Compher would be a good add. Not an ideal return for Kuzy but don't hate it either. Too much to give up for Schmaltz -- more than what they got for Chychrun who is younger, a better player, and owed a lot less money -- I still think people are going to be surprised by how little Schmaltz will eventually go for until they go look at his contract structure and remember how AZ operates. Don't hate bringing back Brown on a 1-year prove it deal but not for 3m. The Brown money + 2.7m in leftover space you have here could be used for a much better player

What would you think is a fair trade for Schmaltz?

You could probably remove McMichael from the offer and AZ would still accept on first offer. Realistically Schmaltz is worth a pair of 2nds or a single mid first.

Mantha adds some trouble to the deal as AZ does not want to take back bad money on deals, but as is, this trade would probably be accepted in a heartbeat with a "thanks and fleece you later!"

CHI isn't giving up a 2nd round pick just to fill cap space, and that would be the ONLY reason a rebuilding CHI team would be interested in Kuznetsov. So, unless you are paying us to take the contract, it's not happening. Which I doubt WSH would do, because he is only 30 and is still pretty productive. I don't think you should have a problem selling him to some team, though.

That's waaaay too much for Shmaltz. You can get a better player with that offer.

Compher is not a top 6 center. Caps don't need him.

Personally, I'd think they would be after something around a first and Iorio. AZ would be adding something, probably from their mountain of mid-round picks. Mantha probably holds no value other than as a reclamation project (for AZ), but deals need to juggle money, so definitely seems like a possible inclusion to complicate the deal. Might be better off flipping him elsewhere if the Caps think he has positive value (and he might to someone). I don't think the McMichael trade would be terrible. I like him, but I'm not as high on him as Caps fans are, and AZ seem to have a solid pipeline of NHL-ready forwards set up next year.

Hayton, Cooley, McBain, Geekie, Smith, Jenik, etc down the center. Those guys, except Geekie, are ready for a cup of coffee in the NHL, same as McMichael. It doesn't seem an obvious bet that McMichael is going to be better than Hayton or Cooley. He belongs in the tier of McBain, Geekie, imo. Which is fine, but you've got two other guys ahead of him at center who will probably stay in front of him, and McBain already on the roster. Smith and Jenik seem like fine gambles for the fourth line next year, and McMichael needs opportunity to sink or swim with better opportunity.

I'm sure you can move someone to wing, but with Keller, Crouse, Maccelli, and Guenther all pushing for ice time in the top six next season, and I don't know that he's an upgrade to anyone there or that he has clearly higher upside. It's why Schmaltz is available.

On the other hand, they are thin on blue line prospects, and Armstrong likes size and snarl on the backend. Moser and Valamaki have been pleasant surprises. Soderstrom might be a top four guy with seasoning. After that are just a bunch of guys that might become solid players, but nothing looking like a threat to be a top pairing guy. Iorio probably isn't either, but he's got size and he's probably ready for NHL time with top four upside. So if I had to guess, that'd be the target.

He actually IS a top six Center. Literally

He's a high tier 3C, and a low tier 2C. Caps already have Strome, Backstrom, Protas with McMichael ready and Lap on the way. No need for Compher.

JTC would be 4th on the Caps in Pts rn

I have to disagree, I know we normally agree but... A late second for him? I could see the Hawks going for this. He would bring a needed top center to the team to help with the kids, and be a very valuable asset to flip later. Could WSH get more, I'm sure they could bit with the cost of the contract not many teams can afford it, so low cost to the Hawks...

Caps also most injured team in the league. On a healthy Caps Compher isn't putting up those points.

I get it, but I don't think a top center is "needed" to help with the kids. We will most likely be tanking again next year. This is a rebuild, we won't "need" veteran help for another two years, at least, and even then we will probably be looking at players who are in the 25-28 year old range that can still help beyond a couple years. Even if it was "needed", there are plenty of ways we can accomplish the same thing without giving up a 2nd round pick. There is too much talent overflowing into the 2nd, 3rd, and maybe even 4th round in the 2023 draft to give up any picks other than for the purpose of trading up.

Also, in all likelyhood, Domi will be coming back this summer with term to fill a top 6 center role. Nothing is guaranteed, of course, but, unless he gets a big offer from a perennial contender, I'm almost positive he will be back.