Caps-Avs-Yotes 3-Team Trade

Team: 2023-24 Washington Capitals

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 24, 2023

Published: Apr. 24, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Kuznetsov passes through Arizona, who retains an extra 1M on top of the 1M retained by Washington, so his cap hit in Colorado is 5.8M.

Avs trade: Girard (5M) and RFA rights to Newhook
Avs get: Kuznetsov (5.8M) and RFA rights to Fehervary
Avs get their 2C in Kuznetsov at a palatable cap hit. Fehervary is nothing like Girard stylistically, but he can take tough minutes on the left side while Byram steps up to replace Girard's offensive contributions. Depending on the contracts for Newhook and Fehervary, this should be roughly salary cap neutral for them.

Yotes trade: Schmaltz (5.85M) and 1M retention on Kuznetsov
Yotes get: Girard (5M) and RFA rights to Newhook
In terms of real salary, the Yotes get a 22 yo forward and a 24 yo defenseman for roughly the price of their 27 yo forward. I think everyone by now knows that Schmaltz is owed much more than he counts against the cap for the rest of his contract, so this lets them parlay that into two talented younger players who fit the schedule of their rebuild better.

Caps trade: Kuznetsov (7.8M, 1M retained) and RFA rights to Fehervary
Caps get: Schmaltz (5.85M)
Caps get a strong winger, open up a center spot for McMichael, and do everything they can to bring Orlov back to replace Fehervary. Might need to throw in a pick to the Yotes to get them to retain the whole 2M on Kuzy, cause they're really close to the cap here.

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