Quote:
Originally Posted by TOfan
I don’t think where Sillinger was selected two years ago has much bearing on his value at this point. D+2 years, you have a better idea where guys are at and Sillinger is not a safe bet to be a top 6 player. What probably has much more valuation is his rookie season and the significant step backwards he took last season. He still needs to establish himself.
What also matters more is what is the appetite from the Blue Jackets to make the playoffs this year? What does the addition of Lindholm mean to that team, specifically? If the feeling/thought is that the Jackets need to take a step forward, now, are they better off achieving that goal with a guy who would step in as your 1C who has proven chemistry with their star winger? I think Lindholm is easily worth Sillinger who, following up on last year’s very disappointing season, has yet to show what he had two years ago. Also, it’s a risk but one the BJ’s may have to take is that pick, if all goes as planned, should be around 20thOA.
Furthermore, what other 1C is available? Under 30? I doubt Stephenson’s going anywhere. Schifele’s off the market. Kuznetzov? Big question marks there. I know who I’d rather have, especially when you factor in Gaudreau’s history. I’d say the Jackets have some work to do to keep Gaudreau/Werenski happy otherwise they might have some guys wanting to move on in a year or two. Factor in market perception and I bet the Jackets do have the appetite to make their move, this year.
The Jackets added to their roster this past offseason to compete now, Provorov and Severson, plus brought in a high profile HC that flammed out spectacularly. Pressures on JK and perhaps JD. Ownership hardly endorsed either one in the wake of it either. I suspect they’re on notice. If they can make the playoffs and put together a team that looks like it can compete over the foreseeable future, I bet they can wash the stink off the embarrassment of the Babcock fiasco.
The questions GM’s should be asking themselves is not ‘those guys paid X for Y’ it should be ‘what doesX mean to us right now, and the future, and do we have the assets to acquire X’.
I suspect solidify a 1C/1bC (assuming Lindholm extends) is hugely valuable to the Blue Jackets. A 1st + Sillinger + roster player is a cost I suspect the Jackets would be willing to part with. Hell, if I were in Conroy’s shoes, I might be pushing for more. Maybe the Flames ask should include Johnson (Flames might have to add) Lindholm (retained to make it work) + Dube / Johnson + Sillinger + Roslovic/Boqvist?
Lindholm to the BJ’s makes almost too much sense in my mind.
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Sillinger made the NHL at 18 where Coronato hasn’t made the NHL yet. Teams typically do not give up on high picks after 2 years and we won’t see a recent high pick + a 1st from a team who at best is on the bubble and at worst would be picking top 3 giving up a 1st on top of that to get a rental player. So far Lindholm has been terrible so it is not like he is increasing his value like Horvat did last year pacing for more than 50 goals when his name started being floated in trade.
It all depends and where the Jackets think they can do this year. They could risk it and see if Lindy makes it to a UFA and get him for free next year as this could easily be a transition year coming off a bottom 3 finish.
To suggest they can get Johnson and Sillinger for Lindy and Dube is setting yourself up for massive disappointment. I hope you are right but I think you are overrating the Jackets desire to speed up their rebuild and how much Lindholm is worth with a $9.3M ask for extension as he is about to turn 29