Columbus didn’t get screwed they didn’t know what they had.
This is an interesting subject though. Which teams are likely to have a player they truly don’t want to lose and would pay for it?
They gave up a 1st round pick to protect a player. Losing W. Karlsson is something they could live with cause he had not done anything up to that point, but they threw in a 1st as well due to a NMC that someone had.
I doubt any team is doing that this time around.
Nashville has 4 Dmen. Jossi, Ellis, Ekholm, and Fabbro. If they go 4-4-1 then Johansen, Forsberg, Kunin likely are the 3 for sure. Duchene would have 5 years left at $8 mill per cap hit. Would Seattle take that? He would be 30 years old, so they have him until 35.
Minnesota has Brodin, Dumba, Spurgeon and Suter and D as well. Minny would need to ask Parise to waive his NMC since highly unlikely Seattle would take him. Zucs has a nmc. Fiala they would protect. Greenway and Eriksson Ek likely the other 2 if they go 4-4-1. Meaning Foligno is the best guy to take with 3 years at $3.1 mill per left on his contract. Unless they move a Dman out.
Colorado has 4 D with EJ having a NMC. If they go 4-4-1 then Mack, Rantenen, Kadri would get protected. Landy is UFA but I doubt they want to leave him that close to testing the market, otherwise they let one of Nuke, Donskoi, Compher, Burkosvky, Jost get taken and move on.
TB - McDonough does not have a NMC, so he could be made available as he turns 32 in 2021 and has 5 years left on the contract.
So, you could see some big names left exposed due to the term remaining on their contracts, taking them into their mid or even late 30's.