If this was the situation I would just pick Compher as Seattle anyway, unless Donskoi is better (is he?)

last year it might have been a wash but this year donny is playing much better than him.

The difference between them isn't enormous, but yes I would say that Donskoi is better. He's also producing a lot more this year, with 10 goals and 11 assists for 21 points in 31 games. Donskoi is a guy you can slide up onto the 2nd line without any concern, wheras Compher you'd want to keep on the 3rd line ideally. Compher's having a bad season as well, though a lot of that has to do with him being used at C instead of RW. Compher is better on the PK, and is also a bit more versatile given that he can play C in a pinch.

If saad doesn't take a team friendly deal and is looking for closer to 5 mil do we let him walk? Also i was wondering what it would look like to start newhook on the wing similar to macks first couple seasons to get a feel for a full nhl season then take the lead as 2c after kadri leaves. Hopefully Jost can find a home in 3c and bowers could be 4c.

Graves will be easy to move. It all hinges on what happens with Compher. Hopefully it works out and Saad can stay.

i like the team other than the saad contract. if I'm seattle id take donskoi over compher and a 3rd at this point.

If Saad doesn't take a team friendly deal I think Sakic would explore the trade market instead. He's wisely avoided giving out big contracts in UFA the last couple of years, with the exception of Donskoi.

If Jost can hold his own as 3C it would give the Avs a lot of options with Newhook. He could either start at 3C with Jost at 4C, or you could have Jost at 3C with Newhook on the wing somewhere.

I agree, Graves and Donskoi probably wouldn't be too hard to move and probably have decent value too. Compher is the one you want to move one way or another.

If Seattle want Donskoi instead that's not a terrible outcome either. Compher can play 4C or 3RW, and the extra $400k would be useful. Maybe it's not even worth paying Seattle a 3rd to take Compher, unless they're looking at taking a cheaper contract like O'Connor.

Landeskog --- Mackinnon --- Rantanen
Burakovsky ----- Kadri -------- Saad
Nichuskin ------ Newhook ---- Compher
Kaut ---------------- Jost ---------- O'Connor

With MacDonald only a handful of games from meeting the exposure requirements, the preemptive Graves trade becomes a lot easier. Agree with the protection list 100%. It just works really well from a roster and salary perspective.

Exactly. MacDonald only needs another 9 games to meet the criteria, which he should hit a couple of games before the deadline if he plays every game until then. With him meeting the criteria Avs could comfortably trade Graves and still have a Dman meeting the criteria, regardless of what happens with Johnson. If someone makes a good offer for Graves I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger. Avs could do with some extra picks to either restock the prospect pool and/or to use as ammunition in trades this offseason (especially if they use some picks at the deadline).

Kupari was mentioned on another site and I have been trying to figure out a proposal for him. Graves kinda makes sense but not totally. I'm not succeeding.

LAK would probably only want to trade for Graves (if at all) after the expansion draft, especially if they're trading a prospect.

Yeah that's part of the problem, although they could go with 8 skaters and be in decent shape (imo). The initial though was Timmins, but they are deep at RD.

Getting in on their excess of C prospects is enticing, but I can't figure it out.

They want a high end LHD. Graves isn't enough.

Could see Iafallo being of interest as a rental, but for their young C's they'd want a Byram or Girard and that ain't happening.

@Richard88 hey Richard, any interest in joining a cap friendly gm game? We already have it setup but looking to get new people involved

Can you share some more information about the format/rules? Thanks for asking.