Quoting: HOCKEYBOY448
Yeah I’m not trading Schneider for Smith. We just got rid of Buch to make room for Kakko and Kravtsov in the top 6. I’d remove Chytil and put a 2022 1st instead for Dvorak, drop the 3rd and add Jones instead of Georgiev.
I see what you're saying, and in a perfect world I'd probably agree with your proposed moves. A couple things on my mind:
1) I'm not sure moving Buch was purely to make room in the Top-6. Yes, it does this, but I think it was also due to cap space issues for 2022-23. I'd rather be able to resign Fox and Zibanejad than lock up Buch at his asking price, especially with no guarantees that the cap will increase a significant amount after this season.
2) Personally, I'm not sold on having both Kakko and Kravtsov in the Top-6 this season. One of them, yes, but I'm not convinced we compete with them both playing those minutes (but maybe I'm wrong). I think one more year is needed before going this route, hence why a guy like Smith (one year left on his deal) would be a good stop-gap solution (plus, he is liked by coach Gallant, who may have some say).
3) Removing all of Schneider, Chytil, and Georgiev from these deals doesn't solve our cap and roster issues for next season. I think they have to be moved - there is no room in the lineup for Schneider behind Fox-Trouba-Lundkvist; although I like Chytil, he likely can't be resigned (for cap reasons) if we still acquire Dvorak; and Georgiev will be unaffordable after this season if we plan to go with Shesterkin as our #1.
Thanks for the feedback!