Always a good day whenever Peter Chiarelli is making trades with Jeff Gorton

So you give more for Crouse, and DeAngelo then you will for Domi, and Laine?? That doesn’t make sense at all. Columbus wouldn’t touch that trade.

My thought is that Laine won’t resign In Columbus, so his value will be down as an RFA and domi is having a bad year. Also, both Letang and Malkin’s value is down because of the year they are having, their contracts , and their age. In my opinion you give up more in zucker (who I value being worth a 1st and a mid tier prospect), Legare (a former 2cnd round pick), dumoulin (who I value being a little less than a 1st), and a first in 2022.

Well Laine holds more value especially that he is a RFA even if he won’t resign. He will definitely get traded but for a good center prospect I’m guessing depending on what they want. He’s still a decent player, but he has a attitude. Mallon and Letang are both old but very good, and will definitely get more in return. DeAngelo was on waivers a little while ago, so his value will be so low, especially with his attitude and what he supposedly did in New York. Crouse isn’t good, so he wouldn’t bring back much of a return at all.

VAN decline, they don't have the cap space. If they move Virtanen it would be for another player looking for a change of scenery with no salary retention. There not throwing DiePietro in any deal either.

VAN’s plan if they can’t find a trade partner is to buy virtanen out, so the retention is actually less than the buy out would be, so it saves them some money to retain.

There not buying him out.

when NY thinks anyone is trading for Malkin for TD.

It does us absolutely no good to sell low regardless. And I wouldn't be so sanguine about those "no way Laine stays" predictions.