It was a long offseason knowing I cost us a chance at the playoffs, but I suppose it is time to move on. I entered the draft and immediately made a trade:

TO CHI
--------
2019 1st (5th OA)

TO BOS
---------
G Kent Simpson
CHI 2019 2nd
WAS 2019 2nd

Simpson has stayed static as far as overall goes while both Hope and Johnsson grew immensely during the offseason (sorry I started the season already so I don't have progression numbers, but right now Hope is 80 and Johnsson is 82). The second rounders were an acceptable loss I felt. Onto the draft I selected:

1(5) Jerry Polacek C
1 (11) Brock Modano D
3 (71) Jimmy Melnik G

I'm going to stop listing picks that are inconsequential, so I won't be listing my 4th-7th rounders in this draft, if they end up doing anything (Like Volek) I will edit my post.

I then entered the resign phase and released LW Brandon Saad, D Nick Leddy, and D Jamie Oleksiak. I then resigned C Mark McNeill, C Brend Schauer, RW Michal Vachovec, D Matthew Berry-Lamontagna, D Morgan Reilly, G Marcus Johnsson, C Jusso Ikonen, C Alexis Loiseau, C Mikhail Grigorenko, C Ryan Strome, C Aleksander Barkov, RW Marc Chartrand, RW Samu Pirnes, and D Adam Pelech. I also signed C Doug Wiseman, C Jerry Polacek, LW Gibert Dupont, D Brock Modano, and G Jimmy Melnik to entry level contracts. In free agency I acquired LW Matt Moulson. I was then ready to enter the season after one last trade:

TO CHI
---------
2020 1st

TO EDM
---------
C Aleksander Barkov
C Ryan Strome

It kind of hurt to get rid of Barkov since he was a first rounder, but he was a longshot to crack my roster with my center depth. Strome was another high 70's low 80's center that I seem to have hordes of and won't be missed.

Summary:
- Traded G Kent Simpson, Chicago's 2nd round pick, and Washington's 2nd round pick to the Boston Bruins in exchange for their first round pick.
- Released LW Brandon Saad, D Nick Leddy, and D Jamie Oleksiak.
- Resigned C Mark McNeill (4.315M/4yr)
- Resigned C Brend Schauer (2.5M/3yr)
- Resigned RW Michal Vachovec (4.455M/2yr)
- Resigned D Matthew Berry-Lamontagna (1.525M/3yr)
- Resigned D Morgan Reilly (1.495M/3yr)
- Resigned G Marcus Johnsson (1.665M/2yr)
- Resigned C Jusso Ikonen (2.23M/2yr)
- Resigned C Alexis Loiseau (2.53M/2yr)
- Resigned C Mikhail Grigorenko (975k/2yr)
- Resigned C Ryan Strome (975k/2yr)
- Resigned C Aleksander Barkov (615k/1yr)
- Resigned RW Marc Chartrand (620k/1yr)
- Resigned RW Samu Pirnes (610k/2yr)
- Resigned D Adam Pelech (815k/2yr)
- Signed C Doug Wiseman, C Jerry Polacek, LW Gibert Dupont, D Brock Modano, and G Jimmy Melnik to entry level contracts.
- Signed FA LW Matt Moulson (3M/2yr)
- Traded C Aleksander Barkov and C Ryan Strome to the Edmonton Oilers for their first round pick in 2020.