I don’t doubt dadonov isnt valuable, it’s mostly influenced by the fact Washington is going to be in a hard spot. If theyre in a playoff spot (which I expect them to be), I can’t see them trading Eller which will force Mantha out. As a healthy scratch the writing is on the wall. Pacioretty was traded for zero. They’ll likely have to add to dump Mantha. Mantha is not Pacioretty.

That is actually probably the one that’s most likely - reported by Andrew Berkshire and Maxim Guerin. GMs continue to overvalue Josh Anderson.

cgy cant afford his contract for next szn, were not trading looch, or pelts. Plus Anderson doesnt fit our needs or our system lol

You would have to pay CHI to take either of those contracts. Not sure how you jump to MTL receiving 2nd round picks, even with retention.

He is a week out from coming back - and it's an unrelated injury to his past hip injury. Let's talk again in a month.

Mainly paying for Dvorak and throwing in hoffman

Oh, I see. Well the best you'll get from CHI will probably be a mid round pick for Dvorak, and Hoffman is a cap dump that would cost MTL. I doubt CHI gives up 2nd round picks for anyone at this point in the rebuild, let alone a 26 year old middle 6 forward. Best you'll get from CHI is maybe a mid round pick, and that is a big stretch. Personally, I would only take them if MTL were paying us to take their contracts. We can get to the cap floor just fine by dipping into free agency and not giving up picks. I doubt Dvorak is even worth a 2nd on the trade market, but, if he is, you can probably find a better trade partner for him than CHI.

Thanks for the reasonable and respectful reply. And I agree, there probably is a better fit. Was thinking Chi for Dvorak because he is local and has been connected to Chicago by a guy in Montreal who has proven to have been in the know a few times before.

Lehkonen was a pretty good and underrated player with RFA status, he was worth investing in

Chariot was overrated and not worth a 1st as an incoming UFA, Zito was doing well until then

You can always catch a GM doing something dumb but they might be more cautious this year

Dadonov: 12 points in 38 games
Mantha: 23 points in 45 games

Mantha is more valuable, plays a better defensive game, and is a better player than Dadonov. His scratching yesterday won't change that, especially when there has been no talk of movement from any sources in DC.

If you think Mantha is bad since he's been scratched and must be traded, do you think Dadonov won't? Dadonov wouldn't replace Johansson, Sheary, Milano, or anyone else on the wing and it would be even harder for him to get into the lineup than Mantha. There's no reason for Washington to trade him below value when they can move out Eller (and run Strome-Kuznetsov-Backstrom-Dowd with no issues) for cheaper and still have enough cap space if Carlson is to magically return before the playoffs.

Mantha is areally good. Would be dumb to trade him unless you're getting a better player in return.

Yeah I can tell given how he’s on pace for 40 pts lol and costs nearly 6M a year. Read the previous replies - Washington is in a cap crunch and may have to move him or somebody who makes similar money just to activate John Carlson. Would’ve had to have been done already if the timing of the Carlson injury didn’t align with Wilson and Backstrom returning.

Eller makes far more sense, is less useful, and makes a contract expensive enough to clear the space. Washington is not going to deal a better winger and a 2nd round pick for a completely useless winger in Washington who produces less and has no spot in Washington above better wingers like Sheary, Johansson, Milano, etc.
Mantha is being scratched due to coaching miscues, not due to his ability (see his 20+goal and 30+assist pace before being scratched, even with playing with a guy who doesn't provide any offense), and anything more than the "Mantha scratched" headline could have told you that.

That's not his fault, it's athe dumb coaches fault for just hating him for some reason (like with Vrana and McMicahel). Mantha is produces when he plays with mainly bottom 6 players and no PP time. If he get legit top 6 linemates and PP time, he'd be close to a point per game. And they can just move Eller and be fine. No need to get rid of a great player for nothing.