Quoting: SupremeBone
Okay, thanks for the input! I decided to keep Merzi because I figured there wasn't a huge press to solve the problem this year and, since I don't really see a great candidate to swap with (apart from maybe Husso in Detroit), I figured it wise to leave it until next year. I feel similarly about Laine.
As for the Marchinny contracts, I can see what you mean, but I think they're well positioned to gamble a bit on Chinakhov. If you were to adjust them, would you think something like 4 * 3 for Chinakhov and 5.5 * 5 for Marchenko? Or would your aim to go long-term for Marchenko even if it costs upwards of 7mil?
I think Merzlikins' relationship with the team is too far deteriorated to keep him around next year, but if there's no trade partner, he's a prime buyout candidate. It's more a pressing need in my eyes than most, probably.
I'd absolutely lock up Marchenko for a 6x$7M if that's what it took, he should absolutely grow into that and could become a 40-goal scorer. Chinakhov needs more regular playing time in the top-6 before we do anything more than a bridge.
Overall, I think you've done some tidy work, the values look pretty good and the lines look realistic (though I'd also swap Silly and Jenner, as well as Jiricek and Severson for now).
As for Laine: he probably gets a chance to rebound next season with Columbus, and could be traded if he starts to look like the player he has been with us (nearly ppg). If he is traded this season, though, I'd imagine it's for a decent package (like 2nd, 3rd, plus good prospect) with some heavy conditions on picks that could upgrade it to an elite package (like upgrading to a 1st if he plays 40 games, 3rd to a 2nd if he scores 20 goals, etc). Something that puts most of the risk on the acquiring team, since we don't have any pressure to move him.