Quoting: GMBL
I can't speak to the Blues plan but if the plan is just to do nothing during their transition phase like A_K said in his thread, then sure trading for Marner is not a good idea. Armstrong must be the luckiest GM right now if that's the expectation.
They should buy out Krug if they can't dump him and try to do something,
The plan is to clear space for all the youngsters coming through and about to come through, and build mainly through an infusion on said young players. While they will aim to make the playoffs in 24-25, they are not putting pressure to contend next season. That is not the same as "doing nothing". Re-hiring Bannister might qualify as doing nothing, we shall see.
Clearing space does not mean dumping the 4-5 best players for no reason. It means, yeah, moving Krug as painlessly as possible, if possible. They'd happily move Hayes for a good price. Maybe Faulk, maybe even Schenn.
Not Parayko. He's a cornerstone piece in place. And there's no one around to replace him. Anywhere.
There's also no need to rush into a buyout. Krug and Faulk go to 16-team NTCs next season. They also could rebound and be dealt, though I might bet on Faulk as more of a rebound candidate than Krug. I suspect they would have entertained a Krug buyout more if Forsling made it to UFA this summer. Alas, he did not.