how do you justify trading for tkachuk and including zero pieces with good value

Because he included 4 pieces with good value

Alexyev projects to be in the NHL not this coming season but the season after and will be a top 4 defenseman with a bomb of a shot and can play physical and skate well. Protas is a center who should be ready by the 2023-2024 season at the latest and projects to be a middle six scorer. He’s scored at over a point per game in the WHL and performed well in both the KHL and AHL. He’s not a nothing piece.

These trades won’t happen regardless. But I’m not giving up 0 value for Tkachuk.

Alexeyev might be our 4th best LD under 25, and at best he’s 3rd. A maybe middle six guy and a maybe 3rd pair D as the best part of the package is not a good offer for Tkachuk. They might be acceptable as the 3rd and 4th pieces. A 3C, a 4mil 3rd pair D, and a 2nd don’t turn the needle either. The only products worth anything that the Capitals have are McMichael and Lapierre, and if the Flames wanted Lapierre they coulda taken him (they traded the pick used to select him because they figured they’d still end up with their preferred guy in Zary and it worked), so Tkachuk’s gotta start with McMichael.

Thats still a garbage offer no matter how well you think your magic beans will pan out

Yeah I agree - paying way too much on the Caps end.