Ghost of Kyiv
Wanted Dead and Alive
Why trade Honka at all? I don't think one Sami Vatanen fixes this defense.
I think he'd definitely fix the right side. Honka certainly could too, but that's more of a gamble. I think Vatanen might be a decent mid point projection for Honka. If Honka turn out better than Vatanen, you're probably pretty happy. If he's worse than Vatanen, you're probably sad.
Anyways, back to Vatanen and why I want him. Penalty killing, statistically speaking he is very, very, very good with a man down as far as goals against and shots against per minute are concerned. I don't think Honka will ever develop that specific skill set (but maybe).
If your top defenseman isn't gonna kill (and probably shouldn't), everybody else has to excel. And, the only two defenseman in the organization who I think are even half decent on the PK are Johns and Hamhuis.
Why trade Honka?
Well, I'd only do that to get an all around LD. Or, in the event that he becomes a luxury.
With just Klingerg as the only defenseman on the team that can move the puck, he's certainly not a luxury right now. If a guy like Vatanen or Shattenkirk was brought in however, then yeah. I'd consider Honka a luxury at that point.