Quoting: swinny
It really depends on how you see Montour.
I don't really disagree with what you're saying, but the way in which Nashville crashed and burned - and decisively so, I think bigger changes are coming than moving Bonino.
I for one don't see Montour getting a pay raise..... might be a hair less if he wants to play. Looking at what RFA's are signing for, there is a very flat trend on new contracts.... now, given the Preds situation, this may not be a risk they want to take - hence Miller.
As for Johansson, I don't see the Preds having the cap room to add a top 6 winger. They need to address the blueline first. Beyond Arvidson and Forsberg the wing is kind of uninspiring. You are not wrong in what you say about Marcus, but I see him as a place holder more than anything else. For theblast couple years, the Preds have moved the likes of Jarnkrok and Scissons in and out of the top 6. Given the cap contraints, I see more of the same for next year.
I agree that more than just moving Bonino is required, but this trade doesn't help NSH achieve anything other than losing Johansen. He definitely doesn't always live up to his contract, but when he's playing motivated hockey he's still very good.
Montour can't make less than he does now, unless he doesn't get a QO and becomes a UFA. Then anyone can just sign him without giving anything up. There are UFAs this off-season that could be sign for less than what Montour or Miller make. DeMelo or Shattenkirk are a couple examples that could get the job done for less, in my opinion.
I disagree that there isn't enough room to upgrade the top six, especially if one of Johnasen/Duchene/Turris are able to be moved, without taking back as much salary as the Preds do in this proposal. Instead of bringing in Johansson as a 2nd line placeholder for one year, it makes more sense to plug Jarnrkok in that spot again. Ideally he's a 3rd liner, but he's still a better player than Johansson, for less than half the cap hit.