I'd rather have Panik at that cap hit than Wennberg, and not have to give up a prospect and a pick.

Samesies

I’d rather keep Wennberg who is playing much better this season. Guess neither team wants to make this trade.

One for one, even cap? Done. Okay. Why not take a chance? Two 2nds to get a guy who had 10 fewer points last year and 100 fewer hits? Not as tempting.

Panik is better on defense and penalty killing and is tougher. Wennberg is above 50% on faceoffs so far this year, for the first time in his career, so that's nice, and he's a little younger. It's a one for one, in terms of on-ice value.

Really the question is whether Reirden wants Wennberg to be a checking wing, which he isn't, or a spare playmaking center, who can kind of take a shift on the PK or the third line, but is still learning about all that.

If the fit is right and both teams want to move on, then the Caps shouldn't have to add two 2nd round picks. With an offer like that, they could get Eric Staal. Add Johansen and you're talking Pageau. Wennberg is an intriguing gamble, in terms of his upside being so much more than he's achieving right now, but at that price he is all risk and no reward.


Edit: Caps could maybe offer Panik and a 2nd for Anderson, while Anderson has twice as many points (2) as Panik (1).

As far as a 2nd and a recent 2nd who is a lock to make the NHL, plus a great checking wing, that seems a little high for Wennberg while he's metamorphosing into a checking center. He might have some growing pains there.

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On second thought.... now that I've seen how the Caps played against the Rangers when Backstrom and Dowd missed a night, the Caps might want to look into a depth center. Does Columbus need anything?