That seems like a super terrible idea

With the first overall pick, the Colorado Avalanche select: Seth Jones.

Then promptly throw this gasoline on the fire:

Trade Paul Stastny to Buffalo in exchange for Tyler Myers

Trade Erik Johnson and their 2nd round pick to Carolina in exchange for Jeff Skinner.

Discuss!

Seems like the Canes top 6 forward plan for the next few years is going to look like:

Semin-Staal-Tlusty
Ruutu-Staal-2013 1st Round Pick (likely a power forward type)

That leaves Skinner and his +$5mil salary stuck on the third line. A third line that would have to be built around his unique set of skills. Currently, the Canes have 0-1 players who could probably play well with Skinner on that third line.

As much as I love Skinner and would like to see him as a Cane for life, I think the writing may be on the wall here. Canes could trade for Marc, save about a million dollars for the next year or two in the process and then go about using their reamaining cap space to spend on bulking up the 3rd and 4th lines. A much easier/cost effective thing to find in free agency than a top 2 dman.
- Gossler1

Personally, I would like to see Skinner moved. I'm concerned about his long term durability. He has already had several concussions and skates with his head down too often. He is fun to watch but given his history and style of play I don't think he is going to last long.

Personally, I would like to see Skinner moved. I'm concerned about his long term durability. He has already had several concussions and skates with his head down too often. He is fun to watch but given his history and style of play I don't think he is going to last long.
- Barbecued Hockey

I wondered a bit this year if Rutherford was starting to see shades of Shane Willis in Jeff Skinner. It's a slightly sloppy comparison because I think Skinner's skill set and potential are in a different zip code than Willis, but with this big contract now, there's an added level of risk to the way Skinner plays.

With the first overall pick, the Colorado Avalanche select: Seth Jones.

Then promptly throw this gasoline on the fire:

Trade Paul Stastny to Buffalo in exchange for Tyler Myers

Trade Erik Johnson and their 2nd round pick to Carolina in exchange for Jeff Skinner.

Discuss!
- Dissent

Done. I would take that deal. Johnson is still relatively young and not that expensive. Skinner is not going to score many more with the spinorama, yet that seems to be his go-to move. Add Johnson to the top 4 mix with Faulk, and a hopefully healthy Pitkanen and the D is vastly improved.

Throw McBain in with Skinner and get MStaal and I'm good with that. I like Skinner, but the Canes need for a legit Dman is more than it's need for an overpaid and developing, although highly skilled forward. JR has too much cash tied up in Skinner with other needs looming.

I'd hate to see Skinner go, but he is one of the few trade chips (with no NTC) that JR has.

For arguments sake, is there anyway the Canes could realistically pull off a deal for M. Staal without trading one of the top 5 forwards and their first round pick this year?

A package built around guys like Ryan Murphy and Victor Rask perhaps? McBain too?