Armia has more value to the Habs than his trade value for that reason Habs decline

Fair, I'll take out the trade.

I’d rather just lose burns to expansion/ TDL and keep Donato

If it's a given that Burns will be taken by SEA, I agree. But I really think there's a good chance that SEA takes a guy like True or something and screws us over, unless we offer a 1st/maybe 2nd/prospect. And I'd rather not do that and potentially (if he's not selected) be stuck with Johansen than Burns for 4yrs after that.

Plus I think Johansen does much better in a new defensive/boogie-style/focused system and change of scenery.

NSH already has enough D-men to worry about protecting (Josi, Ellis, Ekholm, Fabbro). Burns is nothing but a burden in that bunch.

Fabbro's still ELC -- he doesn't need protection, right? I think they protect Jose Ellis Ekholm regardless, and if they lose Burns, so be it. They'd be okay with losing Johansen too but in whatever case at least they get Donato and Gregor out of the swap and uncertainty of both as far as if they'll be selected or not.

They brought him in in 2018-19 playoffs, which means this'll be his third year and he needs protection.

NSH declines. Burns doesn't really fill a need for the Preds, and what if SEA doesn't want him? I'd rather have Johansen for the next five seasons than Burns. Burns' contract is going to be rougher than Seabrook's, as he gets closer to 40.

Burns is kinda of like Brindamour, Yzerman, Blake, Chara... he gets better with age in terms of his understanding and experience of the game, and he's been much better defensively the last 2 seasons than ever before. His freakish physical capabilities and always being in tip-top shape will have him playing great hockey for a few more years at least.

That said, SJ has way too many big contracts, all over-30 too (EK65, Couture, Vlasic, Jones, Kane, Burns). It makes sense for them to move on from Burns given already having EK65 and the aforementioned too many big contract problem. NSH I think could use Burns as a perfect pairing for Ekholm and to also move on from Johansen while also getting back two-cheap potentially good middle-6 forwards with upside in Donato and Gregor.

It's impressive that Burns has played as well as he has to this point, but there's no guarantee he'll age as well as those other names you've mentioned. The number of defensemen who can still keep up in the NHL at 40 is very small.

Losing Johansen down the middle leaves NSH with a bigger hole than Burns fills for them. Donato and Benning probably have close to equal value in a vacuum, but Benning makes more sense for the Preds. NSH has plenty of guys that can play on the 3rd line. I don't know a ton about Gregor, but he's not enough to seal the deal for the Preds. Every team has a handful of guys like him.

It's an interesting proposal, but not a trade I'd be comfortable with, from NSH's persepective.

Yeaaaaah, everything else aside, maybe wanna check the Seattle Expansion whosit on this site. True's not going to be eligible, unless a miaracle happens and he's suddenly worth playing for a ton of games this season. The options that the Sharks have for forwards who are likely to be exposable are actually pretty limited, all things considered.