3.25M for a 4C who gets 25 points a year when he isn't back at 4C? And a blockbuster trade selling defensemen to Buffalo, who have ten defensemen?

Zacha has three straight seasons of 24 to 25 points. If he signs at two years x 1.5M, what about a trade for Djoos and Stephenson. Neither is a big name, but they're a good enough 3LHD and 4C/L to win a Cup.

Zacha put up 25 points in 63 games and is a PK god. And Buffalo needs Quality over Quanity.

Gods don't play second unit. Stephenson got torched in first unit minutes, but might still be just as good as Zacha, if you figure in quality of competition.

Power play points score themselves sometimes, and Zacha's power play minutes are going to drop with Hughes' arrival. Last year he was on pace for 22 even strength points, which would have put him in the company of the NHL's best 233 forwards.

Djoos was on pace for 18 even strength points, which would have put him with the league's top 93 defensemen. Butcher got 16 even strength points in 78 games last year. Djoos is one year older with one more Cup. Which one is more ready to play top pair?

Of course I wouldn't think NJ would trade a recent 1st round pick, except it says here they will if he doesn't sign faster than Mueller and Butcher, who have signed (https://pucksandpitchforks.com/2019/03/25/new-jersey-devils-pavel-zachas-contract-get-messy/). So now I'm wondering whether a 4C and a top pair D are a good return for a 4C who might hold out all year. And before you ask what the Caps will do if he holds out all year, I'll tell you: they'll have enough cap space not to lose Stephenson on waivers, and they'll call it a win.