this is probably close to fair, but I don't want to give up Alex Formenton for basically anything. I think that he has the potential to be something really special.

Yeah this. Also, we really need to stop trading our 1st's and 2nd's

Also very much this

also ott won't have a 1st rounder in 2019 because it goes to colorado as part of the duchene deal since this years is lottery protected

Read description please.

What's the benefit to Ottawa to trade two picks for one year of Zuccarello? I know Ryan is a cap dump, but Ottawa isn't the team that would trade for Zucc,

As for the other comments, if I were Ottawa I would not be doing this trade. However, when shopping EK they did ask interested teams to take on Bobby Ryan, so that must still be a priority for Melnyk and Dorion. Of course, I am banking on the fact that they are the worst FO in the NHL.

As for not wanting to trade Formenton, we could probably get a third team in the mix interested in Zuccarello so that OTT flip Zucc for assets, and then send this assets to NYR (and Ottawa keep Formenton). It is a big price to pay, but if OTT want to get rid of Ryan, they will have to pay.

I wrote that last reply a minute ago and hadn't seen yours. This might be the first piece of a three-way trade, or maybe Melnyk wants to try and contend (Zucc has an inexpensive contract) so he trades for him now and if it doesn't work out flips him at the deadline.

However, I don't think Ottawa is trading two picks for Zuccarello per se... They're trading them to get rid of Bobby Ryan – and then get Zuccarello. That is not cheap.

OTT in no way needs Zucc they are not a contender or trying to be, they are bad and their owner keeps it that way because hes cheap, he needs a team that can compete and paying Ryan is fine for now, also Zucc is great but will not get a 1st and a 2nd plus a player no way shape or form. Ryan to us is fine but why sign Rick Nash especially for 4 years, he is better of on a contender and not taking up space for the youth, makes no sense for development or his career. Trading Vesey wont happen as hes too young and no idea what is level will be after next season they will either jkeep him at a bottom 6 or trade him for picks. Also, Spooner makes mid 4 mil same as Hayes, Namestinov makes probbaly closer to 5 because he is going to be the 2nd line ceneter and is better defensively and offensively, Vesey gets no where near 2 million probably 1.25 or 1.5 for 2 years max. Skeji has not deserved 8 year contracts and no GM should ever give these out unless it doesnt have a non trade clause or NMC, also skeji hasnt played well enough to warrant 6 million, I give Skeji 4 years at 5.25 and see what happens, worse case scenario he doesnt pan out to be top 2 and we get a top 4 and have 4 years to build up without being stuck afterwards.