https://twitter.com/spinohockey/status/1370446790978375686

That's not enough

And there’s a still a little cap room to potentially bring in Hamonic. Sounds like they can’t afford both Ekholm and Savard under the cap though, unfortunately

Why not? Last years deadline comparables:

Skjei (2LD, 4.5 years until UFA) for a 1st rounder

Martinez (2LD, 1.5 year until UFA) for 2 2nds

The year before that:

Muzzin (2LD, 1.5 year until UFA) for Durzi, Grundstrom, and a 1st

Montour (2RD, 2.5 years until UFA) for Guhle and a 1st

The only way Ekholm gets more is if there’s a bidding war. Recent ahl defenseman of the year and a 1st is reasonable.

Depends on how u rate Niku I suppose, his value is all over the place... as well as the expansion draft implications with having save a spot for Ekholm or risk exposing him

He still has potential to become pretty good.. winning AHL rookie and defensemen of the year his first year here, it’s unfortunate that the next 2 seasons injuries kept him out of the lineup a lot, and then there’s Maurice with his vet bias.

But hey who knows. Just a rumour after all

Lol the only name there remotely comparable to Ekholm is Muzzin. 17/18 was 3 years ago, and he has been pretty subpar since then. The "recent AHL defenseman of the year" argument holds no sway now. if we are to compare this to the muzzin trade we have 1st = 1st, Niku = Grundstrom, so you are a B+ prospect short

Okay so take Gustafson then. Or Chisholm, or Berdin if we think he’s lost in expansion. Also it was 18/19, only 2 years ago. And if he was that subpar they wouldn’t have given him a raise

Swap that B+ prospect out for losing a protection slot at expansion, which any team acquiring Ekholm will have to do