A few things I'm looking to do here. I'm still competing, so I have to thread the same needle that anyone who has an older team does. Trade some really good older players for less establish players who may or may not pan out, and maybe a pick or two to take away some of that risk.
If you're a team that's looking to shift into a win-now type mode and you've got an abundance of youth and picks then we should probably talk.
Some highlights of what's available:
Brent Burns
There are few players more fun to own than Burnsie. He's not offered lightly, he had an injury hampered season and is due to bounce back. Really not looking to sell low here given what a key part of my success he's played, and this isn't a fire sale, but he's available.
Dustin Byfuglien
Before you start, I know. Guy might not even play. But wow, if he does? So consider this like one of those trades teams make for negotiating rights to a free agent. Got a lot of picks? You good with a pick upgrade deal to get a dominant D-man if he returns? Pretty low risk, high-reward.
Tyson Barrie
If Byfuglien's a "buy low", here's a "buy high." This would purely be a value play for me. Smarter for me to keep him? Probably. So I likely will. But a guy with Barrie's skill on the Oilers power play? Is this the second-coming of Paul Coffey? Could we see a 100 point d-man? There's nobody else back there this season, so it's going to be all Barrie all the time. Exciting place for him to have signed.
Max Pacioretty
Pacioretty's back to his old self, scoring at a good clip and having good chemistry with Mark Stone, especially. He was on a 76 point pace last season. Vegas is a fun team, Max scores in bunches. Top line forward on a top team.
So those are the highlights, but open for business to do whatever.
