Send to a Vegas/Tampa type of team that has cap space and is already in LTIR and won’t lose accrual opportunities and could use cheap depth forwards for two playoff runs

Look to acquire a bigger D partner for Graves and one that ideally is younger. Phillips serves as a roster filler here. Could be any depth/AHL piece it’s more about the pick.

Essentially KK for a 3rd and Smith for a 2nd

This can be controversial. If we’re taking about Smith’s value being anywhere from a 2nd to a 3rd, I think Smith for the 2025 2nd is decent. Carolina needs future cap space and, yes, Smith has another year on his deal but he’s a proven playoff veteran that teams love. Kotkaniemi has term and sure he has potential but he’s overpaid at the moment and can be seen like a cap dump. They way I’d look at it is like this: Would you trade a 2nd for KK? I’d say no. I think a 3rd would be a good gamble for him with that contract. So this deal essentially is Smith for a 2nd and KK for a 3rd. KK could be such a risk but he is a bet I’d be intrigued to take and it would be great if it worked out.

Essentially Ruhwedel and retention on Ned for a 4th and Ned himself for a 3rd and Janmark (cap dump)

Ideally, it would be great to extend Ned for a fair price and keep having a great tandem but his value is as high as it may be. I’d ask for a 2nd but realistically with the other available names, I think a 3rd is fair. Ruhwedel is a solid, reliable 6th/7th D who can PK and put up quiet minutes. A 5th or later pick would work for him but adding in that Ned retention and taking back Jamark, who is cheap but would be moved for cap flexibility, bumps the 5th to a 4th.

Janmark + a late 7th for one of the first picks in the 7th round. Playoff and PK depth

If you can flip Janmark then why not. I don’t think he should get much but he’s nothing bad. This is just a trade up in the draft at the end of the day. Using the Rangers 7th and Janmark to move up to Chicago’s 7th which will obviously be higher.

Could be a 2025 3rd for Eller but I think a 4th is fair and taking a chance on Pavel makes sense and makes it worth lowering the pick.

Send to a team that needs a 3C who is defensively responsible and is good at the dot. Has term on the deal so the teams future cap situation matters but he can be had for two playoff runs which is nice. Look for a mid round pick and/or close to NHL ready player. Loved Pavel at Minn State so that’s a decent dart to throw at the board.