Whats Kuzy Worth

Yotes don't need Kuzy

AZU needs a 1/2C badly, but that doesn't answer the question.

What is Kuzy worth, regardless of the trading partner? What would Caps need back? Is Kuzy worth his contract, on the currently constructed team?

Coming from a Caps fan, Kuzy's worth is so difficult. He has 133 points over the last 2 seasons (160 games), which is quite impressive. He has also greatly improved his defensive and faceoff skills (even played well on the PK last season). But it is known that he wants out of WSH and has had "effort" issues in the past (largely due to Lavy and his coaching system).

I think he is "overpaid", especially for the flat cap that the NHL is right now. But ~25% retained (making his contract 5.85m) is very solid value. At 50%, I'd argue at 3.9m, he'd have one of the best values at center in the NHL. Would the Caps retain? They have been known to never (rarely I guess) retain on salaries. Another problem - Kuzy would only be traded to a contender (I'd assume), and most contenders are short on cap space right about now...

Anyways - as is, I still consider him a 2c and would return probably a 2nd and prospect. At 25% retained, probably a 1st return, I'd say. At 50% retained, I'd say 1st and prospect. Caps need a top 6 winger so that is what would be preferred. But could receive picks/prospects to use to get such top 6 winger...

Maybe more, maybe less - but that is just coming from a Caps fan that probably has bias but trying not to...

I've seen Kuzy to CBJ trades so often that I'll chime in with a player comp:

Player 1:
Center, 2025 UFA, 31 years old
$8M AAV Cap hit, owed $8M actual money per season
2022-23: 55 GP, 12-16-28 (0.51 ppg), -13 +/-
Career: 842 GP, 189-366-555 (0.66 ppg), -5 +/-

Player 2:
Center, 2025 UFA, 31 years old
$7.8M AAV Cap hit, owed $8M actual money per season (although $2M in signing bonuses per season, so $6M remaining this season)
10-Team NTC
2022-23: 81 GP, 12-43-55 (0.68 ppg), -26 +/-
Career: 680 GP, 165-386-551 (0.81 ppg), +49 +/-

Clearly based on stats, I'd take Player 2 over Player 1, but they're not so different that Player 2 would fetch a significantly larger return in a trade. Factor in the M-NTC and money owed compared to AAV (although with signing bonuses already paid it's averaging out to $7M owed per season if traded to a new team now), and it might be harder to trade Player 2.

Player 2 is obviously Kuzy, Player 1 is Ryan Johansen, who was given away half retained a little over a month ago. So to answer the question: Kuzy has more trade value than Johansen, but based on the market, that's still very little compared to Johansen's "nothing".

The Caps are probably better off keeping him at least this season and hope for a bounceback, since the cap will be less an issue next year, and as a UFA he'd have more value next offseason or at the TDL. I think if you move him, you'd be looking at either 1) a B-tier prospect or mid-round pick in exchange for Kuzy half-retained, or 2) taking back a bad contract and a roster player for Kuzy, no retention.

He’s probably a negative asset without significant retention.