Barbashev just screams unreplicable career year to me.
Would want the Devils to steer far clear if the price is Graves.

I question whether or not Husso would be willing to take a 1 year contract. My gut feeling is he will sign with whoever can give him term.

I am not opposed to moving Graves. I think Barbashev fits what our GM is seeking. Just not sure about Mikkola. Is he someone over next few years who improve upon Smith, Bahl, Okhotiuk? I don’t know enough about him.

He actually doesn't at all. He has always had skill and a good shot, but until this season was stuck in a 4th line checking role with about 13 minutes a night. He asked for a bigger role, got 3 1/2 more minutes per game than he'd ever had, including PP2 time for the first time, and he ran with it. It was actually a fairly predictable year given his boost in TOI and linemates.

I don't mind a Barby for Graves, but don't see any reason to also shed Mikko for a future.

Actually, with more minutes he can easily replicate those numbers. Playing alongside Hughes or Hischier I don’t see how Barbashev couldn’t put up 50-60 points

I’ve seen a lot lately about the blues making a serious push for Husso for a 1 year deal

Played a good chunk of the season with Parayko, he’s a good PK guy and plays a good shut down role with a little bit of offensive upside too

More so to make cap work. Graves replaces Mikkola’s role in this scenario and we don’t have the cap to pay Mikkola so I added him to the deal.

Devils decline, Graves had a great year in the top 4. We need more players like him

He walks after this year, there is a potential to resign Barbashev. Mikkola plays a supporting role when some of the young defense make the jump to the NHL

How do you know he walks?

Hmm. I'd rather find another way and not reduce the number of trustworthy Dmen we have by one - we know how the injury bug bites. Also, there's no proper 4C here, so while I'm cool with the bones of your idea, I'd say the details need some tweaking.

Siegenthaler resigns, Hughes is in the pipeline and probably makes an appearance in 2023-24. Then you have a 3rd pairing LD which is either Smith or Mikkola in this scenario.

I knew Brown at 4C would be an issue, maybe Bozak comes back for one more go at it and move Torp up to the 3rd line, give Neighbours a year in the AHL and sign another depth D to be safe. Small details need working but overall I’d be happy with Blues trading Barbashev for Graves as long as we can find a destination for Scandella without buying him out.