Quoting: seb
Okay, I did not know the asking price. Ignore this trade.
If Buffalo is after playoff experience, I think the Capitals would probably give Orpik, plus the official asking price of a 1st, a decent prospect, and a conditional middle pick. Of course, then Buffalo has to pay Orpik five million dollars next year, for his playoff experience, but he did win a Stanley Cup in Pittsburgh, and Washington has won at least one playoff round in each of the years he's been in town--the first such streak in Capitals history. The down side is that Orpik has injured four opponents in those three playoff experiences, and even been suspended for a couple playoff games for a dirty hit against the Caps' archrival, Pittsburgh. I said they'd probably throw him in, to get cap space to fit Kane's contract.... They might prefer not to.
Of course, if the Caps trade for Evander Kane, they're even less likely to be able to re-sign John Carlson, so, with a good right handed defenseman coming back, and some retained salary, they just might part with John Carlson, whom the Sabres could either flip for a first and a prospect, or sign for about 8x8=64.
Three stars for explaining more of what might get Buffalo interested in one of the most talked about players on this board. The other guy the Caps might part with is Andre Burakovsky, a late first round pick they made a couple years ago, who has put up eighteen goals in a season, but is currently a healthy scratch as Trotz tries to teach him more about defense and discipline, no doubt. He has 10 points in 36 playoff games, is 22 years old, and might have more goals left in him than Evander Kane, if he finds a place that will let him play. Obviously, he's unproven, so the Caps would throw in a prospect or two...