That mtl trade is starting to grow on me, drouin could still hit his potential, like brook and have heard good things about ylonen

overpay from MTL, CLB and FLA with an undepay from WAS

I would consider all, but probably stay away from Florida, Boston not doing that trade, and I don’t believe Anaheim would either. Colombus may not, I’m assuming Dubois being groomed to be future captain. Wash, or mtl would be awefully tempting both ways i believe

I like the MTL trade, I can't see Washington trading orlov as they have no one who could slot in on the top pair now that nisk is gone. Oshie 1st and a couple prospects I think they'd be all over, but not for orlov

Vrana, Alexeyev for laine?

Oshie 1st vrana alexeyev for laine 2nd

I think the ones above that get accepted as they stand above are MTL and maybe Fla.



That price is higher than Laine's turnover ratio. Vrana and Oshie each outscored Laine at even strength last year, and the Caps are looking to win right away. Oshie matches Laine's production, around 50 points a year, doubles his hit totals, and reverses his turnover ratio to a positive. He's also fairly calm and confident in shootouts.

Oshie for Laine would be a win for Winnipeg if they were the same age, trading Oshie's toughness, takeaways, hits, and hands for Laine's one-timer to get a real second power play unit going in Washington, at a cost of a guy who's been a big part of the top unit since he arrived. They're a decade apart, though. So throwing in the Caps' best prospect, Alexeyev, seems reasonable. Could throw in Djoos and Boyd, since the Caps will have even less cap space after bridging Laine. I'm not sure about Alexeyev, plus a first. Maybe one or the other.

Djoos and Boyd, together, can play all five skater positions, and each can give you twenty to thirty points depending how you use them. So I think Washington's offer might look more like: Oshie, Djoos, Boyd, 1st. Or else Oshie, Djoos, Boyd, Alexeyev.

Of course, now that you've got Lindholm, Brook, Orlov, and a healthy Byfuglien, above, I'm not sure there's a #4 spot available for Djoos to keep growing, in.



I agree that Niskanen/Orlov was the top pair at evens and shorthanded, the last three years. Big, tough minutes against top competition, and decent offense considering their lack of real power play time (they usually got the last faceoff, when it was in their own end, to prevent shorties). Most Caps fans would call Kempny-Carlson the top pair, in recognition of Carlson's offense, and the two playing together at evens and shorthanded, usually. To move Orlov, Washington would need to get back someone who can play 22 minutes against the best, and shut them down.

If you wanted Kempny and Oshie, for Laine, I think most Caps fans would still strenuously object, but I happen to believe Djoos or Siegenthaler could be ready for a bigger role this year, and the team could weather the loss, if they think adding Laine prevents having to go full-rebuild, post Ovechkin. Kempny is a tougher, cheaper replacement for Chiarrot, more or less.

Djoos-Carlson--risk/reward pair at evens, with two puck movers. Carlson still plays PP1 with Ovechkin, because it works.
Orlov-Jensen--shutdown and PK1 Orlov and Laine play points on PP2.
Siegenthaler-Gudas--shutdown and PK2

Fans won't like it. Carlson won't like it. But they could probably get by, if Winnipeg needs Kempny to replace Chiarrot.

Kept thinking about this. What about Oshie, Orlov and a 1st for Laine and Pionk?