Stone came out and said he doesn’t want to move on but it may be best for them to younger and rebuild. Trade Stone and Duchene to the highest bidder. The Hoffman situation really messed them up.
Melnyk is horrible though and hopefully he sells the team.
So go after Stone AND Duchene?
Alrighty Lou, let's offer Eberle, Nelson, Vande Sompel and Koivula.
I see them biting at this juncture (and they'd likely flip Eberle elsewhere at some point as well)...
And when you're done there, call up CBJ and "cave in" with an offer of Lee, Wotherspoon, & Golyshev for Panarin.
The problem with all this is that instead of needing to re-sign Lee (6 million?), Eberle (5.5 million?), and Nelson (4.5 million) next summer, you've got to try and keep Panarin (8.5 million), Duchene (6.5 million) and Stone (6.5 million) instead. A fairly huge upgrade no doubt, IF these players would even be open to be long-term possibilities here.
Our team would look a heck of a lot different though...
SIDENOTE:
There are a few teams out there who have rarely picked high or even a whole lot for that matter in the last decade. These teams tend to be a bit more active at the end of an NHL season by going after older UFAs, sometimes out of juniors or college, and often out of Europe (generally after the WC).
Right now, everyone is talking about San Jose and loving how they've aggressively gone after big players and haven't been afraid to swoop in on E. Kane and now Karlsson. They also made the biggest pitch to Tavares.
I mention all this because prolly no team has been as active in picking up the types of players I've mentioned above than San Jose. Look no further than Donskoi, M. Karlsson, Sorensen, Heed, Goodrow, and now Suomela, Praplan, & Radil, as well as prospects such as True, Halbgewachs, Simek, and now the young Kotkov. THAT'S how they maintain depth in a world where picks and prospects have often needed to go the other way in trades.
And I'll have no problem seeing Lou acting in the same manner once our team is in the concert of the top 8 leaguewide.