Thanks Zak!
I think they'd be wise to retain Provorov, and I think they will, he played solidly for the team last year and gave them that extra veteran presence on "D".
It's time for Columbus to stop drafting and start winning, I don't have any names of the top of my head, maybe Tage Thompson out of Buffalo or Elias Pettersson out of Vancouver, but with the amount of young players and picks Waddell has available to him I'd like to see him take a big swing at someone of note.
- DraftandDestroy
I agree in that I would like to see, and expect, GMDW to swing big at someone. However, it will more than Thompson or Pettersson. 1) IMO Kevyn and Jarmo are not looking to trade Thompson; 2) although I like Pettersson, and believe he would come back to what he was, right now he's a mystery wrapped in an enigma. So unless GMDW has the solution for straightening him out he would be down on my priority list.
He'll take a run at Marner - providing Marner is even open to Columbus. But I'm not sure what that would do to the lockerroom chemistry. To me Marner seems like a "glamour" guy, lasered into the flash, and big bucks. If it gets to $14MM AAV then let Las Vegas, New York, or LA pay him those dollars.
I hope he checks on the availability of Jason Robertson. I'm still seeing reports Dallas is quietly floating him out there. Again, IMO I believe he's a better 200 ft. player, and would be a better fit in the lockerroom. Also, he'll be a UFA next summer, so he'd have to sign a long term contract with us to be traded. But probably would come in at a couple million less per year than Marner.
If both those options go sideways, then contact GM Kevyn Adams in Buffalo and ask about a trade for JJ Peterka. He wants out of Buffalo. Picks and prospects (not Mateychuk; Fantilli; KJ; Kiril: Voronko) so really anyone in Cleveland, might do that.
With Jarmo now in Buffalo I have no idea how working with them would go.
