On the WPG trade. I can’t see the Jets parting with the 18th overall pick AND a depth player to protect Appleton or Stanley. Neither of those players is worth a mid 1st.

If the Jets do a side deal to protect Appleton and Stanley, I would expect the player to be a UFA they don’t intend to resign, and an asset in the 2/3rd round value range. Either a pick swap (like Vegas side deal) or a B prospect not eligible in the expansion draft.

Yeah, I thought the pick was lower.
I can see them losing Stanley then.

From my understanding and what I’ve heard out of WPG is that the hope is that wheeler will waive his NMC so the Jets can protect an extra F, and they’ll likely be protecting Stanley over Demelo. Then again a side deal is another likely option. I’d imagine they’d use beaulieu as the bait, with a 2nd or 3rd and b prospect to sweeten the pot.

VAN likely protects motte so change to MacEwan or Lind probably

not sure what's up with the TBL trade... they paying SEA Cirelli to take McDonagh? seems like an over pay IMO especially since McDonagh is still good (albeit over-payed) and Cirelli is on a steal of a contract for TBL.

Wheeler left unprotected? Then Seatlle would take him hands down.
Demelo also being left unprotected is also not very smart by WPG. They are in a bind.

Yeah, I'm really putting the screws to the Lightning in this scenario.
If they want out of their cap hell - they'll have to pay.

If that's the case, take Foote.

Bolts trade Palat, ABB and 2 firsts to anyone with capspace and buyout Johnson. Still cheaper than paying Cirelli to move McDonagh.

Balcers is a lock for a protection.

Agreed, 0 chance Tampa exposes Cirelli or attaches him as a sweetener. They might expose McD if a deal around Johnson can't be reached with Seattle and go 7+3 instead of 4+4 perhaps, as they'd likely want to ensure they keep Gourde, Killorn/Palat and Colton as well.

Im curious what kind of package Seattle could put together now for Eichel

i see that someone hasnt studied a whole lot before putting their effort together

I haven’t seen anything about Wheeler being asked to waive. He’s their captain and still a really good 2RW, even if he’s now overpaid. I can’t see the Jets even considering that.

On the D, the debate will be Stanley and Demelo. Stanley was a 1st round pick 5 years ago, but only made the roster as the #6 D this year. He’s strictly a LD, and played EXTREMELY sheltered minutes this year. He did have a nice playoffs, so fans don’t want to lose him. Demelo is a strong, technically sound, smaller veteran defensive RD on a $3M per contract. He’s the perfect pair for a more offensive D. He helped Stanley on the third pair most of the season, but finally moved into the top 4 against EDM and played great.

The Jets have Stanley and two solid LD prospects on the cusp of making the NHL team. No depth on RD. Losing Demelo would create a big hole on RD, to protect a 3rd pair LD who might have a second pair, defensive D ceiling.

I would be shocked if the Jets protected Stanley over Demelo, but it could happen.

I doubt there is a side deal. They will lose a bottom 6/bottom pair asset, no use giving up another asset to try and protect depth pieces. Appleton is great, but the Jets need D and prospect capital.

Made the adjustment.

You are probably right.
Sure - taking Foote could work to make it more difficult for Tampa

Let's make it clear all 31 teams should make it hell for Tampa to be cap compliant.
I hope they **** the bed against the HABS

Too bad that’s not how it works, as smart GM’s are concerned with making their teams better, not screwing over certain teams. No, Seattle won’t be getting Foote most likely either. It’s really not complicated, as either Tampa will make a deal to have Seattle take Johnson(most likely scenario), or Tampa will expose McD and give Seattle a choice between him or a F like Joseph, Barre-Boulet, or Stephens. If Seattle takes McD, yes the short term loss would be rough, but it would benefit Tampa in the mid to long term by freeing up a lot of cap room. So much room in fact, that Tampa could likely keep 2-3 of the players they would have to let walk most likely. There is no chance Seattle is getting Cirelli, Foote(unless Tampa has soured on him, which if so, oh well), or any of the other big name F or D that Tampa wants to keep. If GM Francis wants to ask for laughably high returns on deals, most teams will trade elsewhere and either leave the Kraken much weaker overall than Vegas was, or force Francis to make reasonable deals. Seattle has some leverage, but not as much as so many seem to think.

Seattle has a lot of leverage.

When a GM has leverage like that they'll wield it. They did over Anaheim, Florida, and Minnesota in the last expansion draft. If Johnson is the player TBY wants out, it will cost more than a #1.
McD is the player TBY should hope is selected... Point is up for a contract next season with not many expiring contracts coming off the books. McD off the books helps.

Those teams were stupid, and let Vegas fleece them. Vegas also scouted well, and gambled on some players that paid off very well. Point's raise is easily covered, as Tampa likely needs only between 2.5 and 3 additional for his next deal. It's not that large of a problem really. Johnson could cost more than a 1st, but not much more. He is overpaid, yes, but still a solid and serviceable player good for around ~40 points. He is far from a pure cap dump, as he's still worth in the 3.5-4 aav range. A 1st+solid prospect should be enough. If Seattle doesn't want to deal, Brisebois has 20 other teams he can work with from Johnson's modified list.