Thought for sure id see an upgrade to defence here

I was Going for just straight Forward trade ideas, but yes I would have made a Dman upgrade if I did

If Dubas is rebuilding then sure, that's a great return. But that's not happening if Dubas isn't rebuilding.

100%, that is one of the only IF's about that trade. I do see Dubas doing a quick speedy rebuild

SJ declines but maybe there's another team with multiple retention slots who would do that.
MAF seems like a bit of an overpay but the picks are far out so maybe it's fair.

Fair, I did have Zona doing the retention originally but decided on the sharks as they are deeper in a rebuild and thought Tullio would be enticing enough lol .

MAF is maybe close to an overpay with Bourgault having a off year in the minors and Janmark, a 2nd and a 5th seemed fail considering they are retaining and taking on money

I actually really like the Pittsburgh trade, I just don't think San Jose is going to be the team that does the retaining. They only have one retention slot until 2025-26. One figures that slot is reserved for two years of one-year rentals or Couture.

Fleury isn't an upgrade on Pickard: the only thing he's bringing is name brand recognition. Nedeljkovic is the only free agent netminder not currently on a playoff-bound team that constitutes an upgrade. Kahkonen, Reimer, Fleury, and Lankinen are all statistical downgrades with games played being the only real argument for acquiring them. Three of those names have as much playoff experience in the last four years as Pickard does. Fleury's last two years of work should dissuade Edmonton from making that purchase.

Realistically, the near $1.5M in cap space that this Fleury trade commits in net over Pickard is absolutely going to be better off used on the blueline unless it's bringing back Ned. I don't feel great about Campbell being the #3 but his play as of late in the AHL and his playoff resume thinks it could be a survivable ordeal so long as the group in front of him is running at or above 100%. One would hope Rodrigue gets some NHL exposure before the season is out in case there's continued wobble to Jack's game.

I don't see Smith as an improvement on Foeg's tbh, what aspect of his game is better?

Also god damn would it sting if we moved XB to Minny after trading back from Wallstedt for him haha

I expect he'll be quite good at rebuilding. It's a matter of when ownership authorizes it. I doubt it will be this year but could easily be next season at this time if they continue to regress.

MAF no longer available as Mn in the playoff hunt

The Athletic ranks Edmonton's prospect pool as the 25th best in the league and they rank Tullio as their 9th best prospect.
"Tullio has been fine but unspectacular at the AHL level." "I worry he’ll top out as a bit of a AAAA guy, but he remains a relevant prospect who is still just 20 [sic]. I’ll be interested to see if he can knock on the door by 23 in a way that Raphael Lavoie finally has (they’re completely different players, but followed similar statistical trajectories)."

Him plus a 6th isn't worth the final retention slot for the Sharks if it was just this year particularly considering some of the pieces they'd like to move who are going to be competing for that retention slot. Add in next year and it's definitely not worth it. However, as others have said, I'm sure you can find another team with the space that isn't short on retention slots willing to take that on.

Finishing and he has extra term. Statistically, he's only a minor downgrade in most on-ice metrics and replacing Foegele (or resigning him) can't be done for $2.5M.

I assume Foeg's is re-signing at 2.5M, may be wishful but he seems to really enjoy being here.
It's a different idea going into deadline, maybe a bit of an overpay but refreshing from all the Guentz trade's I've been seeing.

$2.5M seems highly unrealistic: you'd be asking the player to take a pay cut when the cap is about to take its biggest jump in recent memory. Likewise, Foegele has a back-loaded deal and is going to want to stay at or above that $3.25M mark he's currently at for this season. That's just human nature.

I'm expecting him to sign somewhere between the cap percentages of Lustorainen and Vatrano. That's going to see him earning anywhere between $3.15M to $3.85M on an $87.7M salary cap, probably on a three year deal. It feels rich for a 15G/20A player but he's always had strong possession metrics, can skate, and has picked up some PK utility in Edmonton. He's an ideal third-line forward for a team that can afford him.

100%, I think a realistic amount for him is 3.5M for 3, but it depends on him as a person.
Maybe he likes playing in EDM or with Drai/McD or that he is likely closest to a cup on EDM and thus takes a pay cut; again though, this is my wishful thinking.