Imagined: 2024-25 Suppositions - Crosby, Bouchard, Tavares, Marchand

[IRSlotsFull]

Obviously imagined, so none of these are likely as anything else - but I hope to make the case that they're not only possible, but favorable moves before the trade deadline this year.

Crosby to Colorado
No need to list stats, everyone knows his $8.7m cap hit & stats - and that he's burning years with Pittsburgh's "our window is still open" fantasy (the previous 6 years show that it is closed).
But Crosby is in the final year of his contract and could be a rental to the Avs giving them a boost at the L2 Center slot & getting to play with fellow Halifax area native Nathan MacKinnon (which is the scale-tipping factor that makes this move even plausible). Pittsburgh could hold up to $4.35m of cap and would likely look for a top prospect (Ritchie, Behren), pick, and/or one of the younger players already signed (Wood, Colton, Mittlestadt, Brannstrom).
Crux of the bargain? Pittsburgh's performance. The 'window still open' versus the recruitment for a rebuild (Bemstrom, Glass, Beauvillier, Lizotte, Puljujarvi, OConnor all 25-27); if they drop 7/10 games over a stretch before December, I think this trade becomes much more likely.

Bouchard to Anaheim
Scoff if you like, but Edmonton isn't going to pay him $10m after signing Draisaitl to $14m. We're talking about a young guy performing well on, arguably, the best power-play in the NHL: he's SUPPOSED to look great. His points come from keeping the puck in the zone - 2 players later (be it McDavid, Draisaitl, Hyman, or RNH) it's in the net. I'll just argue that he might not be fully tested in his role. If Edmonton moved him to Anaheim for Pavel Mintyukov, I'd imagine Bouchard's performance may slip some (and his asking price with it). If it doesn't? Anaheim has a 26 year old stud to consider signing. "Why only consider" you ask? Because if they let an offer sheet come in - it'll be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pick back if he's signed over $6.9m and 2x 1sts, 2nd, and 3rd pick back if signed over $9.2m (like he's asking for now). That's value either way for the Ducks. For Edmonton: Nurse is a serviceable PP1 guy (though faltered at his latest attempt), but Minyukov is supposed to be that and one can imagine he would succeed with the top tier talent of the Oilers PP1.
Crux of the bargain? Leap of faith. Edmonton has to believe that a new PP1 Defenseman won't drop the ball so badly it hurts their cup chances for the next 2 years. Anaheim has to gamble with Bouchard's true value as he'll be showcased with their PP1 instead of Edmonton's for a few months (which I imagine will de-value the self-proclaimed $10m defenseman).

Tavares to Buffalo
Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday: "When you get old in life, things get taken from you. That's part of life. But you only learn that when you start losing stuff."
And boy are Toronto's losses piling up. Their "Big 4" seem an abject failure without so much as an Eastern Conference championship match-up to show for it. With the contracts of local boys Tavares & Marner up July 1st: you'd imagine it's the 34 year old on the block and not the 27 year old. So it would seem inevitable that Tavares will face the axe & speeding it up might be better for both he and the Leafs. Going to Buffalo keeps him close to home, in a top 4 role, and on a team that can afford to pay him $11m now & $9.5m for 4 years. Toronto could gain back a younger talent (Krebs, Quinn, Peterka), an extra D (Clifton, Samuelsson), and/or draft capital to bolster an somewhat unimpressive minors pool.
Crux of the bargain? That NMC clause; Tavares has to agree to leave. With just 10 months of it left, it's not a stretch to imagine som 'forward thinking' to the next 4 years but Tavares has some of departure date and destination (for now).

Marchand to Vegas
Because that's what happens! Vegas is known for making a splash at the deadline in their short franchise history & it's not too difficult to imagine that Marchand's recent claim of leaving Boston leads to a relocation come February. Vegas' left wings are: Barbashev, Dorofeyev, Brisson, and Howden - so they're definitely looking for an improvement there. Boston letting go of the previous era would largely conclude with this move & could net them any of the listed Vegas LWs, a prize defenseman (think Whitecloud or Theodore), and/or draft capital to bolster the 'new class' in Boston (Poitras, Lysell, Lohrei).
Crux of the bargain? The likely scenario that Boston isn't 1st or 2nd in the East. IF the B's can somehow squeeze career years out of every one of their 26 year olds, there is no way they'd consider changing out their veteran captain for a cup push - especially to a potential contender. However, I'd say they're probably a year or three from seeing their 'next wave' truly make a splash in the playoffs.

Let me know what you think, what you'd change, or who else you think is out-bound come February.

[loppantorkel]

I think the Crosby trade is the most probable.

For Edmonton and Bouchard - wouldn't it be better to just hold onto him this season and playoffs and let anyone offer sheet him after the season? And doesn't Mintyukov suit Anaheim's timeline better?
For Tavares and Buffalo - He's about to become an UFA. Why would Buffalo give up valuable assets for an aging veteran at this point?
I think Marchand remains in Boston until retirement.

That's my thoughts.

I'll try one:
Erik Karlsson gets traded to Toronto for John Tavares after Dubas comes to term about the necessity of a rebuild, and Treliving's search for an aging Swedish power-playing defenseman finally ends.

[IRSlotsFull]

Edmonton - They get picks back if they let it go to an offer sheet, but those won't help them at all right now (which is their striking window).
Buffalo - Tavares might not want to go there, but if you're not able to stay in Toronto and want to stay close, it's the next best thing. Why they would spend is for a top line center they can sign bringing valuable leadership to a younger core. Sabers also aren't going to hold all their D with the acquisition of Byram; Dahlin, Power, Samuelsson, Clifton, Byram, Jokiharju (lowest at $3.1m) - somethings gotta give there.
Boston - Look at Pittsburgh holding the 'old boys' to keep the gang together: how's that going? Would they love him to already be signed or have another year? Sure. Is it smart to resign a 37 year old to 2 years & they want a raise... He knows the organization is going to try, but I think it's better to rip that bandaid off.

Karlsson for Tavares - I like it - helps with Pens aging center issue & provides defensive scoring depth stability for the Leafs; I think Toronto would be the holdout as they may look reassign the $11m of Tavares further into the lineup than 1 defense man and a prospect contract; more like 2x $4m forwards and space to sign their upcoming RFAs and UFAs.

[loppantorkel]

The Tavares to Buffalo does make more sense. Although, I doubt Toronto would get the likes of Peterka, Quinn or Samuelsson back. We'll see. Good speculation still.