That's the same value I've seen for Lauzon. Should be able to get at least a third for Schmidt, if not a second. If they trade him after the ED (and expose Myers) there will be more teams interested. Apart from last year, his career numbers are quite good. Boston, NJ at the very least would have interest.

Good post i like the look of this team, good additions both bottem six and on D.Plus were not tight up against the cap. Good read.

We'll just keep Lauzon if your offering a 3rd

I've seen that value assessed on a few write ups. Maybe it seems low, but losing him for nothing probably is worse and he definitely won't make it through expansion. No GMs will be doing each other favors this summer. The way Benning throws around seconds, it's entirely plausible, but he might be the only one.....

Trouble with Schmidt and his contract, no team including Seattle wants his 5.9 long term deal without sending money back to the Vancouver. Heck, Seattle would be better signing Hamilton or any good value UFA than Schmidt.

We're losing someone no matter what. We move Lauzon for a 3rd and maybe Seattle takes Zboril. Now we've lost 2 LHD and have only a 3rd to show for it. A 3rd btw that on average has about a 14% chance of playing at least 100 NHL games. I'd rather pay SEA a 3rd to not take Lauzon

Do you think if the bruins trade lauzon for a third, then all of a sudden Seattle isn’t taking anyone? Then they lose another guy for nothing. This is bad value, and a bad concept.

I don't disagree.......however a lot of GMs appear to be of a different mindset based on the last ED and the buzz around this years ED. I imagine though most trades won't be centered around just draft picks (like the Arvidsson trade) but may be bigger in nature. We will see I guess.......

Possibly correct regarding a return on Schmidt being a 3rd or 2nd, that may involve salary retention though. If he doesn't want to be in VAN then I would prefer we move his salary completely and hold on to a prospect such as Lind or Gadjovich (who Seattle may select instead) both of those guys were 2nd round picks that have developed and are close to NHL ready. Sacrificing Schmidt to Seattle (assuming he doesn't want to be there) seems a pretty good move and also sets VAN up for a more simple free agency period to go hunting.

Vancouver will not retain salary on multi year deals
Schmidt alone can fetch the same draft pick back - but will get more

Schmidt will get back at least a third and probably a second without any retention at all. He is not a cap dump and has a skill set that GM's covet (skating/offence/puck movement) so trading him will not be an issue at all. Schmidt's protection will not affect Lind or Gadjovich, so it's a moot point. I'm guessing Lind gets protected (unless we trade for someone) and Gadjovich gets exposed. Gadjovich's skating will keep him out of the NHL so if he gets selected it's probably not a big deal. I suspect we lose Highmore possibly or even Roussel in the ED.

I'm pretty sure he is traded quite easily without any retention (there is known interest in him from multiple teams), but I guess we will see won't we??

There is known interest? GMs don't openly about players, so all it is internet rumours.

That's a pretty naïve comment....
Of course GM's don't openly talk about other players, it's against the rules. GM's do have conversations with many people though (like agents ) about their own players. Agents talk to their own players, players talk to each other....etc etc and that's just one of the many ways information gets out. How do you think the "insiders" get all their knowledge/rumors?? Information is currency in a business like this and is used/traded/passed on for a whole host of reasons. Do you think for a minute Hyman's agent doesn't have a clear picture of which teams will offer contracts and what the range will be for this free agent period?? If he doesn't he should be fired.......but I'm pretty sure he does.
When Benning traded for Schmidt there were other teams interested, but couldn't/wouldn't do the trade when it needed to be done for cap reasons and some were reportedly shocked at how little it cost. One of Benning's better moments. His career numbers (excluding last year) are excellent and his style of play/ability is definitely coveted. So while trading a player like Eriksson is a cap dump, trading a player like Schmidt isn't. That being said, Benning loves his "hockey" trades and is unfortunately more likely to trade Schmidt straight up for Duncan Keith or OEL than he is to trade him for a draft pick.