Given his complete lack of offense this year, I have a hard time imagining Braun getting even just a 4th. Last year, he was traded for a 3rd while playing 2nd pairing minutes and having posted 16 points. Now he's playing 3rd pairing minutes and has literally 0 points. Sure, his value is mostly on his own end but 0 points this far into the season is a difficult feat to pull off for an NHL-level player. Not saying the value is far off; just don't think I'd spend that on him.

Beyond that, EDM probably puruses a vet LD at the deadline.

if we can't dump Smith in a bigger trade i think this is a good deal to get rid of him

JVR makes sense for Carolina to replace Patches, but I just don’t think they go that direction. Think they either go real big (Meier or Horvat) or they go bargain shopping for multiple pieces. I
Don’t think two picks in rounds 2 and 3 (rounds the Canes thrive on) is the route they go.

Passing as a Canes fan. If I actually had interest in JVR I don’t mind what we’re giving up, but I wouldn’t change what we currently have for anyone but Timo.