsson’s addition, regardless of who leaves Nashville. People don’t tend to remember runner-ups in the NHL. Winning even one Stanley Cup would be forever, tho. Poile is, IMHO, the best GM in the NHL. I would not put it past him to re-sign EK, even at $11M. It may mean a major cut in hit for Rinne. Most of the rest of the team is signed for multiple years. Again, the main “drawback” would be 3 RHD in the top 4, as well as some temporary loss of chemistry perhaps. But the trade off could, would, should be parades in late June. That’s all...