I can see some of those trades but don't understand the COL. Why the Caps paying out the nose for a decent not amazing prospect? Especially if you are playing him at 3C when Lapierre can just do it.

Also too much in the PHI deal. Maybe Cristall straight up, no 2nd.

Overpaid for Broberg. Just Dowd would work. The PHI and COL trades don't make sense. Why add two young centers when caps already have Lap and CMM (plus more center depth in Hershey)? Keep Bear, he'll be better next year. DO NOT move Cristall, absolute steal.

Caps would not retain on low contract cost guys like Dowd or Milano. ANd I think they are both too valuable as bottom-6 players to deal. Especially for over pays like these. Dump Jensen, dump Kuemper (not Lindgren as he actually wins and gives the Caps a chance). Cristall will stay and develop in DC.

Bear can go...you got one right.

I think the caps would retain on low contract guys to give them more value and therefore a higher return. Dowd will get moved, the caps are not going to buy this off season. Dowd is far to good of a depth piece for a rebuilding/retooling team not to move.

These are pretty brutal, and the team is not that much better with the moves you have made. Actually if anything they may be worse (Other than signing Leonard and Chesley). Why not just keep the picks and have an arguably better team

Col isn’t doing that.

Avs are really high on Ritchie and likely decline anyway. He's having a great year and has a skill set that the team covets. It sounds like they pretty much took him off the table in trade talks.

I can see your point too though, and it's possible the 1st is a pick you won't want to give away. There are arguments against this trade from both sides.

faster rebuild. Picks take longer to develop and with the caps being somewhat competitive because W coaching, a prospect based rebuild seems more understandable.