Danault Cernak and Jarkrok

Team: 2020-21 Washington Capitals

Initial Creation Date: Sep. 3, 2020

Published: Sep. 19, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Canadiens trade: Vrana meets Montreal's biggest need for a scoring winger, and he's also younger than Danault with a few more years of team control. Danault would take Kuznetsov's spot at 2C while Kuzy moves to wing to replace Vrana, which would go a long way towards fixing the problems with team defense. I think Vrana's more valuable than Danault because of the team control aspect, so the Lehkonen-Panik swap is evening out the value. This trade hurts me cause I love Vrana, but I'm really high on Danault as well. Lot of risk for the Caps if they can't work out an extension for Danault, so if Ovie's really serious about getting 12M+ I'd scrap this and resign myself to having to trade Vrana's RFA rights for futures in a year.

Predators trade: Nashville fans have said 3rd pairing defense is a need, so Siegenthaler makes sense for them. With Dillon re-signed (Caps are rumored to want him back) and Fehervary breaking through, I think Siegenthaler's an odd man out due to the Caps surfeit of LHD. I think he'd love the chance to play with his countryman Josi, and he'd basically replace Hamhuis as a 3rd pairing PK specialist, with 2nd pairing upside. Jarnkrok's usage dropped when Hynes took over, so a reunion with Lavi would probably be good for him. His contract is fantastic for a middle-6 winger who can fill in at center if needed. I could see the Caps adding a mid-round pick here, or Hagelin if the Preds would be interested in him.

Jets and Sabres trades: Pure cap dumps, destination isn't so important. Kempny and Hags aren't bad players, but Kempny's pushed out by the same crush of LHD as Siegs, and Jarnkrok and Lehkonen make Hagelin expendable. He could stay if the team is confident in Samsonov and Vanecek as the goalie tandem.

Cernak: I don't see any way the Lightning could afford to match that offer sheet. Paying a 2021 2nd to add a guy like Cernak is fantastic value, and he's probably cheaper cap-wise than any of the higher-end RHD available through free agency. I think this is a home run if Cernak's willing to sign the OS.

Dillon: He starts out on the top pairing but moves to the 3rd when Fehervary shows he's ready to play with Carlson. A bottom 4 of Orlov-Cernak and Dillon-Jensen is basically two shutdown pairings. I don't see many other options in free agency that I'd be happy with, maybe Kulikov or Chara? Dillon seems more realistic since we already know the Caps are interested.

Weber: Might as well get another ex-Lavi player for 7D.

Greiss: Splits the starts with Samsonov (or Vanecek if Sam's not ready by the start of the season), gone before the cap crunch happens next offseason. Greiss is of those guys I've always like for no particular reason which is why I picked him, but I could also see Talbot or Crawford.

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