Holts to CGY

I think this is a very plausible trade. Washington may want a proven NHL player instead of dube so I could see Bennett taking dubes place in this trade but either scenario is plausible.

I think the Capitals would (should) be trading to CGY next summer, but trading him now doesn't make sense as there will be no starter. Samsonov or Vanecek probably won't be ready. And Mike Smith is probably a backup at this point in his career. Maybe he's a starter but can you see him being a Stanley Cup Final starter? I don't think so.

Caps already have a backlog of forwards, especially if they get Shumakov, so Dube should fit fine as their biggest weakness in their prospect pools are top 6 potential players.

CGY needs it this year. do i see smith as a starter absolutely! he was having an unreal season but the problem with him is and will always be health if we had a back up to play 50/50 with him then this trade wouldn't need to be done but we don't. wash supposedly does. agree with your comment why should the caps do it now.

I think the biggest reason that the caps should do it now is I don't see that same value going to Washington next year for holtby. I believe if this deal were to happen it would be because Calgary would be guaranteed 2 years of a reliable starter at 6.1 MIL with the hope that he resigns afterwards. if this were to happen next summer Smiths value is almost non existent because he's a UFA and holtbys value diminishes slightly because it is potentially only a one year rental with the likelihood of Holtby asking for 8-9 Mil as a UFA in 2 years. I think this would be a tough trade to sell for both teams. Calgary would have to assume they are all in to win a cup and Washinton has to be confident that Smith and their young goaltenders are good enough to provide reliable goaltending