We need size, dumba isn’t what we need. He would help with the puckmoving, but the issue with the jets d is mainly size, heinola and Stanley will help the issues with puckmoving

Who else would they protect? The keep the 3 top 4 guys (Morrissey, Pionk, Dumba) and let Seattle pick from the guys who are borderline top 4 at best. It’s not a big loss, especially since Heinola will jump in next season.

Stanley has looked good, I would consider him

Fair. I’d then ask if there is a forward that is in the same value realm that might be taken instead? Unless Seattle has hawk eyes for one guy, it usually comes down to how much better or worse those players are. Of their pretty equal, the cost of “expansion considerations” goes down.

I just don’t know why it’s important to protect fringe guys when you have the opportunity to improve the team.

TBH if I'm Seattle and DeMelo is exposed I'm still ranking him at the top. He's had a rough year in Winnipeg but is still solid defensively and I expect the team they build to be very defense oriented

I agree. Lots of good defenders and young promising goalies are going to be available.

genuinely curious on this, what do you think the odds are that EK65 waives to go to Seattle since he has spoken out about not wanting to rebuild? I think its possible but Sharks will probably have to pay up and/or take on a short term contract from them (that they pick up from another team dumping cap)

I don’t hate the move from Seattle’s perspective cause he could be their Fleury. But 11.5 for 5 more years is a contract. Maybe SJS offers to eat 3 mil a year? That could make it doable and SJS gets a boatload of cap space.

Don't think any team has ever ate that much retention for that long. I think if another team like Vancouver pays them to take on Lou or something they work a deal to send that anchor to SJS

I wouldn’t touch him if I’m Winnipeg. I’d go after Dumba tho, that would be a positive add

If I’m Seattle, I would never eat that whole deal. SJS looks to be embracing the rebuild and that 8 mil could be repurposed more effectively. But I see your point.

I feel like a top 4 of this is too appealing for Seattle:
Skjei/McDonagh - EK65
Graves - DeMelo

I wonder if COL protects Burakovsky. If they don’t he’s a no brainer. But their back end will be overpaid, but it will be good.

Graves is way too sturdy of a top 4 dman to ignore in expansion

Definitely. But I look at the available defenseman and forwards and Burakovsky would be one of the few top 6 guys available. I also think there will be other top 4 defense available. In no way was I selling Graves short, expansion is a strategic decision for all involved.

Due respect, but this is how you end up with guys like Ziatsev and Gudbrannson. Obviously size is nice but it’s overvalued.

Hamilton realistically won’t come to Winnipeg. This is much more realistic. Also, Hamilton is good at moving the puck but he isn’t very physical, especially at his size. We also have heinola as the long term powerplay qb, Hamilton would only block him. I’m not that much of a fan of Hamilton’s on ice results tbh. Yes he drives play and helps the jets, but he won’t be worth that contract for long and the jets’ window is going to be open for a while.

Due respect, but this is how you end up with guys like Ziatsev and Gudbrannson. Obviously size is nice but it’s overvalued.

Do a deal with the Rangers, they have plenty of D depth and could use Adam Lowry. Both teams could benefit.

Good point. Maybe wait until 2022 FA to get a dman. Just don't trade for EJ

I agree, but Erik Johnson is a proven commodity, no sugar coating or small sample size like the case was for those guys.

The jets need Lowry, what do the rangers have to give back that would make it worthwhile for them? I can’t think of anything

Defenseman, they have a deep pool of talent.

As in? It’s got to be someone we immediately put into the top 4 and can play a shutdown role for 18-20 mins a night. And they need size. It can’t be a young guy, cause the rangers don’t really have young guys who are better than the group of heinola, Stanley and samberg (I don’t mean individually but collectively). Don’t see the rangers having that sorry. I mean, they have Trouba but....