CBJ laughs you off the phone.

Lekkerimäki is the missing piece for Guentzel

Why are you spending assets on an excess good like Guentzel?

2025 1st

Lekkerimaki

2026 2nd

Bains

Mikheyev for future cap relief

I really don't understand what's gotten into people to make them think KJ is available for cheap. Unless you're selling an Adam Pelech or Rasmus Andersson or a player of similar age, experience, shutdown defensive skill, and contract value, you don't really have a chance at him.

Boqvist is probably available, though; he's caught in a numbers game.

Both trades look terrible.

Lekkerimaki is untouchable, Kent Johnson is pointless in his last 19 games and likely needs a fresh start, Podkolzin was the 10th overall pick in 2019 and still has a good chance to develop into a solid player, him plus Raty who has top 6 upside and a 1st is more than fair for 2 underperforming young players.

Lekkerimaki is the cost.
CBJ laughs you out the room

Why do people just lie on this site? KJ is not pointless in his last 19 games. Also, how is this fresh start supposed to add 10-20 lbs to his frame and get him the 2-3 years of experience he needs still? The fact that he's already played 130 games with 59 points by his d+3 season as a 5th overall completely contradicts your claim that he's underperforming.

Podkolzin has shown nothing to make anyone believe that he's going to develop into a solid player. If anything he has only regressed in North America as time has passed.

If Raty has top 6 upside then the Jackets already have half a dozen more guys outside the NHL with just as high of upside if not higher.

You're not going to get 2 young NHLers with realistic high potential for your nearly burnt out bust, a long shot middle 6 prospect, and a late 1st.