Aside from maybe waiving Sheary/CDH, those moves are either unlikely(Perbix) or simply not happening (Stamkos and Hedman). Hopefully, JBB will add with some smart buys to boost depth at the deadline and give them the best chance possible this season.

very unlikely Stamkos or Hedman get traded or even are on a different team at any point in their career but doesnt hurt to look

What do you think a Hedman trade would look like? To Devils or generally?

This is all hypothetical but... If BriseBois decides he wants to move out Stamkos and Hedman for whatever reason. I could see Hedman being a draft day trade (maybe even retain 50% for max value). his value right now is probably a later 1st / Early 2nd and a top prospect, 50% retained can fetch a high first round pick easily with the right team that needs him the most. obviously he is probably more valuable to Tampa than anywhere else. but if a dman like Buium/Silayev/Dickinson/Levshunov falls in the draft past 10. Hedman could be used to get one of those guys

My non-Lightning fan view from the outside….

I am guessing if Stamkos moves, it’s more of a financial decision, that doesn’t really change the rest of the plan. Stamkos out, another guy in. Team approach remains. Still full speed toward win now.

But if Hedman moves, that would appear to be more of a strategic change…retool…whatever one wants to call it. And would appear to be a move that aims to look at maybe extending window a couple more years.

Does that sound right?

So what would a TBL roster, without Stamkos and Hedman, need the most?

That pretty much explains it perfectly. although Stamkos is a PP merchant at best now and anything more than 5m is overpay for him at this stage in his career but replacing his PP production will be hard as we dont have another righty to take is spot yet. Hedman is still a top 2 dman on any team and while he is slowing down, hes still puts up points so moving him would strictly be to retool and get younger.

If Stamkos and Hedman were both to be gone by Preseason next year. i would say the biggest need is just a top 6 forward, a middle pairing dman, and usuful depth.

Hagel Point Kucherov can run the first line
Paul Cirelli ??? on the second line and then just find some depth guys (likely Syracuse call ups) that can fill the small holes in the bottom 6

Sergachev likely takes Hedman's spot but after him our left side is majorly weak. the right side is "covered" but can be improved massively with Cernak being injury prone, and Perbix/Raddysh being 4/5 guys at best

Looking outside division at teams that would be competitive, could benefit from that type of move and have pieces to fulfill return…

CAR, DAL, LAK, PHI, NJD, VAN

Maybe MIN, PIT, STL, WPG

Would be fun trade to work on (for ACGM).

I think from Devils, the return would likely end up around Holtz, Toffoli, maybe guy like Gritsyuk depending on timing. And maybe Halonen, Filmon or Foote as extras. And LHD would likely be Bahl…maybe Siegenthaler…maybe younger depth guys like Hatakka, Misyul as extras. Too many of our best pieces are still very young and haven’t hit their peak yet.