In my opinion, Caggiula, Kahun and especially Strome and DeBrincat will have to receive more than a combined 16 mio. dollars.

Plus there won´t be room for an extension with 20-21 UFA Gustafsson and a goalie-replacement for 20-21 UFA Crawford (Delia isn´t a clearly no.1 in this league).

Trading a young(er) asset like Murphy, a right-shot dman "only" for the reward of soon-to-be UFA Marleau also doens´t make sense to me, even with Boqvist and Jokiharju.

Furthermore I think that Chicago will go for Kirby Dach 3rd overall.

Good thoughts. I differ slightly on a few things. Caggiula is a fine piece, but I'm not spending more than $1.5M on him. If he truly starts lighting the lamp then I'd probably trade him. Honestly, look at his most common line mates last year. With CHI it was BOTH Toews and Kane. With Edmonton it was BOTH McDavid and Draisaitl. The 3rd most common pairing being BOTH McDavid and RNH. He plays with some SERIOUS talent and still got 23 points last year.

https://leftwinglock.com/players/index.php?p1=Drake%20Caggiula&flag=y

I also differ on CHI drafting Kirby Dach unless they trade down. He's probably a ~7-8 pick vs #3OA.

Murphy was their best Defensive defenseman. Something this team lacks, defense. Absolutely not on the Toronto trade. The only way I'd want Marleau is if Kapanen is included, but not with Murphy attached.

Roussel is older, less productive. Let's give them a higher pick and a younger, better player? Nah.

Anisimov isnt fetching a high 2nd.

That´s why I said "especially Strome and DeBrincat". If you even spend only that 1,5 mios for Caggiula, there´s only 14,5 mio. left for the other signings.

And whom do you think the Blackhawks will go for 3rd overall?

I just think he's the 3rd option at center. I have been saying Cozens for a very long time, but I'm almost about to change that to Bowen Byram. Getting your defense locked down is such a huge thing. I mean CAR, STL, BOS, SJ...all have great defenses and with SJ being the 1 exception on the list...none of those teams broke the bank for their defenses either.

I also think that it´s more likely that Cozens will go 3rd overall, but Dach may be the best choice at pure center with the best two-way abilities.

I´m also with you with Byram being the 3rd best player available, but I don´t see he´ll go anywhere else than Detroit.

Why do you say that you don't see him going anywhere else than Detroit? Is it just a gut feeling like you can't envision him in an Indian Head sweater? OR that you think Stevie Y is THAT high on him that DET will trade up?

Trading up isn´t an option, I think he will fall to 6th overall because of the other teams needs and especially don´t see the Blackhawks adressing a dman - with the crowded quality of forwards - at 3rd overall.
Colorado will go for a versatile forward (like Cozens) and LA for a "sniper" (like Kaliyev, Turcotte or even Caufield).

It´s hard for a German to stay with the beat of all Northamerican Leagues all year long (I´m proud just missing 2 playoff-games this year of my favorite team, the Bruins), but I recently made a short Mock Draft 2019 (for myself) with short explanations, and there Dach goes 3rd and Byram goes 6th overall - maybe it´s as simple as that.

It could be that simple. As a CHI fan, I have a different view point. I do agree there's more quality forwards at the top of the draft....AND...I would prefer CHI to draft the best available, BUT with a number of quality forwards...it's possible they could trade down and still get a quality forward. That can't necessarily be the case for Bowen. If a team REALLY want Bowen...there's a sure way to do it. Trade up! Good thoughts! Great convo!

Now I´m even more excited whom the Blackhawks will take - and at the moment I guess I´ll think of you

I designed an armchair-GM-team for the Blackhawks - maybe you´ll take a look around and comment with potential trade destinations for Anisimov and Saad?!