Quoting: wagsnags
Eli then tell me what it would take to secure Orpik and Wilson in addition to Baptiste and Girgensons. I think you are selling Baptiste short but that is just my opinion.
They are going to have to make a deal somewhere.
Hershey is a pretty important AHL franchise. They've won, like, eleven Calder Cups. Washington fares as they do. I mean absolutely no disrespet to Baptiste by saying Hershey would love to have him, and that isn't to doubt he'll eventually get to the NHL. Hershey just really needs guys who are waiver exempt and can score more goals than Chris Bourque.
If any of the ridiculous scenarios I've been posting for Washington come remotely close to true (full rebuild with no one over 30 left skating? Carlson for Tavares signs and trades? Trade both goalies away, keep Carlson and Beagle, and add more UFAs?) any of these at all, then, yeah, you can totally have an NHL player for taking Orpik. But... can it be Brett Connolly? Orpik and Wilson together equals five hits per game in the regular season, or seven in the playoffs. Wilson also had 35 points this year, kills penalties, deters opposing enforcers, and has decent chemistry with Ovechkin.
Connolly just scores goals, skates quickly through traffic, doesn't hit, doesn't fight, doesn't really kill penalties. Totally get him for taking Orpik, and get picks, too. Wilson, even dumping salary, costs a first or a top prospect who hasn't gone bust yet.