I think Caps don't use a 1st unless it's a top pairing or top line guy. I like Chych but might as well wait a 1 more year and get him in UFA if you really want him. We already have Fehervary and Sandin as our top 4 LHD.

But Brady is still there

I signed a second cousin of his FWIW.

You don't think Chychrun can play on Washington's top pairing ?

Also, if you want to get him in UFA, you'll need to beat 31 different teams to the punch.

Honestly a very sensible AGM, even down to the Parekh pick. A 2nd for Branny would be great and if Chychrun can't be re-signed then that wouldnt be a bad return at all. It would fall in line with the theme of trading for players, using them for a couple years and then shipping them off for lesser returns (a la Duchene and DeBrincat) but a decent return nonetheless.

Would Chychrun be an upgrade over Fehervary or Sandin? Probably. The caps have more pressing needs than another LHD though. They can run Fehervary Sandin and Alexyev on the left and be fine. It’s the RD that need to be re-tooled and the coaching staff is very picky about D playing their correct sides with their handedness.

Chychrun is a very good add for any team but the caps wouldn’t lose sleep over not getting him in free agency. Especially when you look at the guys the caps have been picking up in the first round since 2019, they’d probably value their picks highly because the amateur scouts are doing a pretty good job and would rather hold onto that pick.

The trade isn’t bad value - it’s just probably different than the direction the caps are headed in.

That's fine. It's worth the gamble. Like I said I like Chych but it's not like he's a world beater. Caps will only be spending their top tier assets on those type of players.