2020-21

Not a fan of these moves at all.

Your moves add $3.7m in cap in net without a huge upgrade and while getting poor quite poor value in return for Grubauer who is in the top half of the league among starters statistically.

Zadorov for a 4th liner isn't really good value either.

The lines are a bit messy too. Graves/Makar is the top pair, Cole is on the bottom pairing. Bellemare is a staple on the 4th line.

Detroit accepts

Detroit accepts, Doubt Sakic would do it though.

The DET trade is interesting. Zadorov has been in these trades for the last 2 years. By moving Z for LGD, COL would be saying a few things:

1. Their window is now. LGD is a piece a contender would use on 1PK/4th liner/tough defensive draws (55% on FOs, one of the best d-zone FO in the league).
2. Timmins and Byram are close to ready/ready and can take on the tougher minutes.
3. Bowers and Kaut aren't ready.
4. Questions the future of Landeskog on the team with 1 year before UFA (if they determine their window is now). You can use the pre-UFA season performance to boost yourself to a SCF.
5. You think Zadorov is going to ask for a big raise (most likely).

Is Zadorov an overpayment for LGD? Yes, kinda. But LGD's value should go up as you get closer to the TDL (especially accounting for injuries and poor bottom 6 play on contenders). But is a move like this exactly what smart contending teams do (no long term commitment for LGD), absolutely.

Will likely try to make it a 2021 2nd but Sabres ultimately would accept.