sabres dont need more depth D

I can't see COL doing that trade. Graves is really good.

Arz trades for a 4th goalie and 9th dman???

Chicago should go all out to sign Lehner....

what was the COL trade? OP removed it since your comment.

Its there now I just edited it quickly

I know COL fans really hype up Graves but the truth is, hes had only one breakout year (so far).
COL does NEED a top 6 F and you have to account for the fact COL cannot protect Graves in expansion draft (protecting Johnson, Makar, Girard) so why not move him while you can.
Trade seems fair to me

No on the Colorado trade. That is giving up on Carlsson, Beaudin, Vlassic, etc. We need a #1 LHD, any other player or prospect who isn't a #1LHD only adds to the logjam and trading assets (Saad) to add to a logjam is just not smart. In the process of this trade, you've made our forward lines noticeably weaker.

There's also very little chance Suter plays top 6 at least for the first third of games next season and in order for him to play top 6, he better blow away the coaches taking over Kubalik or Debrincat's spot on the LW.

I don't disagree, but I think Saad's overpriced. He'd be a nice add for a 2-way forward, but I feel like Chicago would have to add in this instance. He's young, an RFA, and they're in division.

My opinion took into consideration that Saad resigns for 2 x 5mil.
Essentially yr 1 at 6mil, yr 2 at 5mil, yr 3 at 5mil (average of 5.33/yr for 3 years which is close to fair market value)

I didn't think about the Expansion aspect, but Hawks I think we still need to add. Maybe send DeHann or Maatta back?

Saad won't sign a 2 year $5M deal IMO. He's at the age that he's going for his last longer term contract. $4.5M for 5 years is more realistic.

He won’t be getting a 5yr deal from anybody in the current economic climate

With the expansion draft happening, revenues rising subsequently, and at $4.5M I'm betting he does.

Did you the details posted by the OP suggesting the 2yr x 5 mil deal? Its wasnt my idea, was simply running with what was proposed.

I think If the Blackhawks were to sign Saad it will be a 5x4.5 but since "Saad was traded" 2x5 will be more realistic for Colorado

Saad and his agent won't agree to it IMO. He's not going to try to get a new agreement at age of 30, he's going to go after his last bigger pay day at the age of 28 on a 5 year deal while his age and play on the ice is peaking instead of waiting for his play to digress as he gets older IMO.

Colorado would be moving their 1st pair LHD before Byram has settled which isn't ideal.

Saad also won't resign as an UFA for just 2 years.

Graves as an RFA is much more valuable than 1 year of Saad.

Colorado can probably add a top 6 forward without giving up a significant piece on their roster, just using picks and/or prospects, or Zadorov/Jost/Kamenev.

The expansion draft comment is valid, but I think Sakic would ask Johnson to waive before he'd expose a younger Dman. Johnson at 33 and $6m/2 years wouldn't be very attractive for Seattle, at least not compared to Compher/Donskoi.

We don't "NEED" a top 6 forward. It would be nice for sure, but we're not desperate for one so much that we would trade a young top 4 Dman for one. We can pick up that forward in UFA or with picks/prospects/lesser roster pieces instead of moving Graves.

And as for the ED, I'm pretty sure Sakic will find a way to game the system to get our way.

For example:

- Mackinnon, Rantanen, Landeskog, Kadri, Burakovsky, top 6 forward, Nichuskin
- Makar, Girard, Graves
- Francouz

Exposed: Compher, Donskoi, Johnson (waives NMC), Grubauer (resigned in UFA).

Seattle would almost certainly pick Compher in this situation. If they really want Johnson then we can simply send them a pick to get them to select a forward. I really don't see the problem here.

Heading into next season, you cant argue that COL biggest need is a upgrade at second line wing (to play with Bura and Kadri). COL is good on D, good on G, need is top 6 F, theres no argument here.

Now as far as your ED logic is concerned, there is ZERO change EJ waives his NMC. 0, zilch, zero, nada, not happening.
Also theres no chance the AVS protect Francouz over Grubauer
I personally protect Compher over Nuke.

thoughts @coga16 @moli92

I think its less of a "need for a top 6 F" and more of a "want for a 2nd line wing". Avs would be fine offensively if they ice the same forward core as this season, I wouldnt be opposed to bringing Namestnikov back so him, Donskoi, and Nuke could fight for the spot with Kadri and Burakovsky. I agree that 2nd line wing is the position they should look to add to if anything. They are set on D and G.

I think EJ may waive if Sakic tells him he will give up a pick if needed to prevent Seattle from taking him (and they probably wouldnt even want him tbh - he will be 33 by then)

Grubauer is a UFA in the 2021 offseason so the timing may work out to protect Francouz and then immediately sign Gru as a UFA after the expansion draft. This is kinda risky but worst case scenario is that we find another UFA goalie to replace him if he walks (or Annunen could backup Francouz)

Im on the fence about Compher/Nuke. If Nuke can repeat his success next season then I think he has a real case to be protected. It all depends on their performance next season

You can maybe convince me that COL protects Francouz if Gru is a pending UFA but i think they extend him before he even goes to market.

You wont convince me that EJ will waive his NMC. I think it is far more likely they expose Graves and offer a late pick as compensation for Seattle to select someone else.

that works too. Its the same result

As @moli92 said a top 6 F is more of a "want" than a "need". I think top 6 forward it is the area we should be primarily looking to upgrade, but if we can acquire a C like Cirelli instead I would be all for that instead. It's more of an opportunistic acquisition though as I don't think C is a huge need.

Sakic can be ruthless when it matters, as he showed by buying out Beauchemin and trading Barrie. With Johnson declining and being on a $6m caphit i think Sakic has a little chat with him and gets him to waive. I think Johnson's best chance of staying on this team despite his bloated contract is to waive his NMC for the ED. If he doesn't then I think Sakic would explore a trade or maybe even buy him out. And faced with that possibility I think Johnson would agree to waive so that Sakic can protect Graves and pay Seattle with a pick to keep johnson if needed; that's just simply a much more agreeable solution for everyone.

I agree about being on the fence with Compher/Nichuskin. On the one hand I think Compher's trade value is probably higher, but if Nichuskin's cap hit is significantly lower I think you have to protect him ahead of Compher/Donskoi just to make things work with the cap in 2021/22. But it does depend on how he plays next season as well as what his caphit is.

Exposing Grubauer wouldn't be because Francouz is better, but because of the convenience of the UFA loophole. Sakic is pretty shrewd and I think he's set up his goalie contracts to give himself the opportunity to take advantage of this loophole if he can. It all depends on how trustworthy Grubauer is. You don't really want to risk losing both Compher AND Grubauer (to UFA), but if we go this route I think it'll be because Sakic will have had an agreement with Grubauer beforehand.

That said, I could also see a scenario where Sakic just lets Grubauer walk as an UFA if he has another goalie lined up either in UFA or via trade. But that will depend on how Grubauer does before then. Between Grubauer at $5.5m+ (or whatever he demands in UFA) and Francouz at $2m I think Francouz might also be the more difficult to replace, so there could even be a case to protect him over Grubauer depending on how they play until the ED.

Wait, on further review of the Grubauer situation, doesnt COL need to sign a second G in order to have one exposed at ED? Heading into the ED June 2021, COL will have Francouz under contract and Gru UFA, isnt COL forced to sign a second G in order to expose one? or are they allowed to go into ED without giving Seattle the option to select a goalie from them?

The rules only require you to expose 2 forwards + 1 defenseman + 1 goalie who are under contract for 2021/22. The skaters have to have played a minimum of 40 games in 2020/21 as well.