that trade. not even close

you don't get to dump Okposo and take Duclair back

Detroit won’t be trading draft picks for players that won’t be in our long term future.

Two issues with this.
1) it takes more than a 2nd to get Anthony Duclair.
2) it takes WAY more than a 2nd to move Kyle Okposo's Awful Contract.

This isn't remotely close. If you want to dump Okposo AND get a valuable middle player in return, there's no way you aren't giving up the 8th overall pick to start with.

I don't know that it necessarily takes more than a second to move Okposos contract. If Ottawa is looking to get to the floor but not pay out cash the Sabres can move Okposo after his bonus is paid and then Ottawa gets 6 million AAV to get them to the floor but only pays out 3 million. I think if the Sabres retain 1.5 and add a second this would work for a few teams especially Ottawa who has an owner that is notoriously thrifty shall we say. The deal then gives Ottawa 4.5 towards the cap floor for 3 years while their owner only pays out 1.5, 2.5 and 2.5 respectively as Okposo is only owed 4 million the last 2 years. I do agree that Ottawa isn't going to give Duclair back in that package. If he costs 6 AAV IMO I think the Sabres are better off without him anyhow.

I agree I think the Okposo contract would be a good one for Ottawa to take on while still rebuilding and it expires when there window should open up. Okposo no retention and 8OA for the ottawa second?

Lol nope. Buffalo will just ride it out if it costs a first, especially 8 o/a. I think we both know that Melnyk is not going to be spending to the cap and that taking on this contract is not going to eat up cap space that they would use for another player. Paying 2.5 per year for Okposo is a fair amount for the player Ottawa is getting 30 - 35 point good 2 way bottom 6 player that is a good leader in the locker room. Ottawa certainly is helping the Sabres out here giving them 4.5 of cap that will be important for them not so much this year but the next 2 and that is worth a second to the Sabres but not more. They would expect to be getting a player worth much more than 6 AAV UFA can bring at 8 o/a.

It's a buyer's market this year for cap dumps. The number of teams capable of taking those contracts is tiny, and the number of teams that will be looking to move those deals is way larger. If a team isn't willing to make it worthwhile for a team with space, they won't be able to make that deal.

Also saying the Sens "need to hit the floor" is just not remotely true. They will be adding way more salary than will be coming off the books this year. Chabot alone has an 8mil extension kicking in, and then there are extensions for Paul, Duclair, Tierney, Brown, Borowiecki etc. They will easily clear the floor.

That's assuming they resign all of those players and don't look to move them out. I think you are being disingenuous if you won't admit the Sens will not be working on an internal cap and that resigning all of those players might push them over it causing them to need to move some rfas. I will agree there will be alot of teams looking to dump money and not alot of takers. There will probably be several teams working on internal caps well below the upper limit. The second might not be enough to entice a team to take Okposo with 1.5 retained but if not then I see the Sabres riding it out and having to forgo a UFA signing, which may not be the worst thing for them.

You couldnt offload Okposo for a 2nd, let alone asking for Duke coming back.

Holy hell is that evaluation off.