a lot to unpack here.

(1) arizona doesn't need another LHD (OEL, chychrun, goligoski, hjalmarsson, oesterle, capobianco) and scandella's salary is $4.75 million next year. arizona is cheap and likes guys with a cap number that helps them get to the floor but they don't have to actually shell out the salary for.

(2) tampa is not going to give a legitimate prospect and take on $2+ million for a depth defenseman they don't need and no one else wants. pittsburgh gave up a 35 point player just to get rid of his salary.

(3) pittsburgh is not going to give us letang and kessel for our collection of disappointing first round picks.

(4) no one wants sobotka, especially at full salary.

(5) caggiula is younger, cheaper, and arguably slightly better version of sheary.

Caggiula doesn't have the cieling that Sheary does in my opinion so that's why I thought it might work as a "hockey trade". I was just dumping Scandella and Sobotka for picks. I'd send them packing to Russia/Europe if I could. They're the reason why I wish we could just cut guys when they can't hack it anymore like in the NFL. Pittsburgh might do drastic things up against the cap with a disappointing playoffs. I've heard they're even shopping Malkin. Disappointing first round picks plus the Sidney Crosby effect and I could see them making out like bandits in that trade. And Tampa is gonna struggle to fill out their D if their prospects aren't ready so Hunwick (or Nelson if you'd prefer) at least give them an option. Throw in a pick and it might be enough to pry one of BB, Katchouk, or Raddysh who I would take any of in that trade. Thanks for the in depth response!

That’s a really bad trade for pit. They’re trading the two best players in the deal.

On the Las Vegas trade: Wilson has one year left on his contract and the Golden Knights already have 5 guys stacked at LW (incl wunderkind Gusev but excl Haula), so they don't need him. McCabe is a LhD and Las Vegas can play Miller, Schmidt and Theodore there, so they don't need him. Asplund is a nice idea, but again, he's a LW. The only trade I see likely between the Golden Knights and the Sabres that involves Karlsson revolves around that San Jose first-round pick.

I can't say I know Pittsburgh all that well, but if the Penguins traded Letang alone for that package, it would raise my eyebrows.

Agreed. Risto has a much higher perceived value then on ice performance. In fairness he’s very overplayed. He’s a #3 or #4D And he’s treated like a #1 guy