do you even watch hockey?

I think if this team is considering trading Burakovsky, rather than looking to offer him a cheap eight year extension under which he and Djoos are likely among the last guys still on the team from this cup, then they need to let him really play for a year, and swing for the fences, and score the same numbers as Panarin's been getting. Left wing spot on the top power play and the second line. Build some chemistry on ice with Backstrom. Not make him fight for every minute of ice time at evens and healthy scratch him every time he misses a check, but see what he's capable of and showcase that.


Let Kuznetsov and Eller run a second power play unit together, and get Burakovsky his thirty goal year if you want to trade him, like you see teams doing with Saad, and E. Kane, and really get a good return. Or just keep him, and be confident that he is as good as Panarin, and won't cost as much, because he hasn't been "the guy" that gets all those opportunties, yet.

Like, you know on ESPN where they divide total points by total minutes played? But they don't limit it to even strength? Panarin scored an insane point every 22 minutes he was on the ice in the playoffs, except that 4/7 came on the power play. Burakovsky, finally on the kind of line he can shine on, with Backstrom and Oshie, got a point every 23 minutes he was on the ice in the playoffs, and none of them were on the power play. He's also three years younger.

Does Burakovsky have the stamina to play Panarin's minutes? It's hard to tell with Trotz publicly criticizing his defense and making him a regular healthy scratch. But in the playoff opportunities he got, he's already as good at even strength as Panarin is on a power play. So, I'm going out on a limb here and thinking the Capitals probably don't need to make this trade, given what kinds of ice time and cap space they have available.

By contrast, among Caps youngsters who got some top six time in the playoffs, Vrana got a point every 34 minutes (with one of eight on the power play), Stephenson got a point every 51 minutes (including a short handed assist... hey! Awesome! Didn't expect anything from him and super happy he really over-delivered), and Tom WIlson stepped up almost as much as Burakovsky, putting up a point every 24 minutes. The difference is that WIlson played all the games and has trade value, while Burakovsky sat out half, and doesn't.

Probably the smart move would be to keep all four of those guys, try to repeat, and then listen to blockbuster offers on Ovechkin and Backstrom next summer..... laugh, and let all of the above retire as Capitals.

Why do you waste your time asking such a dumb question?