Off the top of my head, teams that are in win now mode who have gold center depth with the targetable center(s) in parentheses:

Anaheim (Cogliano)
St. Lewis (Berglund, Sobatka)
Minnesota (Staal, Koivu, Coyle)
Toronto (Bozak)
Florida (Bjugstad)
Calgary (Backlund, Bennett)
Lightning (Point)

Out of those, I think the Minnesota ones are the most unlikely (especially Coyle), and I don't think the cap would work for Tampa. But those are some pretty realistic targets just off the top of the old noggin. I'm not claiming that any of those guys would be Hornqvist for X player straight up, but I think there could be deals there with either them or us adding.

Also, keep in mind that Rutherford said that if he really wanted to he could pull the trigger right now and that the trades he's looking at involve moving roster players. Our three moveable roster players with value enough to be the center of a 3C trade are Hornqvist, Hagelin, and Maatta. Hornqvist and Hagelin are win now pieces, so unless Ruth is talking about Olli, which is, granted, posable, it looks like there's matches out there.
- Victoro311

I don't think trading any of those guys for Horny makes any of those teams better tbh.

None of those guys besides the Minni guys and Point are unrealistic. Cogliano, Backlund, and Bozak only have one year of term just like Hornqvist, and the Blues are loaded at middle six C.
- Victoro311

When was the last time a win-now team traded away a valuable player for another? I feel like usually those teams are trying to improve without losing roster players.

I don't think trading any of those guys for Horny makes any of those teams better tbh.
- j.boyd919

I think swapping out Bjugstad for Hornqvist unquestionably makes Florida better. I think he'd make the Blues better in exchange for one of their like three guys who can play 3C, but it's not as unquestionable as Florida. Cogliano is close to lateral since Anaheim is ok at RW. Bozak is also close to lateral. In both cases it just depends who the other team wants for a year. Calgary is latteral in our favor but their RW depth is truly atrocious which is why I think they'd consider. We'd add though. We'd definitely add to any Minni deal.

When was the last time a win-now team traded away a valuable player for another? I feel like usually those teams are trying to improve without losing roster players.
- j.boyd919

We did that literally like a year ago. Also Chicago that year swapped out a few roster players for others at the deadline (notably Danaeult)

None of those guys besides the Minni guys and Point are unrealistic. Cogliano, Backlund, and Bozak only have one year of term just like Hornqvist, and the Blues are loaded at middle six C. And Bjugstad is not great.
- Victoro311

Based on what you have to offer they are all relatively unrealistic.

When was the last time a win-now team traded away a valuable player for another? I feel like usually those teams are trying to improve without losing roster players.
- j.boyd919

James Neal for Patrick Hornqvist

Marty St.Louis for Ryan Callahan

Weber for Subban

James Neal for Patrick Hornqvist

Marty St.Louis for Ryan Callahan
- Rinosaur

I was referring to the Perron for Hagelin trade, but that Neal one is also a good call.

It's not super common, but it happens.

Value for Value is perfectly reasonable when you have certain needs that need to be addressed.

James Neal for Patrick Hornqvist

Marty St.Louis for Ryan Callahan

Weber for Subban
- Rinosaur

We shouldn't forget Hall for Larson haha.

There are tons of examples.

We shouldn't forget Hall for Larson haha.

There are tons of examples.
- Victoro311

How the (frank) is that an example for win now teams making a trade?

How the (frank) is that an example for win now teams making a trade?
- Feds91Stammer

EDM has absolutely become a Win Now team.

James Neal for Patrick Hornqvist

Marty St.Louis for Ryan Callahan

Weber for Subban
- Rinosaur

Gotcha. Guess it happens a more often than I thought.

EDM has absolutely become a Win Now team.
- Rinosaur

Hahaha yes NOW, not at the time of the Larsson/Hall trade hahaah, neither was NJ.

How the (frank) is that an example for win now teams making a trade?
- Feds91Stammer

Edmonton was a win now team that parted with a player of value to get a different roster player.

Hahaha yes NOW, not at the time of the Larsson/Hall trade hahaah, neither was NJ.
- j.boyd919

They became a WIN NOW team last off-season. The Lucic move, etc... Hall was a major value player moved for another. Not sure what's so confusing.

You ignore my other valid examples, so... argue about the one in an attempt to show you're not wrong when you clearly are?

Only if you don't value the net front role on the PP. Alot of people don't I do. I think net front play, both offensively and defensively, is one of the more undervalued aspects of play to the analytics only crowd. Saying ZAR can step in on the top PP is like saying Sprong can step right in on the top 6, possible, but far from a sure thing.

We may not need to dump any salary this year anyways. If we don't trade a good roster player, we're likely getting an option that fits in the cap. If we get an expensive player, likely some salary is going the other way. If we make a trade that puts us over the cap, then we can talk salary dump, but with 3.9M in space when you subtract our spare wing, we likely won't need a cap clearing trade.
- Tojo.

Oh, I do, trust me. I once advocated for a net front on every line (and still do, although I've back off of that role being in a similar class as Horny). And if we can find a good 3C for $4 mil or under, I'm happy being able to keep Horny another year. That's ideal.

But if we want to go big, I think he has the most value of the roster players that have been mentioned as trade bait. I also think we are stacked at RW, he has one year left, he is more or less a specialist at this point, and his game will likely not age well.

When the PP consists of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and Letang, I think we can find a fifth player to still make it work. Guentzel has shown some ability in the dirty areas, not that I want the crap beat out of him every game like what happens to Horny.

Hahaha yes NOW, not at the time of the Larsson/Hall trade hahaah, neither was NJ.
- j.boyd919

Everything Edmonton did that offseason suggested a win now mentality. They took a loss at a position of strength in order to acquire a position of need (not saying it was a good trade just acknowledging it happened) and signed 30 year old Milan Lucic.

Everything Edmonton did that offseason suggested a win now mentality. They took a loss at a position of strength in order to acquire a position of need (not saying it was a good trade just acknowledging it happened) and signed 30 year old Milan Lucic.
- Victoro311

Speaking of, they may make some noise this year I'm thinking at least WCF

Off the top of my head, teams that are in win now mode who have gold center depth with the targetable center(s) in parentheses:

Anaheim (Cogliano)
St. Lewis (Berglund, Sobatka)
Minnesota (Staal, Koivu, Coyle)
Toronto (Bozak)
Florida (Bjugstad)
Calgary (Backlund, Bennett)
Lightning (Point)

Out of those, I think the Minnesota ones are the most unlikely (especially Coyle), and I don't think the cap would work for Tampa. But those are some pretty realistic targets just off the top of the old noggin. I'm not claiming that any of those guys would be Hornqvist for X player straight up, but I think there could be deals there with either them or us adding.

Also, keep in mind that Rutherford said that if he really wanted to he could pull the trigger right now and that the trades he's looking at involve moving roster players. Our three moveable roster players with value enough to be the center of a 3C trade are Hornqvist, Hagelin, and Maatta. Hornqvist and Hagelin are win now pieces, so unless Ruth is talking about Olli, which is, granted, posable, it looks like there's matches out there.
- Victoro311

Thanks for the list, appreciate you came with examples.

I just don't see the value matching up for most of those guys. Alot of them you probably have to trade Sheary for, not Hornqvist. Bjugstad and Bennett only are moved if their teams really soured on them. Cogliano is the one name that sticks out as fair value, but they have Perry as a net front guy already.

St. Louis and Calgary make sense as teams who need RWs, just don't see the value as a match. St. Louis guys both have term while Calgary really isn't deep at center either if they trade one of those two.

Speaking of, they may make some noise this year I'm thinking at least WCF
- 668710

I have trouble getting excited about a team that's big moves were salary dumping Eberle and signing Russel to a long-term deal.

Oh, I do, trust me. I once advocated for a net front on every line (and still do, although I've back off of that role being in a similar class as Horny). And if we can find a good 3C for $4 mil or under, I'm happy being able to keep Horny another year. That's ideal.

But if we want to go big, I think he has the most value of the roster players that have been mentioned as trade bait. I also think we are stacked at RW, he has one year left, he is more or less a specialist at this point, and his game will likely not age well.

When the PP consists of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel and Letang, I think we can find a fifth player to still make it work. Guentzel has shown some ability in the dirty areas, not that I want the crap beat out of him every game like what happens to Horny.
- T-Train

I pretty much agree with everything you said except thay Hornqvist has enough value to get a big return. I think the guys people want for Hornqvist are the guys you have to trade a Maatta or Rust, in some cases a guy like Sheary for.

I have trouble getting excited about a team that's big moves were salary dumping Eberle and signing Russel to a long-term deal.
- Tojo.

I forgot Eberle was traded damn what wingers are left? They used to have Hall Eberle and Yak to an extent. Damn, what did they get for ebs?