I think the caps would pass on that Strome deal

Potentially, yeah. What are your thoughts on Vesey or Fast instead?

Those are more likely than Strome I think. I’d do a Vesey-Burakovsky swap.

How far apart is Burakovsky and Bowey for Fast and Pionk?

Pretty solid value honestly on all trades, I think Nylander is the toughest value to judge, theyll probably wait to trade him to get his value back up

Honestly I don't know enough about Bowey to make that judgement. I'm sure it could be balanced with a pick or something

Nylander is hard to get a grip on. Dubas said he had no intention of moving him, but he seems like the most obvious option for them if they want to stay cap compliant. There's no good standard for his value either, because his past production and his current production vary so much

I'm sure there's some leafs fans on here that will gladly jettison Nylander for that return. For me the value isn't close.

Pionk's 'breakout year' looks more like just a hot start that has since fizzled out...he just doesn't have the track record to instill confidence of what you can reasonably expect from him. And namestnikov...to be honest I think his style of play would endear him to a lot of leaf fans...that mix of effort and sandpaper is the opposite of what Nylander displays...but the difference in production (assuming Nylander returns to at least previous production levels) is too far apart to make this deal attractive to me.

Thanks. Bowey was a 2nd round pick, had back to back 60 pt seasons in junior, got a cup of coffee with Team Canada. It's his 2nd year in the NHL. He's starting to play a little pk, silightly less sheltered zone starts, but on a team with Carlson and Niskanen, the minutes available for a 24 year old are still pretty low.

My thinking is that Burakovsky and Pionk are younger with more points and more NHL minutes played than Fast and Bowey, so hopefully it evens out, but I think just in terms of expectations and playing styles it could be win win. The Caps get some guys who are used to playing bottom six and bottom four roles and focusing on defense, who can still move pucks pretty well, while the Rangers get a recent 1st and 2nd round pick expected to develop into stars, but currently stuck in a bottom six and bottom four roles.

My only concern would be the Caps' chances of bridging both Pionk and Vrana this summer, but with Jaskin coming off the books, it's probably doable.

Do you think maybe a 3rd and Nate Walker gets NYR more excited?

Uhhh, no thanks. Not sure how any NYR fan, that actually watches all the games, would trade Fast!?! Mind boggling! He's pure gold. Vesey is only getting bigger and better. We've suffered enough with our own underachievers, we need to avoid PuljPulj and Bura. Same with Dougie cancer-ton, especially for our best trade chip.

Fast is almost captain material. No way we trade him to division or rival team, infact at all. Fast>Bura and Pionk>Bowey

Interesting. How do you tell?

I get that Fast is a fan favorite, but he only has a year and a half on his deal. He isn't captain material, because no one makes a bottom six guy their captain. Burakovsky is 4 years younger and has put up a consistent 35 point pace his entire career. The most points Fast has gotten in a season is 33. Paired with Burakovsky's excellent underlying numbers, it'd be a no brainier.

Vesey has struggled as of late and also only has a year and a half left on his deal. Long term Burakovsky will have a greater impact than him.

Say what you want about Dougie Hamilton, but he's one of the top defensemen in the league and that's what the Rangers need.

The guy is a nut case. I'd have Fast and Bura roughly even, and from what I've read in the past little bit, Pionk a step or so above Bowey.

fast is a little bit above burakovsky for what he brings. He's much better defensively and about the same offensively (at this point in time). Yes fast is a 30 point player, but he doesn't care where he plays in the lineup and always gives his all. It'd be a negative affect to trade him for someone that doesn't always do that. And Pionk is a step above bowey. I would say this would be a fair swap:
Pionk+Fast for Burakovsky+Bowey+2nd (maybe two thirds, but rangers are really high on both players so i don't see them giving them for less)

That's probably right around where I would put them