I have zero faith in them actually doing it though. They’ll settle for a couple bargain bin top 9 players and whiff on the big guys … like every other year.
This. The bar is low based on their history. This summer will be a nothing burger.
Aho is a great player, but I’ve always felt we needed a second center that’s on a similar level to him. He’s been enough to lead us back to the playoffs, but I’ve never been sold about leading us to the cup.
Lindholm, PLD, and biggest long shot of all (probably not until the next deadline or the summer of '24 if at all), EP, are all potential options for a 2C; likelihood of us getting one of them aside.
EP is the legit superstar we have needed for years now.
Especially if Carolina has a short playoff run again (it wouldn't be a surprise down Svech and Patches and with how our team has played lately), I'd trade Nikishin and Jarvis + for EP (or some other similar high price) if that's what it took to get an annual 30+ goal scorer who currently has 85 points this season, and who is only 24 and 6'2. However, even if Vancouver were to trade because EP becomes the next Matt Tkachuk being a RFA that wants out, Carolina would probably be empty handed; AGAIN. Personally, I'd prefer to trade KK + Morrow/Nikishin (I'm kind of tempted to replace Nikishin with Jarvis instead with the rest of the package being lower; there's a lot of hype with Nikishin) + 1st round pick+ some combination of another pick (including another 1st round pick) and prospect for EP, but not that my preference matters.
