I would be hesitant to trade Kuzy and go with this current center depth. While last game was a fine win, it was against a bottom team (who have looked terrible). Strome has looked fantastic and so has McM. But relying on Lapierre to be a consistent 3c is unrealistic at this point (especially after one strong game). Center depth is one of the most important aspects of cup contenders, and this center depth is not good enough, especially going against better teams.

Now if you added a trade for a true 3c (ex. Wennberg from Seattle, who just might be selling), I would be totally fine with trading Kuzy. But until then, going with this center depth is not good enough to be effective on a nightly basis.

Honestly, I am still not fully on board with calling us contenders at the moment. I think the caps are in the discussion as positives surprises but I don't know if they can be a contender at this time

If jackets are trading laine they won’t be trading for an older, worse player. They would want futures or players like strome, mcmichael, Lapierre. Zero interest in kuznetsov

Worse? I mean talent wise maybe slightly but you can't argue Kuzy is having a better season so far

He’s also 31, is awful at face offs, and worse defensively. Laine is coming off a serious concussion. Jackets aren’t trading laine for a declining center who doesn’t fit their window. Unless they are getting quality young players/futures they won’t consider trading laine

Only trade I can see being considered is the Seattle one.
Byram being "stuck behind Toews and Makar" is really only being stuck behind Toews since they are both lefties. He plays top 4 minutes right now and is only getting better. Avs aren't going to sell him to downgrade when they are a cup contender.

Ah great point. Sorry, I was reviewing this thinking you put it together as if the Caps are contenders. Bad assumption.

If you just put this together as "Caps get better, but still stay the course of not completing buying at the TDL (i.e., trading away assets and futures)", then yeah, makes total sense and something I could get onboard with.

That's an easy no from the Avs

Keep adding if you want Byram, and then it probably becomes a no for Washington. Byram isn't buried at all. He's only really behind Toews as the #1 left sided D and chalks up significant minutes. The pieces are a good starting point though and somewhat fit the Avs needs.

The other trades I really don't like at all, but I'd pull the Laine/Kuzy trigger in a heartbeat - would even add in one of our gaggle of 3rd pair LDs and a mid-to-late round pick as sweeteners. Totally agree on the skepticism of a young, largely unproven center corps, but 1) if there's a trade partner for Kuzy that makes sense, you've got to pull the trigger, 2) Protas can play center, and we have another guy or two in Hershey that can fill in, plus Dowd can handle 3C for a stint if needed, and 3) it doesn't preclude us still trading for another center (Lindholm, Wennberg, etc.), and if anything eases things since we'll have a better idea of what the future center depth might look like and the hard trade is already done.

Not a prayer COL does that

I'd agree with pretty much everything you stated - I'd also pull the trigger for a Laine/Kuzy trade, as long as the Caps get a true 3c (assuming they are trying to contend). I agree with point #1 and #3...

#2 - again, IF the Caps are contending (big if), I would not want to trust any rookie (or younger guy) take over that 3c position (assuming McM is 2c). Lap, Protas, Beck (to name a few) are not developed enough to take on a playoff team's center depth (imagine them going against the Devils for example). Dowd could play 3c for a short stint, but imo, that's a very short stint. Plus, with Dowd being banged up already, what if he gets hurt? Then the Caps center depth is even worse.

Obviously, my point is mute if the Caps trade for a Lindholm, Wennberg, etc (as you stated in #3).