Quoting: wabit
Nylander (not getting into my disdain for that salary number) would be a RW on this roster not a center. Koivu/Staal are better centers and there aren't enough wings to make a quality 3rd line. It's a decent top-6 team and 2 4th lines. Greenway and JEE are coming along, but 40p for either of them is close to dreaming.
I'm not fond of the Spurgeon for Zaitsev swap. It's unneeded imo. It'll just create another Reilly/Olofsson situation but for RD in the future. It also will be another expansion draft headache for MN and their d-men.
Brown for Coyle could work. I'm don't really like either of them, but I'm sick of seeing Coyle kill all momentum when the puck gets near him. Losing the center option Coyle brings hurts a little, but I'd take it.
Nino is starting to find his game. It's still not where it should be but he's making his presence felt on the ice. I'd still look to trade Zucker before Nino: better return, and I really don't like Zucker's 5 year contract.
I can get behind the Nylander at RW idea, I still think he'd be the best option to be our future 1C and he should play center here but he's been very good at RW.
I'm not sure how grabbing Zaitsev complicates the expansion draft... If they use the same template as last time (7 forwards, 3 defenseman, and a goalie) this makes the decision so easy. We have tons of good RD prospects and belpedio will probably be close to ready for NHL minutes next year. For forwards you protect Koivu, Parise, Staal (assuming we re-sign him), Zucker, Granlund, Nylander, and Greenway which exposes Eriksson Ek and for defenseman you protect Suter, Dumba, and Brodin exposing Zaitsev. Seattle would probably pick Eriksson Ek which wouldn't be ideal but it's not a huge loss by any means.
I just view Zucker's speed as a far too valuable asset to this team. We aren't a fast team, we can look fast by making good passes but we would lack a true speedster if we lost Zucker. Zucker is also the closest thing we have to a pure goal-scorer and he's developed some awesome chemistry with Granlund. I just view Nino as the odd man out, he has been better recently but he could thrive in a place like Toronto.