I understand the sentiment of waiting for major move(s) in June, but I don't think it's the best strategy.
Realistically, this team needs 2 big trades.
There were only 3-6 substantial hockey trades involving core players last summer (Trouba, Faulk, Kadri, Kessel*, Subban*, JT Miller*); the rest were cap dumps, nibbling around the edges, or prospect for prospect. *Kessel/Subban/Miller were really cap dumps...no team was able to make two big trades.
No reason to expect this summer will be much different.
Not to de-rail to Johnny talk, but I simply don't agree with the sentiment that he will be easier to trade this summer, for a number of reasons. One not often discussed being expansion...who wants to pay a big price for a guy who will use a protection slot with only 1 yr left to UFA afterwards? I really think his value is at it's peak this week - the extra opportunity with him in the playoffs is massive.
Tough sell to fans and STH, so it's almost certainly not going to happen. For me, it's as simple as imagining his loss is due to injury as much as trade. I go back to something Montour+Cozens (as a base; probably more components on each side, like Janko/Mittlestadt and swapping 2nds or something). It essentially turns our subtraction (aka. injury loss) into 1D and 1F instead of 2D (though I'd still sell Brodie and just hope for the best on Gio's return).
That would set everything up to deal Hanifin (or Vali/Kyli) in June, which is absolutely the right time to trade a player like him.
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