2023/2024 Trade Rumors and Speculation Thread

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Spurs

Is Johnson definitely a Center for them?

Fanitlli-Johnson-Sillinger is an incredibly young center group to go with.

Having a guy like Lindholm to take the tough assignments and be able to shift to RW if the young guys are making at center would likely be a great way to ensure their young players are properly developed without having too much pressure thrown on them right away.

Theory yes it would be nice for them to have someone experienced but when you take into account that Lindholm wants an hefty extension it would block their own guys down the road. I have a very hard time seeing it happening after what Fantilli showed in the men's World Championships. I bet they will try to grow as a group and Lindholm doesn't fit their timeline or cap going forward. They are not in a win now mode, their window probably opens up in a couple of years.

Originally Posted by Pickle Juice

Well there is reports that they might be planning on putting Patrik Laine at Center so I'm not sure its that cut and dry yet in the eyes of the Jackets management.

I will eat a shoe if Laine somehow becomes a center He has never played center IIRC even in Finland, not even in juniors.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

They also likely have Texier returning, who can likely still fit in their somewhere.

They tried to convert him into a C before they even had KJ, which was really desperate. I don't remember it working out much at all. But since then they added KJ and now Fantilli, I'd be shocked if they would block any of those guys with a veteran like Lindholm.

[Spurs]

Originally Posted by Saqe

Theory yes it would be nice for them to have someone experienced but when you take into account that Lindholm wants an hefty extension it would block their own guys down the road. I have a very hard time seeing it happening after what Fantilli showed in the men's World Championships. I bet they will try to grow as a group and Lindholm doesn't fit their timeline or cap going forward. They are not in a win now mode, their window probably opens up in a couple of years.

The Gaudreau and Laine contracts and them being there fits perfectly with Lindholm and an extension though. I agree they are in an odd spot where they have a young team that could grow to together but also have Gaudreau and Laine.

I think they likely won't move for Lindholm as teams rarely make moves like that but I do think he makes sense to fit in with their team.

[Harry Lime]

It's important to throw new centers to the wolves, so they adopt good practices and defensive habits, like McDavid and draisyltl.

As much as Boone Jenner supplies that protection now, I think lindholm as a mentor and falling down the lineup as he ages would still be a good fit.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by Spurs

The Gaudreau and Laine contracts and them being there fits perfectly with Lindholm and an extension though. I agree they are in an odd spot where they have a young team that could grow to together but also have Gaudreau and Laine.

I think they likely won't move for Lindholm as teams rarely make moves like that but I do think he makes sense to fit in with their team.

But all their young guys are nhl ready. Was Johnson thrown to the wolves last year as a #1C? Probably yeah but now a year later as a #2C? Sign me up. It's not like he was their biggest issue last year, far from it.

I think exactly the reason they signed Gaudreau is why they shouldn't add another expensive veteran. They're not ready to compete right now and probably need 2-3 years at least to grow. Lindholm is most likely on a downhill trajectory at that point and when the young guys need new contracts he will be blocking them.

Anything can happen and if Kekalainen is on a hot seat, sure, he might be desperate enough to do it. But from a team building perspective they are now set at C with a very bright future down the middle. And if they want a veteran C to buffer the younger guys they should target someone with only a couple of years left on their deal, not Lindholm with eight.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Saqe

They tried to convert him into a C before they even had KJ, which was really desperate. I don't remember it working out much at all. But since then they added KJ and now Fantilli, I'd be shocked if they would block any of those guys with a veteran like Lindholm.

Johnson played mostly LW last season (and most of the rest of the time he played RW) and is far from a lock to play C going forward. Sillinger was rushed and doesn’t project as a top-2 C. Fantilli will likely develop into a #1-2 C, but he won’t be there right away and will need to be shielded for a couple seasons.

Jenner was the Blue Jacket’s #1 C last season and Roslovic was #2. That’s how thin they are.

They could fit Lindholm into a long-term depth chart that looks something like this:

Gaudreau-Lindholm-Marchenko
Johnson-Fantilli-Laine
Jenner-Sillinger-Texier

Though a Lindholm deal would likely send one of the guys from that third line back.

[kyuss275]

I think Backlund would be a better fit for Columbus for the next 2 seasons until one of their young centers break out.

[Saqe]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Johnson played mostly LW last season (and most of the rest of the time he played RW) and is far from a lock to play C going forward. Sillinger was rushed and doesn’t project as a top-2 C. Fantilli will likely develop into a #1-2 C, but he won’t be there right away and will need to be shielded for a couple seasons.

Jenner was the Blue Jacket’s #1 C last season and Roslovic was #2. That’s how thin they are.

They could fit Lindholm into a long-term depth chart that looks something like this:

Gaudreau-Lindholm-Marchenko
Johnson-Fantilli-Laine
Jenner-Sillinger-Texier

Though a Lindholm deal would likely send one of the guys from that third line back.

Fantilli is absolutely a #1C or at least projects one. Then you got Jenner, Johnson, Sillinger, Texier and who knows what. Signing a 30 year old UFA to a long term deal makes no sense to me, especially when you just drafted #3 overall. They are expecting to be a bubble team right now, not win it all. And long term that contract would be a back breaker.

[Monahammer]

Gaudreau-lindholm-Laine could be the best line in the league.

Sillinger + Marchenko is an excellent return imo. A pick on top would be dynamite at this point.

[Monahammer]

Cbj is already loaded with young talent and lindy is a 2 way guy who gets selke votes. With cap set to rise. I think its a no Brainerd for them.

[Hackey]

The Jackets are probably better off just letting their young talent develop. I think fans here assume they're looking to fast track things but who really knows what they're looking to do.

[Harry Lime]

Originally Posted by Hackey

The Jackets are probably better off just letting their young talent develop. I think fans here assume they're looking to fast track things but who really knows what they're looking to do.

If you let them develop, you waste two prime years of Laine and Gaudreau, as well as a decent D core. Lindholm as 1C for two years, 2C for three years and 3C for three years is not a bad outcome if he mentors two top centres in Columbus.

Getting an 'A' piece in Marchenko, there are still many interesting secondary prospects to round out an offer that wouldn't adversely effect Columbus's future. Add on Sillinger, Del Bel Belluz, or Corson Cuelemans, and I think that there is a lot there to talk about.

[Samonadreau]

edit nm

[jayswin]

Lol, Columbus stumbled through their rebuild and are now in excellent position to see what comes of their 3OA plus other picks ands their current prospects. Anything involving the Flames sending Lindholm for any substantial young prospects/players is Flames fan fantasy.

Our team doesn't fit into where they're at at all.

[Aarongavey]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Lol, Columbus stumbled through their rebuild and are now in excellent position to see what comes of their 3OA plus other picks ands their current prospects. Anything involving the Flames sending Lindholm for any substantial young prospects/players is Flames fan fantasy.

Our team doesn't fit into where they're at at all.

Maybe they want to expedite their rebuild like the Flames did with the Hamonic trade though. Now may be the time to get rid of two or three good young pieces to jump start this process, no need to wait until these young pieces mature.

[Pickle Juice]

Originally Posted by Aarongavey

Maybe they want to expedite their rebuild like the Flames did with the Hamonic trade though. Now may be the time to get rid of two or three good young pieces to jump start this process, no need to wait until these young pieces mature.

Johnny will be 30 in 6 days as well. He’s about 3-4 years before his best days are behind him! I would think this and the familiarity with both having career years playing together factor into this one!

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by Saqe

Fantilli is absolutely a #1C or at least projects one. Then you got Jenner, Johnson, Sillinger, Texier and who knows what. Signing a 30 year old UFA to a long term deal makes no sense to me, especially when you just drafted #3 overall. They are expecting to be a bubble team right now, not win it all. And long term that contract would be a back breaker.

I think you’re selling the Jackets appetite to make the playoffs/compete now a little short.

Look at the moves they made this offseason, most notably, Provorov and Babcock. Lindholm would all but certainly make them better right now. Not 2-3 years down the road when who knows what happens by then.

This is an organization that has missed the playoffs three years in a row now and has 6 playoff appearances in 22 years. Plus there also seems to be some smoke around JK and JD not having much run way left if things don’t change.

I know a lot of people like to think running a team is all about ‘asset management’ because apparently the only way to build a team is to stockpile draft picks and 19 year olds. Fact is teams also have to deal with expectations from ownership, fans, and even players. Gaudreau, Liane, Warenski etc. probably don’t have much tolerance for missing the playoffs for another 2-3 years.

Acquiring Lindholm, I think, would be very appealing to the Blue Jackets. He would be their 1C immediately and likely a top 2C for the next 6-7 years if they extended him. Given how difficult it has been for the BJ’s to attract and keep talent, I bet they leap at the chance to trade for Lindholm and pay the price to do so.

[CliffFletcher]

Here’s a projection of the Jackets roster core in two years if they acquired Lindholm (assuming Sillinger + pick + B prospect return).

Gaudreau (31) Lindholm (31) Marchenko (25)
Johnson (22) Fantilli (20) Laine (27)
Texier (25) Jenner (32)

Werensky (28) Jiricek (21)
Mateychuk (21) Severson (30)

Merzlikins (31)

That looks like a pretty good mix of front-line players in their prime and elite young talent. The biggest question mark is net, which can usually be addressed in the offseason. Or maybe Merzlikins firms up with an actual NHL defence playing in front of him.

[TOfan]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Here’s a projection of the Jackets roster core in two years if they acquired Lindholm (assuming Sillinger + pick + B prospect return).

Gaudreau (31) Lindholm (31) Marchenko (25)
Johnson (22) Fantilli (20) Laine (27)
Texier (25) Jenner (32)

Werensky (28) Jiricek (21)
Mateychuk (21) Severson (30)

Merzlikins (31)

That looks like a pretty good mix of front-line players in their prime and elite young talent. The biggest question mark is net, which can usually be addressed in the offseason. Or maybe Merzlikins firms up with an actual NHL defence playing in front of him.

Agree.

I bet JK has Conroy on speed dial these days looking for constant updates.

[ComixZone]

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