DeHaan and Hickey are going to be exposed, imo. Have to protect Leddy, JB, Pulock & Pelech.
- Isleshockeyman

+ Strome?
+ Nelson?

You trade Hamonic because you have Pulock. They're both top 4 d-men. Top pairing? No. Leddy & JB aren't true top pairing guys either. How many true top pair D-men are there in the league? Weber, Subban, Hedman, Doughty, Letang, Chara(?). Not every team has 1 of them. There are a lot of top 4 that are playing top pair minutes though. And you want to get rid of 2 of them. Hamonic, MDC & a 1st. There's your package. If the Avs don't like it, oh well. You definitely want to keep Pulock though. He's the young talent with a Howitzer of a shot.
With your scenario, who are the 7 forwards you protect?
- Isleshockeyman

This would be my offer to Colorado hockeyman. I'd also like to keep Barzal and Pulock. Hamonic, MDC, and 1st should get you a very nice forward.

Nice job Noel. Would be nice for Garth to make an impact trade at the deadline.

+ Strome?
+ Nelson?
- YuenglingJagr

I have a feeling they are going to trade Strome before the expansion draft

+ Strome?
+ Nelson?
- YuenglingJagr

That was just D-men. Forwards, for me, It'd be JT, Ladd, Lee and Zeeker. Maybe I try to put Nelson and/or Strome into a package to bring in a wing for JT.

I thought Strome was on his way to Phx for Duke?

I have a feeling they are going to trade Strome before the expansion draft
- Vukota

Remember, EK had him going to Phoenix for Duclair.

You trade Hamonic because you have Pulock. They're both top 4 d-men. Top pairing? No. Leddy & JB aren't true top pairing guys either. How many true top pair D-men are there in the league? Weber, Subban, Hedman, Doughty, Letang, Chara(?). Not every team has 1 of them. There are a lot of top 4 that are playing top pair minutes though. And you want to get rid of 2 of them. Hamonic, MDC & a 1st. There's your package. If the Avs don't like it, oh well. You definitely want to keep Pulock though. He's the young talent with a Howitzer of a shot.
With your scenario, who are the 7 forwards you protect?
- Isleshockeyman

JT, Ladd, Nelson or Strome, Lee, Cizikas, Josh Bailey(yes I said it, he's been the most consistent at a cap-friendly contract), and maybe Clutterbuck.

Pulock is a young talent with a shot. But it's more than a slap shot to be a 2nd pair dman in the NHL. He has to be a better skater. He has to play much better in the defensive end too as well as being a better possession dman. Otherwise, he'll be traded like Reinhart was. Remember how promising Reinhart looked before he went to the NHL?

If I'm Joe Sakic btw and you offered me those 3 for a player I drafted 3rd overall and has 180+ points total over the last 3 season, I'd lmao at that.

I have a feeling they are going to trade Strome before the expansion draft
- Vukota

Yeah I mean I have said for a while now they pretty much have to. There is really no reason not to. I know they have their hands tied a little, but they are still in a position of strength by having too many good players exposed.

Remember, EK had him going to Phoenix for Duclair.
- Isleshockeyman

Lol, with Barzal knocking on the door I see either Strome or Nelson being traded most likely Strome IMO

This would be my offer to Colorado hockeyman. I'd also like to keep Barzal and Pulock. Hamonic, MDC, and 1st should get you a very nice forward.
- ses111

A nice 2nd line forward. It wouldn't get players like Kucherov or Duchene.

That was just D-men. Forwards, for me, It'd be JT, Ladd, Lee and Zeeker. Maybe I try to put Nelson and/or Strome into a package to bring in a wing for JT.

I thought Strome was on his way to Phx for Duke?
- Isleshockeyman

Yeah It is just a poopty situation. Basically 5 forwards and 5 defensemen that I think would be in the "pretty to really painful" category.

Yeah I mean I have said for a while now they pretty much have to. There is really no reason not to. I know they have their hands tied a little, but they are still in a position of strength by having too many good players exposed.
- YuenglingJagr

I Agree. I would rather see one of those guys traded for something then lost for nothing. It would have to be for a player they don't have to protect otherwise its really not changing your situation

If you package Hamonic and Pulock(who btw are not top pair dmen hence why you package them both), and throw a pick(doesn't have to be a first), that can get Sakic thinking about this deal. Nashville will probably make a counterattack.
Reason why I do this is for 2 reasons: 1 the emergence of Adam Pelech(who needs to be protected because he compliments Leddy so well) and 2 going by the 7 forwards and 3 dman protection scenario for vegas. Otherwise, Pulock or Hamonic will be lost for nothing.
- bgainesDM

trading pulock or pelech would be a mistake. trade hamonic, trade dal colle, trade the 1st, 44, 14, ho sang...anything but barzal, pulock and pelech. Pulock and Pelech both can play top 4 and pulock brings the shot for the PP you cannot replace.

we will give you AMac back....he doesnt have a NMC

trading pulock or pelech would be a mistake. trade hamonic, trade dal colle, trade the 1st, 44, 14, ho sang...anything but barzal, pulock and pelech. Pulock and Pelech both can play top 4 and pulock brings the shot for the PP you cannot replace.
- Isles_since_6

But again, it takes more than a slapshot to be protected in the expansion draft. I value Pelech much more than Pulock because he can actually skate and has developed a lot faster in NHL speed than Pulock. Only 1 of the 2 will be protected and I'm picking Pelech.

trading pulock or pelech would be a mistake. trade hamonic, trade dal colle, trade the 1st, 44, 14, ho sang...anything but barzal, pulock and pelech. Pulock and Pelech both can play top 4 and pulock brings the shot for the PP you cannot replace.
- Isles_since_6

Hamonic, Nelson, Strome, MDC, and a 1st should all be available in a deal. No reason the Isles cannot make a very good deal with the talent they have to offer.

But again, it takes more than a slapshot to be protected in the expansion draft. I value Pelech much more than Pulock because he can actually skate and has developed a lot faster in NHL speed than Pulock. Only 1 of the 2 will be protected and I'm picking Pelech.
- bgainesDM

did you forget pulock in the playoffs? he can skate, he can play physical and he has the cannon of a shot. I'd have zero issue with the isles plugging him into the top 4 and top pp unit. Pelech and Pulock for me are both equally valuable for different reasons and I wouldn't move either of them. I'd leave dehaan, hickey, mayfield exposed, deal hamonic and protect 4d, 4f

Hamonic, Nelson, Strome, MDC, and a 1st should all be available in a deal. No reason the Isles cannot make a very good deal with the talent they have to offer.
- ses111

Now, that's just too much NHL-ready depth to give up. We're not Glen Sather here.

Now, that's just too much NHL-ready depth to give up. We're not Glen Sather here.
- bgainesDM

I'm not saying give up all those guys. A package around some of those players.

Bottom line they are going to lose a decent player for nothing. Just like the rest of the teams

did you forget pulock in the playoffs? he can skate, he can play physical and he has the cannon of a shot. I'd have zero issue with the isles plugging him into the top 4 and top pp unit. Pelech and Pulock for me are both equally valuable for different reasons and I wouldn't move either of them. I'd leave dehaan, hickey, mayfield exposed, deal hamonic and protect 4d, 4f
- Isles_since_6

If you protect 4f, Lee and Cizikas will be the last 2 being protected.

deHaan has been a beast defensively in all analytics catagories compared to even last year. Pulock in 5 games in the bottom pair does not compare to Pelech's role in the top pair when Hickey is healthy. Also Pulock's string of injuries this year have devalued him while Pelech has been healthy all year.

If you protect 4f, Lee and Cizikas will be the last 2 being protected.

deHaan has been a beast defensively in all analytics catagories compared to even last year. Pulock in 5 games in the bottom pair does not compare to Pelech's role in the top pair when Hickey is healthy. Also Pulock's string of injuries this year have devalued him while Pelech has been healthy all year.
- bgainesDM

why the (frank) would you protect cizikas over strome or nelson?

why the (frank) would you protect cizikas over strome or nelson?
- YuenglingJagr

Cizikas has been more consistent in his role than either one for now. That could change overtime this season if those 2 turn it up. Don't confuse potential with production

Bottom line they are going to lose a decent player for nothing. Just like the rest of the teams
- Vukota

This ^^^^
No way around it.

The team is playing well but they need to play well for a while before they can assess what they need for an impact trade. For Hammer who is not playing now, he isvtrade bait but Snow and probably the new owners usually shows loyalty. Any subtractions from the present roster is an unknown.

I'm not too worried about the expansion draft because Snow will probably maneuver with McPhee around that.

The real question is if they can make the playoffs, do they also play this well next season? For now Snow looks like he made the right moves. Cappy was considered a good teaching coach but the forwards needed to take the next step, so looks like it is working though took longer than fans wanted it to.

BST also playing well which bodes well for the organization. Adding big names may have reverse effect of raising expectations too high.