Why would you ever trade Vrana?

Because I think Danault is a better fit for the Caps if they want to play better team defense, and his next contract could very well be cheaper than Vrana's since defensive play is still undervalued in contract negotiations. Don't get me wrong, I love Vrana, but you've got to give value to get value.

Palat is too good next to Point, I can't see Tampa moving him. That top line is money. Gourde, Killorn, Coburn, and even McDonagh would go before him. I'd even say Stamkos too.

That is a terrible trade for Tampa cernak or palat could get that alone

In a vacuum I’d agree with you, but considering Tampa’s cap crunch and how many of their players have full NTC/NMCs? My thinking was the Caps might be the only contender with the cap room to take on Palat, so they might be the only team he’d waive for. As for Cernak, if the Bolts turn down this deal and haven’t had any luck convincing guys to waive, the Caps could just wait a bit send Cernak a 5 year, 20M offer sheet for which the compensation would be just that 2021 2nd. He’s the key add here anyway.

The caps don’t have the cap space to sign cernak they are currently frantically trying to clear space to resign Dillon per Lebrun and freedman

That’s being overblown, and you’re editorializing by adding “frantically.” The Caps have 8.9M in cap room as is with 11F, 4D, and 2G on the roster. Call up Sprong, Pinho, Fehervary, and Vanecek, send down Copley, and sign Siegenthaler for the expected 1.25M, and they’ve got about 5.5M in cap room with only Dillon to sign. There’s no way in hell Dillon’s so expensive they can’t afford him.

What I think is actually going on is the Caps are trying to move Kempny, because Dillon’s gonna take his job at 1LD, Orlov’s cemented at 2LD, and at 3LD he blocks either Siegs or Fehervary. If they sign Dillon for 3.5M as rumored and trade Kempny for a pick, they’ve got 13F, 6D, and 2G signed with 4.5M in cap room (more if they do my proposed Vrana for Danault trade, but that’s obviously a long shot), so they’re set up perfectly to OS Cernak.

How about a Domi vs Vrana trade?

Domi wants to be a center, so have him on a 2nd or 3rd line for spreaded offensive power. Panik & Hagelin would have to step up at LW. If not, push Domi at LW. It gives you flexibility.

Domi could be given around 6m per year. WSG might not be able to resign Dillon (they're trying to right now...). Could not work cap wise

edit : following Kalopsia comments, the +2.5m of Domi compared to Vrana could work

No thanks. The point of trading Vrana for Danault is to improve team defense. Trading him for Domi doesn’t do that, and the extra 2.5M would block the Caps from adding Cernak or any other significant player.