Trade Proposal: Whitecloud <> Okposo + Jokiharju

So there are a couple of themes that have been discussed here the last few weeks that I think a single trade can solve.

1. Okposo getting a chance to make a serious run for the cup

2. Adding some grit at the bottom of the lineup

3. Ability to resign Jokiharju who is arbitration eligible and likely to be expensive

4. Finding a stay at home partner for Power

I think a single trade with Vegas not only _could_ solve all of the issues for Buffalo but is also beneficial for Vegas.

### Why Vegas might say yes

Vegas is currently gutted with injuries and has 7 active forwards with contracts less than $1M. The combined production of these 7 players is 155 games / 23 goals / 31 assists / 54 points. Okposo alone is 54 games / 11 goals / 9 assists / 20 points. Okposo would absolutely be an upgrade for the bottom of their roster. Even with the injuries they still are the defending champs and will all of a sudden get healthy as soon as the playoffs start.

Whitecloud is currently in a rut but [had amazing numbers](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FCzfsvIWQAMQSfo?format=jpg&name=large) when he signed his extension. He is currently playing the 3rd pair in Vegas on a deep and talented blue line. So he is a bit of a luxury compared on the blue line while they are holding the forward group together with duct tape.

Okposo gives them a boost on their group with zero worry about having to deal with his status after the playoffs. It’s super clean. Jokiharju gives them a good RHD to replace a RHD, just different skills. They can either try and sign Jokiharju in the summer or trade him for futures that they need.

Buffalo could retain 50% on both Okposo and Jokiharju so the combined cap for the two is $2,500,000, which actually saves Vegas $250k and puts a RHD back on their roster. This would allow them to still make another move or two for additional help with their forwards.

### Why Buffalo should consider this

1. Unless Okposo says he doesn’t want to go, they should find him a solid contender to play for. Okposo is also friends with Eichel so there is a soft landing there in Vegas.

2. Whitecloud plays a entirely different game than Jokiharju. He is not a fighter but is a block and hit machine stay home defensemen.

3. Unlike Jokiharju, Whitecloud has 4 more years of term at $2,750,000. That being locked in makes it a lot easier for the front office to plan for other contracts and moves. Both at the deadline and over the summer.

4. This one may be a bit of a reach. In a perfect world Whitecloud complements Power and now the 2nd pair for Buffalo costs $11.1M. If R. Johnson plays up with Dahlin the top pair, the 3rd pair is Samuelsson/Clifton and you bring back Bryson. That changes the trajectory of the blue line being too expensive to being a cost savings area.

5. This trade really is Buffalo giving up almost nothing. By this I mean Okposo only has months left of play and Jokiharju only has months left in Buffalo. Parting ways with both at the trade deadline for 4 years of term is like playing with house money.

by Spiritual_Bourbon