Kuznetsov as a winger

IMO Edmonton. Washington is giving up players who have more than this year while getting 4 expired contracts in return

Washington definitely pass. They don't need Larsson or Chiasson. That leaves Poolparty and Nugent, but Kuz is better than him so they are basically downgrading here.

Being bad at face-offs != struggling at center. Kuznetsov is currently posting career high marks in Fenwick For and Corsi For, likely due to two things: a coach that actually knows how to deploy him (77.8% offensive zone starts) and actually playing better defensively (0.4 Even Strength Defensive GAR this season vs a team worst -5.4 GAR last season). Caps fans on here consistently rail on Kuznetsov (and sometimes deserves it), but the only thing he struggles with as a center is face-offs.

Prior to Kuznetsov joining the Caps, the Capitals struggled for almost a decade to find a true 1-2 punch up the middle. McPhee put some patchwork pieces in there, like Mike Ribeiro, Jason Arnott, Brendan Morrison, etc. Kuznetsov and Backstrom is probably the best 1-2 punch at center that the Capitals have arguably ever had. I don't think it's a good move to trade Kuznetsov unless you're getting back a center with term that can play at or near the level of Kuznetsov's potential.

Not sure this makes much sense for either team. Considering the make up of both rosters I’d pass from both sides.

They have Backstrom and Kuznetsov both signed through 2025 and Eller through 2024. Where does that leave Connor McMichael? I can't see them leaving him in the minors for 3-4 years and this trade gets them out of 2 bad contracts in Hagelin and Jensen so i don't think it's as bad for the Capitals as you seem to.