Lol Arizona paying for JVR

I'd say getting a 20 goal scorer for only an additional $1.5 million in cap is a pretty valuable asset to acquire. They're getting a $7 million cap hit, which is actually only $5 million in salary in JVR. He's also still a 20 goal scorer and productive Power Play player in the right system. They're shipping out Ladd who is at best a 4th liner or more likely an AHL player at his $5.5 million Cap Hit that pays him $ 4 million. If this trade happens before July 1st Arizona can save $2 million in signing bonus money as well. The Flyers have the cap space to scratch JVR if necessary but the best result is a trade for the player and Arizona actually makes sense. This is a cap trade and hockey trade rolled into one. Arizona saves money, gets a higher cap hit, and gets a player they can use and likely dangle for an asset at the trade deadline or earlier if they so choose.

Ladd's issue is he's an aging, injury prone broken down player with a large contract.

JVR's issue is he's not a major producer for a team but has a salary that says he should be. If you need him to score 20, he will. If you need him to score 30, he'll score 20. If you have a good lineup and only count on him for 15 to 20, he could score 30. He's a healthy player and far from a trash player. If his cap hit was $2 to $3 million most teams would gladly be interested in him. The frustration with him is that he seems like he could be so much better than he is. But at this stage he is what he is. He seems content with that and he'll get a next contact that resembles more of how teams value his actual performance rather than his potential.

Arizona wants picks they don’t want to give it away like a yard sale

Thanks for that analysis Dan.