Love the backend and it's a great movement towards contending. I think I'd prefer they used some of that cap space to sign two solid top 6 forwards and let some of those junior players start with important roles in Belleville. Along with all those draft picks you accumulated the team would be very deadly by 2021 (maybe sooner).

I have questions

1) Why not keep Hoffman? He is a 28 y/o 60 pts player, he has great chemistry with Duchene and has a very reasonable salary ($5,650,000 the next 2 years). Sobotka is not needed, Jets 1st is going to be very late and while Kyrou is a very good prospect, it remains to be seen if he can become as good as Hoffman but I admit this trade is tempting.

2) Which pick did you use to draft Boqvist? If the Sens have the 1st OA, obviously they will draft Dahlin but who do you think they would draft 2nd or 3rd? Or even 4th?

3) I think that trading a 1st for the rights to John Carlson is expensive... What if he doesn't sign? I think it's extremely unlikely a big UFA sign in Ottawa. I don't think it ever happened, only guys in the later part of their careers (Kovalev, Gonchar)

4) Ok, trade Ceci if you want but why Dzingel? And why Pageau? Why trade two our fastest forwards who aren't really expensive anyway?

- Karlsson and Smith trades seem fair I think.

- Concerning Gaborik, I think that's what may happen actually. You know those strange disparitions where the player end up on the LTIR suddenly and you never see him back. I wouldn't be surprised if that happens frankly. If it does happen, so basically it would have been trading 3 years of Phaneuf at 75% for a 7th round pick. Will never be a good trade

I am nearly 100% sure we get 5th overall. If you can draft Dahlin you do it. 5th overall gets us Bodqvist but I'm concerned Buff will draft him.

I like Hoff but he's likely to be traded this summer. Kyrou is a fast promising kid, we clear 5 mil for Duch/Stone, and I hate watching the same pass to Hoff hope he 1 times it PP.

Pageau is easily replaced internally, Dzingel I had to trade because the team I built had too many RW players plus I have to entice Edmonton - we are getting a good 1st for him.

I think its far more likely we get Fabbri instead of Kyrou but I want Kyrou. The kids in the lineup likely wont start there - they will earn it mid season (ie Bodqvist, Brown) could also see Jaros coming up next year.