Carolina trading the #2 overall pick for a player who clearly wants out and is way overpaid is not "maintaining realism".

I meant realism as in only two deals in the offseason instead of 8 or 9. If you don’t like car getting their #1 c and likely top 40 prospect in 2019, that’s fine.

Thanks for a response.

Actually I think you are on the right track with the Carolina deal. What I might consider is the following potential changes to the Carolina deal:

1. Do not make the Vancouver trade instead include Mccabe in the ROR deal. Hutton is a decent addition but not really necessary;

2. Include a Hudson Fasching or Bailey in the deal to Carolina. I get it not real exciting but still a young piece that can play minutes and be useful in the lineup or in the AHL;

3. Send the rights to Robin Lehner. Carolina will need a goaltender as my guess is the Ward moves on and Darling was well not very good last year;

So I would offer ROR, McCabe, rights to Fasching & rights to Lehner for that 2nd pick in the 2018 draft.

That’s generous.

What do you feel about the Hutton trade isolating it? Did you feel a 4th was sufficient payment?

Good question.....

How I see it is:

1. McCabe fits the type of game that Housley wants to play. Therefore I would opt to keep him over Hutton but I think the Carolina deal really makes a lot of sense for the organization. That is why I would put Mccabe in the deal with Carolina;

2. We have a decent number of young D prospects such as Guhle, Borgen, Stephens & Martin therefore the need to get Hutton is reduced;

3. I realize that the Carolina deal that I proposed is generous but you did not do anything with Lehner's rights, Fasching's game does not really gel with the Sabres organizational progression & McCabe addition gets me that 2nd overall pick;

4. The 4th Round pick adds value as Vancouver will probably be bottom 10 next year. Does one year of Hutton make sense as his contract is up at the end of 18/19 though he is an RFA;

Both players could get better with a change of scenery. Hutton is better than Beaulieu i’ve Heard so if Guhle isn’t ready he’s a solid option to bounce back and take that 3rd lhd slot.