I know he's a great 3C but I'd still highly doubt that Bonino returns a 1st round pick. Last year, when Coleman and Goodrow returned 1st's, they both had term remaining on their contract which Bonino doesn't have. I think a 2nd and maybe another minor asset would work better.

100% agree, but COL is without 2nds this year and next. They’ll either have to overpay for an asset that costs a 2nd or part with a prospect they likely don’t want to lose. I don’t know COL prospect pool enough to gauge value. Not to mention it’s going to be a late 1st in a weird draft.

COL isn’t sending a 1st for a bottom 6 rental,

I’d forgot about that. I see what you’re saying but I still think Colorado would rather give up a solid prospect with approximately the value of a 2nd than the 1st. It might work out to be a 3rd and a B prospect for Bonino.

I'd happily take Jost plus a pick for Bonino.

Or maybe Kaut but would prefer Jost.

Jost is expansion eligible, we’d have to protect him if I’m not mistaken.

Idk jg got a 1st AND a 2nd. Yeah hes better but i could see it being a 1st

Pageau was also at an age where it was optimal to resign him immediately. Bonino is in his 30's and has no value beyond being a rental. Pageau is also better.

Picks worth about a 2nd would be Helleson (2019, 47th overall), Foudy (2020, 75th overall), or guys like Annunen, Ranta, or Beaucage.

I figure Kaut/Jost could be a stretch but Foudy/Ranta would also be interesting. I do wonder how much physical proximity is going to impact trade values this year, not having to miss time for quarantine is a big thing.

I doubt Kaut gets traded. He's on an ELC for the next 3 years which is extremely important to keeping the roster deep during the cup window. Ditto for Jost so long as his caphit remains low.

Anything not on the current roster is fair game though in trade discussions.

Makes sense, Jost is off his ELC after this year and would have to be protected in the expansion draft which could play into it. We shall see how it all plays out.

Jost is already off his ELC. He signed a cheap 1 year deal to stay in Colorado. But yeah, he's an RFA again next offseason at the ExD. Prime suspect for Seattle to pick unless he's protected.

What about Sampo Ranta in the Nick Bonino trade? He has been a beast for the Golden Gophers this year.

Could be a part of it. I’m familiar with his game but I wonder how well it will translate to the NHL. It’ll be interesting to see what BG does.

I'd be down for that potentially. Are you expecting any other assets to be included in the trade as well beyond Ranta?

We’ll have to see the type of year Bonino has until the trade deadline, but as of right now, I don’t think any other significant assets would be needed. Bonino would not play top-six in Colorado even though he does in Minnesota. And he is on an expiring contract.

What Bonino does between now and the deadline will have little influence on his value - unless of course he gets injured or plays incredibly poorly.

Whoever acquires him at the deadline won't do so based on how he does as a 1C for a bad team. Rather, they're going to acquire him based on his track record in the playoffs with Pittsburgh and Nashville. As long as he can stay reasonably healthy his value won't change much. With 50% retention some gullible GM might cough up a late 1st, but his value is probably around a 2nd or 2nd+ depending on how late the 2nd is. Ranta + 4th or something like that is the sort of return that could work.

Spot on man, this was a great thread. Hope to see you post again.

Likewise brother! You created a good AGM that inspired discussion!