Gabriel Carlsson is a future top 4, could even be top 2, defender. Ryan Murray is already a bottom 4 guy, with the potential to be a good top 4. And a 1st. Remember that Johansen, who was and is better than Duchene, was traded for Seth Jones, who was a 30 point defender playing 3rd pairing minutes. Also remember that Hall, who is and was a much better player than Duchene, was traded for Adam Larsson, who was a 25ish point defender playing top pairing minutes. Ryan Murray is a 20 point defender playing 3rd pairing minutes. Therefore, that's a big overpay for Duchene, and adding Colborne doesn't make it any less so. Murray and the 1st, if the market is being followed and not Sakic's desires, is enough to make that trade go through. Carlsson makes it too pricy for Columbus and not worth it. They can get someone like Brassard or Couturier or RNH for less if they need a 2C that badly.

We're retaining $2MM per on Duchene, so we'll go ahead and take your unproven prospect Gabriel Carlsson... Thanks!