I think they made their peace with keeping Yandle for the playoff run and then he goes this summer. I think that was the plan when they made the deal last trade DL, but it got a little sideways with the team struggling, so they were thinking about dealing him and changing the plan. But our play the last few weeks, and the fact that we sit in 2nd in the Met and the East made Gorton/AV decide to stick with Yandle and go all in again. That is why I said this AM a Staal like deal had to be made if you were keeping Yandle. Made zero sense to do it any other way once you made the Yandle decision.
As for the lines, I hear you mel. Certainly Staal could play C, and the more I think about it the more I think that is the likely path. Hayes moves to wing. Top 3 C's Staal, Brass, Stepan. Top 9 wingers Kreider, Zucc, Nash, Hayes, Miller, and Stalberg or Fast (I prefer Stalberg in that role). 4th line is Stalberg or Fast with Moore, Glass, and Lindberg in the mix. And I actually think we make one more deal that adds a bottom 6 gritty PK type to the forwards. I think we get that done tomorrow unless there is nothing to be had.
On D I think we are very solid and deep with McIlrath, and even a vet like Diaz, there for extra depth. Good group that can do a lot of different things.
The fact that Nash didn't go on LTIR means he could be back with 3 weeks left in the season +/-, which would be a perfect amount of time for him to get back into game shape for the start of the playoffs.
As for this summer, they may be able to resign Staal even without moving Nash. There is a difference between Yandle and Staal IMO. With G, and Staal, and Klein, and McD all here long term. And with good kids like McIlrath and Skjei ready to step in next season, I don't see a way we resign Yandle unless we move G or Staal.
Upfront is different. We don't have the kind of depth and kids we do on D. We also won't have cap balance issues if we resign Staal. With Boyle off, the cap going up, and maybe letting a RFA go I could see a way to resign Staal even with Nash here. This assumes Staal is reasonable and doesn't expect 7 + mill per...if he does then all bets are off of course.
But that is a long way off, and something to worry about after we win the cup in June...

.