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Too much for wilson. I also don’t like pool party buried in the third line

Eller got three more points than Nelson this year, and a 3% higher corsi, with similar zone starts, only a tiny bit more icetime. Nelson had onemore goal this year, but his goal totals have declined the last two years. Eller's just went up by 50%. If he keeps building on that, while Nelson keeps declining, the Caps are much better off with Eller than Nelson.

That Edmonton trade looks fine, value wise, but trading Holtby should be a last resort way to keep Carlson, not just a way to panic andreplace him. Also this team has only one right handed defenseman. Since Ovechkin seems to prefer to play the left point on the power play, with a right shot at the right point settting him up for one timers, they could use a backup right D, in case Niskanen doesn't play all of the power plays. Klef, Carlson, Niskanen, and Orlov would be a fantastic top four on defense. Trading Holtby to slow the bleeding as Carlson leaves is just kind of sad. Vrana for Puljujarvi? Meh. Again, you've traded for a guy two years younger who scores slightly fewer goals and might have a higher ceiling or might not.

Good effort. Nothing wrong with getting slightly younger peripheral players, but if the Caps feel their chief strength is that their coaches build a consistent defensive team game, then that might not be enough marginal value to justify all the turnover.

Solid, I agree with what you’re saying, didn’t see much of that. Thanks for the comments!