But...why? In what world is Ovechkin, Kuznetsov, and Samsonov an equal trade for Draisaitl, Klefbom, and Caggiula? And how does that make any sense anyways?

In a world where Ovechkin is 30, Kuznetsov is almost thirty, Drasatl is almost 23, and Kelfbom is 24? I just posted the same trade on the Oilers side, and Oilers fans told me the Caps would never accept. I think the above roster, with three guys who could score thirty goals, and just as much center depth, and more defensive depth, is better than the team that just won the Cup in every spot except for the left point of the power play. That's an unfillable vacancy, but it's coming anyway, in three years, by which time I think the above team has another Cup (and a loss in the finals to Edmonton). You gotta give up good players to make good trades.

Also, yes, Samsonov could be an all-world goalie. But so could Copley and Vanecek, and the Caps have already invested a few years in coaching them and teaching them how to read deflections like Holtby or Grubauer, so why not sell high on the top prospect and keep the above average guys who have been progressing slowly on the farm, and learning how to cover the whole net, blind?

Those trades are terrible. Talk about burning down the house after the party.

Draisatl has 75 goals and 207 points in three and a half years. https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/d/draisle01.html

Kuznetsov has 80 goals and 265 points in 4 and a half years. But Drai started the NHL right out of junior and is three and a half years younger. https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/k/kuzneev01.html

Collectively, the team above scored about 10 more goals than the Caps last year. Nash keeps that from being a negative ten, but since the guys on the ice are a bunch younger, if the goal weren't about marketing a team, but about keeping it competitive for longer, making the playoffs more, and winning more games they'd make these moves to score more goals, have the puck more, and wear teams down by outskating them rather than outhititng them. IRL, they won't. And that's fine.

EDM would have to throw in sooooooo much more. You're giving them two top line elite players and a future elite goalie for a one elite top line player, a top 3 defender, and a bottom 6 player. Replace Caggiula with Poolparty then maybe a deal can happen, but EDM would still have to add. But even then, we don't need Klefbom, we are stacked with LHD.

Definitely don't need, but with no word yet on whether Ovechkin wants to play beyond his current contract, I could imagine looking back on this trade in four years as the biggest win in hockey history. Not passing on Pool Party if they throw him in, but I'm not giving up Dracula who already got 20 points in the NHL as a rookie to get an apparent bust with better draft position. The Edmonton fans who post on here about how untouchable Pool Party is are the same ones who value Ethan Bear as if he's an actual bear.

Edited: Okay, fine. Puljujarvi is better.

Dracula had 13 goals and 140 hits in his second year at 23: https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/c/caggidr01.html Possession numbers are weak, but he was playing with Lucic and other disappointments. There's potential.. he's more NHL ready than O'Brien and brings a little bit of sandpaper and as much offense as Wilson.

Puljujarvi got 12 goals in his second year at 19. https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/p/puljuje01.html

But only ten of Pool Party's goals were at evens, so he's not replacing Wilson's offense, single-handedly yet, and only brings a fourth of WIlson's hits, compared to Dracula, with half. Probably a higher ceiling on Pool Party, but I'm not positive the Caps have a spot in which to develop him.

With Dracula, Nash, Franson, and Emilin, they have as much collective snarl as they give up in Ovechkin, Wilson, and Orpik. The whole team has as much offense. It's younger. It's not facing the potential retirement of a fifty goal scorer in three years. So you give up a great deal on a rental. If he re-signs in Edmonton, at least Edmonton is really far away.

Edited again: So how about if they throw in a 1st?

You need to read up more on the buy-low sell-high concept. Take a break from CapFriendly, Eli. Your spam is intolerable in the offseason.