IF the difference between Joseph and Brown is less than 1M, I would prefer just to keep Joseph.

Now if you put Kelley in the lineup and Smejkal, or another low-cost free agent in 3rd line, then the move makes much more sense.

1. JBD is not signing a 4 year deal, nor should Ottawa offer one to him.

2. Pinto will sign for closer to 3 million per year.

3. Connor Brown is not coming back to Ottawa.

4. Buffalo accepts.

I wouldn't be so sure about that. Not a knock on Joseph. But if Buffalo brings back Girgensons and Okposo that doesn't leave much room in the forward ranks, especially if Savoie makes noise at camp and gets games. They'll have to replace Okposo eventually, but that could end up being internal if he comes back for another season.

How much did you spend on Greenway again?

o_O

What does that have to do with not having roster space for Joseph?

It doesn't.

But what if Buffalo doesn't bring back Girgensons or Okposo?

Bluechip prospects in the AHL don't always pan out.

That's why you trade for a guy like Greenway or Joseph.

That's where it gets interesting. I think Gus is definitely coming back, but Okposo is up in the air, he could just choose to retire, but that would also remove a strong vet leader from the team.

Ideally their real need at forward would be a defensive center who can win face-offs. Adams even acknowledged the need to get better at the dot and defensively, though some of that is on the wingers to win those 50/50 puck battles after a face-off also. In that instance someone like Nosek would probably be a better fit, while not necessarily being a better player.

1. If its basically league min plus or minus 200K it doesn't really matter
2. Pinto might do closer to 2.5 if its 1-2 years
3. Connor Brown wanted to test free agency for bigger money Playing with pinto might up his points I could see him in Ottawa on a 1 year deal
4. Good Joseph isn't working in Ottawa in the bottom 6 take a bag of pucks to clear that cap space