You said “Skjei isn’t good enough for top pair/be trade return for DeBrusk”
The implications of that statement is you want a top pairing D if you are to trade DeBrusk, and Skjei isn’t a top pairing D so not worth DeBrusk. Maybe you didn’t intend to imply that, but you did so with your statement.
If there was a top3 available that makes sense I’d be going DeBrusk+, not again assuming just straight up
A top pairing D, that really isn’t a 1-2 but can comfortably play 1-2 next to McAvoy? Isn’t that still a top pairing guy, or at least a really good #3. I still don’t think DeBrusk is worth that. Depends on who the player is though So it’s possible.
If it doesn’t make sense for Boston to trade DeBrusk because of lack of forward depth, that’s fine, and completely reasonable.
Best bet is maybe a guy like Hanifin for DeBrusk+. Hanifin hasn’t been able to show he can handle top pairing duties yet and has even had defense struggles on the 2nd pairing. Maybe he takes it up a notch in Boston, but you are betting on him improving.