Hawks fans will tell you that's not enough to offload Mantha but it absolutely is and someone will take that trade. Don't know if Columbus would make the trade with those conditions but I'd take two early seconds for Kuznetsov with no retention.

I don't think that Columbus would make it to the playoffs with how the metro is going to be next year. However, with Kuzy's career history of off-and-on seasons, if he drags them to the playoffs then he'd be worth 2025 1st. 2025 will be better for CBJ so I don't think they worry about the pick in that season. that was my reasoning behind it

Well at least it's not both Kuzy and Mantha to Chicago today. That's better I guess. Still need to find a different trade partner that will take Mantha for that 3rd though...

CHI declines.

I could see the Jackets having some interest in Kuznetsov, but even at the price of 2 2nd's you would need about 2 million retained. Otherwise I think they go for Hayes, Schmaltz or Lindholm.

The hawks price for cap dumps is well known through their the actions. It'll take moving up into the 1st (WAS should never do that) or a 2nd round pick. Mantha is awful.

You’ve been taking guys that have been borderline AHL players on bad contracts. You Hawks fans keep talking about Zaitsev but it was a completely different situation for him. Zaitsev is no longer an NHL quality defenseman and he’s making a lot of money. Mantha is, and still will be a Middle six quality player for at least a few years, no team is going to get a second for Mantha, because he will still produce in the NHL. The Zaitsev example isn’t a good analog for Mantha because Mantha can still play fairly well, just not Top six on a contender well.

So there's a lot of unpack on the direct comp of Zaitsev.
A.) 2nd and a 4th vs a 2nd...what I'd do. You have a 3rd.
B.) Hawks will pay him $5M total vs $6.5M to Mantha. ~$500k last year $4.5m this year.
C.) The 2nd was as current as can be vs a year later, BUT I would accept the BOS 2025 2nd if you wanted to push out a year further.
D.) I don't consider Mantha to be particularly helpful to the Hawks. I've heard ALL the WAS fans tell me how much better he'd be on my team than he was for them. Standard bias that ALL fans make. WAS as an organization doesn't believe in him. It's not a reasonable thing to say even. Continued decreased ice time, continued decreased production, additional injuries on top of the 4-5 injuries in DET.

The Hawks also need to go to the highest bidder. VAN TOR, NYR, NYI, WAS, BOS, PIT, LVK, and potentially COL, DAL...potentially are looking to dump cap. The Hawks (and ducks) don't exist to do other teams favors.

BELIEVE ME, Hawks fans understand the pain everyone is about to go through. Saad, Sharp, Bickell, Buf, Panarin, Schmaltz, etc.. We know what it's like to be on the opposite end. Now we're cashing in.

***EDIT*** Oh and I forgot. If WAS wants a minor piece back like Reece Johnson...that would be ok too. It's just pretty evident...2nds are included in dumps.