Dallas has a large amount of cap space next offseason, even with Benn still on the roster. No need for them to shed his cap at this point & no need for them to take on someone like Zucker who has declined year-to-year over the last 4 years. Kapenen isn't a bad piece to center a deal around, but Zucker is an unneeded piece & Benn isn't going anywhere.

DET says yes, but that DAL trade is absurd.

Both Benn and Zucker have been on the decline. That's what happens when you get older. Benn at $9.5M vs. Zucker at $5.5M? Zucker is producing slightly less 5v5 than Benn and is still a useful player with solid two-way game. Yes, DAL is going to have a lot of free space with Radulov and Pavelski coming off, but you can free up another $4M to build your team out. Benn will be 34 by this time, so the decline will hit harder. You'd be freeing up just over $17M as compared to $13M to build around a team that has some nice young players hitting their prime.

I'm not trying to be antagonistic, but that just seems foolish to me. Plus, you'd be rid of Zucker after one season which frees up another $5.5M or even be able to trade him at the deadline for other needs or futures. DAL spends to the cap regardless, so why not free up that money to build a much better team?

Taking three more years of $9.5M off the books from a declining aging player is absurd? Ok.

Aside from 2019-2020, Benn has been a minimum of a mid-50's point player per season. Last year, he was on pace for a 55-point year in a normal season. Is he declining? Sure, but he's not dropping off a cliff the way that Zucker has. He really hasn't shown any reason why he still can't remain a .5 PPG player (or better) for the duration of his contract. Is that worth $9.5M? No, but it's still solid production that Dallas can continue to utilize on their roster.

Saving an addtional $4M over the next couple years isn't worth losing quality middle-6 production. Even the final couple years of Benn's contract, he should still be able to produce enough to warrant a roster spot in a depth role.

Just not enough incentive for Dallas to replace Benn with Zucker here. Take both of those players out & format a deal around Kapanen and you may have something there, but Dallas declines this deal as it stands currently.

Benn is putting up around 10 more points per season than Zucker. I don't see how that warrants a $4M difference in salary when we're talking about mid 40's points vs. mid 50's. Plus, I think people overlook the fact that Zucker has a very solid two-way game. But I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this.

I think Dallas accepts though, so I'm going to keep it.

Take away Barton and it could be done.

PIT
Zaitsev, Nikita
2023 1st round pick (OTT)
2022 3rd round pick (VAN)
OTT
Marino, John
Additional Details:
Sens get Zaitsev off the book and Marino can round out the top-four with Brannstrom. OTT will no longer be rebuilding by this time, so the picks help rid them of a bad contract.

This is just silly, easy no

You're silly.

Silly for not falling for the Toronto Maple Leaf anti Zaitsev hype train? Marino doesn't even make this teams top4 in two/three years.

Marino is a legit 2nd pairing RD. Zaitsev is garbage. Pens are taking a bad player on a bad contract while giving you an upgrade for a 1st and 3rd. If you're the GM and say no, you get fired.

He's their captain, they are trying to win now, they can afford him and aside from this year, where is he declining? Absurd trade, yes.

Barton is worthless; that's a good deal for DET

Where is he declining? If you can't see that then obviously you're not seeing the reality of the situation and there's no discussion to be had with you.

There's a reason Zaitsev plays first pair minutes and not the very good Zub.

And Marino's?

From natural stat trick. Marino is the superior player and it's not even close.

Sorry, I don't know how to post images on here.

I would rather give Barton a chance to develop and just sign a free agent defenseman that is equivalent or better for probably a better deal personally.

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Sorry, I'm not good with this stuff. But here you go. Marino is by far superior to Zaitsev. The highlighted line for CF wasn't the only focal point. It just landed that way.

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You contend that, "Zaitsev is garbage", I disagree, which is my way of being polite.

As for Marino, in the summer of 2022, he would have to contend with Chabot, Sanderson, Brannstrom, and Zub for a spot in the top4, not to mention JBD, Thomson, Del Zotto, and Mete for a roster spot.

Regardless, Zaitsev is probably getting traded at this seasons TDL, and won't be on the team next summer. He has a signing bonus due, and the Sens are preparing to avoid paying it. Melnyk is cheap, but that doesn't affect Zaitsev's value as a player.

Chabot and Sanderson are lefty's. They have nothing to do with Marino.

I clearly stated above that Marino would round out the top four with Brannstrom. Zub is 3rd pairing dman. He doesn't apply. Marino is far better than him.

The Sens accept.

You literally ignored what I said about the CF% being highlighted being an accident.

Look at all the other key stats. Marino is far superior.

I mean you're more than welcome to believe Dallas would accept it, but I'm telling you right now that they would decline the trade as you have it laid out.

You spoke to them?