I'm not knowledgeable enough on the value of Ottawa or Minnesota's assets to feel entirely comfortable giving a verdict, but I'll just say that with Minnesota's cap issues taking Zaitsev's contract (retained or otherwise) isn't a good idea.

I do think Ottawa wins this one though, and pretty easily at that.

Minny says no. Simply not enough value going the other way.

You haven't hardly gave anything up if your Ottawa.

Zaitsev is a third pairing guy with a decent cap hit which Minnesota doesn't need.
Brown is on an expiring contract to a team with no cap space, plus trading away a centerman Jost
Swap first round picks is close to a wash
And a goalie prospect with limited nhl production to a team that has Wallstedt

It’s funny because I see it the exact opposite.

Ottawa’s giving up a top 5 pick unprotected. Arguably their best goalie prospect (definitely their closest to the NHL). Brown, who’s been scoring at a 60 point pace all season and is only signed for 3.6m next year, realistically worth a 1st all by himself. And then Zaitsev is serviceable but Ottawa is stuck retaining 2m for the next 2 years.

Don’t really care for Jost but we can say him and Zaitsev are a wash and if Brown and the Minny 1st cancel out, Ottawa isn’t trading their 1st for Fiala 1 for 1 but they’re still adding Gus on top of that somehow.

That’s a pass.

1. The main value is in the first round pick that will be TOP 5 vs 16-24 range.

2. Brown is one of the most underrated players in the league. Complete game. Plays in all situation. 20 min/game. Has a RH shot (which Minny lacks) . Has a super reasonable contract. He is worth a late 1st as a rental. Also in a year, Dumba, Kulikov and Talbot are off the hook. Possibility to extand him long term to a more reasonable cap hit than Fiala's.

3. Gus allows minny to ease Wallstedt along in the AHL next year and step in the following year when Talbot is off the hook.

4. The addition of Zaitsev on the right side makes Dumba expandable. He'll be able to eat enough tough minutes to ease Addison into the lineup.

How is swap 1st round pick a wash? Ottawa’s pick is at 4 right now and Minny in the 20s

Respecrfully, Dumba is a top 2-3d, better than Zaitsev. Minnesota also has 8 d under contract, so they simply aren't taking on the cap dump of Zaitsev.

Marc Andre Fleury is coming back next year. Very likely will keep Talbot or sign a cheaper backup

Fiala was always going to cost a 1st round pick. Tyson Jost was trades for with the intention to keep him beyond this year

2. Retaining 2M on Zaitsez is a better outcome than a buyout.

Here is the logic for Ottawa.

1. Fiala is a better complement for Stutzle's game than Brown and he is younger. Hence, normally, an extra asset.

2. Retaining 2M on Zaitsev is a better outcome than a Buyout.

3. They don't have much Leverage with Gus because they have 3 goalies on a 1-way next year. Murray will be tough to move. Gus will be able to be had at a reasonable price this summer. Defintely not worth more than a 2nd round pick at best. (think of nedelkovic)

4. Jost is a weird player, but I love his TK vs GW ratio. Some would say it means he doesn't have the puck often.. but still would rather have him than Zaitsev.

I am not arguing that Zaitsev is as good as Dumba. Zaitsev is a bottom pairing guy. At 4.5M he has one of the worst contract in the league, but at 2.5M its OK.

What I mean is that Addison is not suited to be a bottom pairing guy with a lot of D-Zone starts. Zaitsev can easily step into that role. Addison will replace Dumba in 2 years as the 3 guy.

Don't kid yourself, Fleury is not coming back. Unless they go on a unexpected run in the playoffs.

Jost was brought in for a TEST and the OPTION of bringing him back next year.

Basically for 6-7M what would you prefer:

1. Fiala

2. Fleury + Jost

3. Brown + Zaitsez + Gus + TOP 5 pick

Theirs no guarantee that the pick is top 5, and it would be a gamble for minny. But why would Minnesota do it? They want to win now so why downgrade a forward, unless Minny flips the pick but I'm sure they would rather secure a better player in any trade for fiala. Also I'm not sure they would want to take on Zaitsev, say what you want about him he's not a good value player even at 2M at the current cap hit. Gustavsson is a replacement level goalie and I'm sure minny could find a simular player in FA.

Why, exactly, do you think it's far-fetched that Fleury would come back? It's not like he was willing to waive his NMC to go anywhere at the TDL... It's definitely not a sure-thing but I think there's a pretty good chance Geurin will try to find a way to re-sign him.

Minnesota has Alex g and one of merrill or Dmitry Kulikov for 3rd pairing next year

Dumba and brodin is our 2nd pairing

You are wrong about Fleury not coming back. Guerin himself said everything goes good, plan is to resign him to 1 year deal. They were teammates and he waived to come to Minnesota 2x, Including before he was dealt to Chicago. So in terms of your statement, you are clearly wrong

No, Tyson Jost wasn't brought in as a test really. He was brought in as nico sturm replacement.

Easy, if they decide to sign Fleury AND keep Jost, than they have no room for Fiala.... or the player they acquire with him. Mark my words, there will be money coming in from the Fiala trade. If not it lowers the number of teams that can trade for him and lowers his value. I think brown is as good of a player as they can get for Him and the team will remain competitive while still building the future.... I mean surely Guerin isn't thinking about winning the stanley cup with 14M Dead cap...

If Fiala cost 6-7 with term, I think they’d attempt to re-sign him. As it stands, he’s getting closer to 8. Fleury costs about 3 on an extension. The Wild have 7 defenders signed for next year and Zaitzev is is notoriously bad. If I’m Ottawa, I’m taking this and running if they actually believe in their on ice product even a little.

The point of moving Fiala is to clear cap space. I can’t see them taking any salary back other than ELCs.

Plenty of threads have been made the last few days showing that we can keep Fiala and Fleury... I couldn't really care less if we move Jost or keep him. I liked the trade to get him but if it comes down to Jost or Fiala, that's an obvious choice lol. The options for the Wild are trading Fiala, trading Dumba, or moving Talbot, Kulikov, and Jost/Greenway (my preference). We don't have to trade Fiala, and I don't see Guerin trading him if he doesn't get the return he wants - he has shown he is not going to make a trade just to make a trade. If he feels it improves our club, he'll do it.

Sorry i missread the dates i was thinking this was in the offseason meaning it would be next years 1st round picks not this year

Ya my bad was thinking this was for Ottawa's next year draft pick not this year. But ya in that sense I don't think Ottawa would do this then. A top 5-10 pick seems to hold a lot of value in the trade space and that player whoever they pick would still fit the age group of Ottawa's growing future

Deard Lord of the NHL, people really don't understand much

Ottawa pass on this without even thinking.

Only chance is Dorion gets fooled/schooled once again


2022 1st round pick (OTT) : 4th OA pick right now (that I wouldn't give up for Fiala)
Brown, Connor : easily worth Minny's 1st + a very good prospect (which Jost IS NOT)
Gustavsson, Filip : easily worth an early 2nd round pick
Zaitsev, Nikita ($2,000,000 retained) : Zaitsev at 2.5 AAV for 2 years is not problematic AT ALL and probably not even overpaid then

Remove the 2 firsts and Jost/Zaitsev and the value is better


Kevin Fiala for Connor Brown and Filip Gustavsson. Add a 2nd at worst

Problem is people have no idea how good Connor Brown is. Fiala is only 2.5 years younger and outscored him by a whooping 5 pts last seaon. Considering the difference in salary and 2-way play, Brown was much more valuable than Fiala last season. And this season, Fiala is only on pace for 14 more points. Would you give up the moon on top of Brown to get Fiala? You'd be pretty stupid to.