Gotta be looking at Erik Johnson and Landy/Duchene is smoke and mirrors. Veteran D (obvious crucial need). Big body. Good pro. Real defensive defenceman. Won't cost a fortune like a tier A guy but this calibre of tier B guy would strengthen and stabilize our shaky core.

Unfortunately, he is the captain on a historically bad team with skill but obvious culture/identity issues. And he is almost 29. COL is going to decide which of the young studs (MacKinnon and co.) are going to stay as the core. Johnson will be moved out with Avalanche's purge; Phaneuf being the first domino in our Shanaplan purge is an identical comparison). Similar to Phaneuf and Ottawa, Johnson will be better served as a stable, veteran presence; however, not a captain, go-to player. He will blend in on a blueline with other supporting pieces (Rielly, Gardiner, Zaitsev). We will have to improve through committee pieces like him.

Only thing that would squash this is his new 7 year, $6M contract. That's likely worrisome for us.

The ask: Leipsic, 2nd? (Without the contract dumps the foundation of the comparable Phaneuf trade was Lindberg and a 2nd)