But how does this help Vegas? They need an NHL proven center more than shedding MAF...AND they're still not getting real cap relief. They have a smaller, but longer cap dump. At least MAF can be a solid backup.

This deal makes zero sense for vegas. Unless they think Middkestat can play 2C, but I doubt that

Doesn't make sense for Vegas. For them, the cap space will be more important than real money, and they do not need Okposo for three years with a cap of 5 million.

Skinner and Okposo are here to stay. The $15m+ 4th line is alive and well!

Middlestat does not longer have as much trad value as you think. At this point he’s heading towards bust territory and I don’t think trading him to Vegas would help him.

Mitts gets you a 2nd or 3rd. That is pretty much fair market value.

I’m think more 3rd, because sure he still has some upside but he’s not an amazing player.

Buffalo will not be getting Fleury

MAF is VGK best goalie right now. Why would they be trading him?
I mean ok if you are asking for Lehner maybe they would move him for something, and you work out a trade, but MAF is showing hands down right now he's the better of the two.
In 2 game MAF is at a .933 save% and 3 games Lehner is at a .899

You are really making a judgement on a player from a 2 game sample size. I am assuming you think that Allen is the best goalie in Montreal and Elliott is the best option in Philadelphia by that logic.

I'm not making a judgement on anything. Their play is making that call. Notice I said....RIGHT NOW.
Lehner just came off shoulder surgery, which is why they didn't trade MAF to begin with. They knew he's be off, and he is.
You over here trying to leave them with a guy not playing well in net. They aren't doing that.

They didn't trade MAF because they couldn't find anyone to take his contract without paying an exorbitant price. Also save percentage over a 2 game sample size is not a very good statistic to use. If you look at save percentage above expected Fleury's #'s are very average and similar to that of Lehner. Simply meaning he has not faced many quality shots against while Lehner has been tested to a much greater extent.

Is MAF to Buffalo a real rumor that's out there?

The team came out and said they weren't moving him. What are you even talking about. What you got was rumor and speculation from talking heads.
Much like Jack Roslovic is going to the penguins because blogs said so....we'll he didn't. Not even close.

This wasn't rumor and speculation from some blog
This was Dreger, Friedman and the like saying he was available and that they qould include a second for him. They couldn't find a taker so they were forced to move Schmidt for a pittance. Believe me they would much rather have Schmidt right now as opposed to Fleury.

Lehner is 0.885 with 4 games and MAF is .951....... yeah, they aren't moving MAF nor would they much rather have Schmidt. The team came out and said rumors were not true. Lehner coming off surgery, wanting to have stability in net. Lehner is the goalie full time and this team is in trouble because he don't look right.
So yeah, some blog looking for clicks. Because who's word you taking the teams or a blog.

In sports I would never take the word of a team ever. Teams in every sport constantly say they have no interest in moving a player then trade him shortly there after. Or they give a vote of confidence to a coach or gm and then fire them weeks later. A team tells you what they want you to hear. No team is going to say yes we were trying to move this player but noone else wanted him

really.....funny, these same blog writers every year "The penguins are going to trade Malkin......." The team every year "We aren't trading Malkin"....... Malkin "these writers are crazy".......
Think I'll believe the team.

I have never heard Dreger or Friedman say the Penguins would trade Malkin. I have heard them say the Pens would listen to offers as most teams will on just about every player

I can count on 1 hand the number of offers they "listened" to on Malkin....let's see there is 0.....and 0.....on and look at that 0.....

I am sure they listened on several. They probably did not seriously consider any. If the GM isn't listening he isn't doing his job. It lets him know what players on other teams are available that he may not have known were available.