OK... so with all this Hainsey talk... what if the guy decides he wants to stay? Then who do we move?
other UFAs
Wellwood
Antropov
Miettinen
Clitsome
Meech
Montoya
I could see Clitsome, Meech, and Montoya all staying as they are all serviceable players and fill their roles.
Not saying to trade anyone, just that if the player is going to leave because they are an UFA, you MUST get something for them. This franchise can't afford to lose players for nothing.
I think Antropov has value as a 3rd-line center. He's good defensively, he's smart with the puck and he uses his size around both nets. I don't think many contenders are looking for top-6 scoring, just depth that can chip in offensively and not be a liability defensively. Chicago and Vancouver both need centers; I'm sure there's more.