Wow. You'd have to think this site have a bit of a toxicity problem if this kind of disclaimer is needed. That, or I'm just failing to read your sarcasm. It's either/or.

As for the trades, I think ANA would be better off keeping those futures and try to sign Forsberg as UFA. Seems quite unlikely that he'd sign now long-term with anyone, given that according to Pagnotta he didn't even know about Preds' plans until now.

This will probably come as quite the surprise to Forsberg and his reps as the Preds have been expected to get contract talks going with them in the near future. https://t.co/ZnmsRGTi6E

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) February 24, 2022

As for the NYR trade, I think you could get more than that for Rakell. Kravtsov seems to be a bit of a problem child and that 2nd is bound to be pretty low.

100% agree on Forsberg...just try to take a shake in free agency.

With Rakell-I'm torn...I hope he'd return more, but I flip flop on it. Everyone loves tossing 1sts and/or good prospects around here, but the reality is that it doesn't happen that often.

If I could get the following, I think I'd be content...Manson, to me, is a guy that it could go either way for...If the value isn't there, just lock him up for 3 or 4 years...going to need someone like him regardless.
Hampus: 1st+Good propect
Rakell: 2nd+Change of scenery prospect
Manson: (re sign or) 2nd+decent prospect

Hmmm. I don’t know about the trade itself but Forsberg to the ducks is very interesting fit. Haven’t considered that as a possibility and kinda nervous now being a fan of a division rival that could really leap them forward in a hurry. Really like that idea from a competitive stand point makes the pacific much tighter. Great idea

The Avs tried to bolster their core of Duchene, MacK, Landy, EJ, Barrie and Varly, with aging veterans that used to be prime players like Iginla and Beauchemin. It seemed like the young guys had trouble feeling like leaders around them. MacK certainly flourished once an older Duchene left.

The Ducks are transitioning from the old group led by Getzlaf to... who? I might be worried a huge UFA like alternate captain FF might disrupt the hierarchy. IMO, the Ducks might look at a pure rental this season, and then add a more complimentary UFA next season like Burakovsky

I agree as well. I’d we want him, toss him a deal when he’s on the open market. We aren’t in a spot to send away so much for him

I don’t know how big I am though personally on signing him though

I'm in the boat of "it's not time to add right now". Team is currently tied for WC2 with Edmonton, who has two games in hand. As fun as chasing the playoffs would be, letting Manson, Rakell and Hampus walk for nothing is a horrible plan. Giving up any sort of assets to get an expiring contract is also poor form, IMO. If someone needs to dump a year of a bad contract, take the assets and keep growing.

I would be absolutely all over someone like Forsberg or Bura in free agency this summer (JOHNNY HOCKEY!!!!!!!-I know he's not coming...), which is when I think the time to add is.

I mean, if someone wants to pay to take Silf, that'd save a lot of future cap worries...

Bura skates much faster and has way less miles than FF. I think his next contract agse much better. Because of reputation, I think Bura tops out around $6M aav, which is FF current deal. From being a big Avs fan, I can say Bura definitely has a type-B personality, which is perfect for a Ducks team looking to discover their new leader from a young core.

Very true

I could be big on Silfvy this year and Rico next and then how about some Pasta in the following free agency period

Milano - Z - Pasta
______ - McTavish - Terry (23/24 season top 2)

Yup. Bribe some folks so that there's also:
Hague-Dry
Fowler-Jiricek

Oh yes — at first I saw the ____ before you got my boy Cam Fowler in there and was saying how you doing that to the man

Wouldn’t be opposed to a Benoit - Manson 3rd pair here and Mahura maybe as a 7th

Hahhaha, haven't finished my coffee yet.

Love that Rakell deal as an NYR fan. Would probably try with a lower prospect first to save Krav for something bigger.

Thrun could definitely be in the NHL in 23/24. Zellweger as well.

The Ducks shouldn't give up the 2023 1st. Too much of a risk to trade that pick that, with quite a bit of luck, could be Bedard or Michkov.

That is very true

Your ideal D core? For 23/24

Let's be very optimistic and imagine the Ducks ware able to draft Jiricek or Nemec. Then I'd hope for this lineup (without potential FA signings or trades):

Fowler-Jiricek/Nemec (all-round D-pair, 1st and 2nd pairing play equal amount of ice time)
Zellweger-Drysdale (two dynamic skaters, both quarterback a PP unit, could be elite together, could be switched around with the guys on the first pairing to see what works best)

The two remaining spots would be filled by Thrun and Benoit (with Mahura as 7th D). But I hope someone besides Benoit could play on Thrun's right side but, as I said, this is without trades and FA signings.
(LaCombe and Moore in AHL)

I think this is an intriguing possibility but one that has to wait til the literal deadline - who knows where Anaheim is by then! If they go on a run, I definitely could see Verbeek "rewarding" the young core by spending some assets and getting a stud for a playoff run, but it's a tightrope walk. I think you've managed to walk the tightrope here - spending some futures to get Forsberg, and getting some back for UFA Rakell. Either way, this team is going to be fun to watch in the leadup to the deadline.

Doubt Verbeek does it. He clearly said the team is still in a rebuild and they won't be buyers, no matter what. Paying Comtois (who still has some potential), a former 1st, a 1st (that could very well be a Top 10 pick) and a 2nd for what could essentially be just a rental is not something he'd do.

yeah it's a lot going back with not much coming back in, true.

i do wonder if they do a smaller move to bring someone in if the price is right - maybe if they're trading from the Rakell/Manson/Lindholm tier, they bring back young NHL-ready guys instead of just straight picks.

That's definitely possible. Not sure many teams would be willing to give up a good close-to-NHL-ready player for Rakell and Manson but Lindholm might fetch someone like that.