Zero chance NSH does that unless they feel they can flip Burns

CBJ protect Korpisalo
Merz is exempt

Oh snap! That's right... I forgot about that.

Expansion risk is real, but so is the cap. WSH should prioritize Ovechkin over Simek.

Huh? They would have Simek to expose.

No.

eta: they can protect three of Carlson, Orlov, Schultz, Dillon, Jensen, Kempny. But if they want to give Ovechkin the $3M raise he's rumored to want, they need to lose one of those guys. Not add a 7th. Besides, if they lose one of those six, what's wrong with Chara and Van Riemsdyk? Simek is a valuable defenseman, but not to WSH this offseason unless you can make him right handed, cheap, and waiver exempt.

2nd edit: feel free to rewrite a Simek+picks for Dillon deal, or all the Vanecek for picks/prospects deals you want. Vanecek for Simek means WSH can't sign Ovechkin without dumping Simek. Because it puts them over the cap Simek in WSH suddenly would get negative trade value and cost WSH picks to dump. It is a non-starter. Simek will never get you Vanecek, but he'll go a long way towards getting Dillon back.

I'd love to get Dillon back. I'd make that trade.