Losing Zadina long term isn't all that bad though. He's a 25-30 point winger. Those guys quite literally grow on trees.
(We need someone here with better photoshop skills than me to prove it)
There are quite literally dozens of players that can be signed or traded for to replace Zadina's current production.
2022 NHL Free Agents Tracker | Spotrac
Specific to the dime a dozen guys you are referring to:
How many of those guys will command less money than Zadina? How many of those guys fit the age range of our core? How many of those players still have developmental years in front of them?
The answer is none of them.
Do you know how you get Elias Lindholm scoring at a 30 goal, 70+ point pace for $4.85 million per year for 6 years? You sign him after he was a toss in part of a trade after barely scratching a half a point per game pace. Mind you, Lindholm didn’t break out until his age 24 year with almost 400 career games played. Zadina just turned 22 and had…77 games entering the season.
Zadina shouldn’t command more than half the salary, and we don’t have an abundance of young wingers in the system. You have Berggren and that’s about it on the verge of making an impact within the next 10 months max. Soderblom is probably another season away if I had to guess.
Again, if he brings back something worthwhile, I’ll do it. But people need to stop painting the picture that Zadina is easily replaceable. His production is easily replaceable, his position in the organization is not nearly as easy to replace. Your best bet to replace him is to draft someone in the top 10-12 this year and wait 3 years to get an idea if you are getting any real increase in dividends on your investment.