Basically what I predict what will happen in the off-season.
The new GM probably won't do anything crazy, unless a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presents itself. He'll in all likelihood want to get a lay of the land.
I considered doing an aggressive scenario, basically doing big trades and signing a big-time UFA like Noah Hanifin. But looking at that signing, I realised that it was impossible. Severson's contract has the money that could be used for a player like Hanifin locked up for a long time going forward and it would be a nightmare when all the young players look to get paid. If they didn't have Severson, I'd push for a Provorov trade and a Hanifin signing in the summer. Alas... oh well, he's probably going to TBL anyway. So I kept it to a realistic scenario.
Anyway, with Jiricek and Mateychuk coming up, I think Boqvist and Bean are out. Columbus will probably either be looking to get draft picks for them or that in combination with a defensive D that can be utilised if Mateychuk isn't ready or as a 7D. If a defensive 6/7D isn't acquired via a trade, they'll have to sign someone. If they don't get a defensive D in any way, they'll have to rely on Blankenburg, Ceulemans and Svozil to be their depth D. Are they ready for that? Blankenburg, definitely. Ceulemans and Svozil, I don't know. For simplicity's sake, I have only put Blankenburg as the 7D.
Bean I moved to LA, but it can be any team that needs an offensive D.
It seems that FLA want to get rid of Spencer Knight. I've seen Boqvist being involved in some trades to FLA here, so that's where I threw him in.
Merzlikins seems to want out of CBJ, so I sent him to CGY who will probably trade Markström in the off-season and have some cap space. It's basically a cap dump. I would probably prefer to just keep Merzlikins, but the way he has been talking lately, that would probably not be a good idea.
Note that I originally had Merzlikins + Boqvist + 2024 3rd (LA) going to FLA for Spencer Knight + 2024 2nd (FLA), which I was informed wouldn't work due to cap reasons, so I broke the trade up. I hope this is more realistic.
At the draft, I say they pick around #6, in which case I'll say they'll draft Catton.
I expect and hope that they go after Monahan as a UFA to get some needed veteran leadership and C depth. In this scenario, they have the cap space to go after Stephenson, but I think Monahan brings more bang for the buck.
During the season, I think Provorov goes at the TDL. That's when his value is at its greatest and having him around lessens the pressure on Mateychuk. I expect 50 % retention for a 1st + something more.
I think Monahan would bring a lot to CBJ. I hope that Laine finds his game again. I believe that Mateychuk is going to do well and that Fantilli, Johnson, Marchenko, Voronkov, Chinakhov, Sillinger and Jiricek will take steps forward.
Result: a team that's probably not going to make the playoffs but will be in the race for a WC spot as well as having some cap space and capital in terms of youth and draft picks to make some big moves in the 2025 off-season.
What do you think? Have I got any trade values right (miraculous if so, I'll happily alter them if they're lop-sided)? Do you see the new GM being more/less aggressive? Do you have any other ideas as to who CBJ should/will go after?
Cap dump. Could be an even later pick going either way. Assuming CGY has traded Markström to NJD or LAK and have cap space. They could trade him with retention for more picks.
I don't think the value is off on the Bean trade, but I don't think the Kings would be interested. They're cap strapped next season, and Bean's $2.8M qualifying offer is too much for them to take on.
This might be one of those scenarios where the player isn't qualified and becomes a UFA.
I like a lot of the ideas here, but that Florida trade is never getting accepted. The only reason for Florida to move Knight imo is is they need the cap, but by taking back Elvis that's not happening here. And they're going from a young goalie who's shown flashes of elite upside to a 30 year old who hasn't been above average in 3 years. On top of picking up nearly 1 mil in cap. It just doesn't make any sense for Florida, and Boqvist doesn't make a difference.
I like a lot of the ideas here, but that Florida trade is never getting accepted. The only reason for Florida to move Knight imo is is they need the cap, but by taking back Elvis that's not happening here. And they're going from a young goalie who's shown flashes of elite upside to a 30 year old who hasn't been above average in 3 years. On top of picking up nearly 1 mil in cap. It just doesn't make any sense for Florida, and Boqvist doesn't make a difference.
I removed Merzlikins from the FLA trade and changed what draft picks are sent around. Now, FLA increases their cap space and get a promising young D who at least some FLA posters here on this site seem to want.
I traded Merzlikins to CGY instead. They have cap space and could use a G assuming they trade Markström in the off-season.
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