I dont understand the nisky trade.. youre acting like his contract is bad... when in reality he is the best/2nd best dman on the caps

the title is simple build toward the future hes older and good and i will trade him for pieces to use in the future while he has value.....and carlson is better than nisk and younger

Niskanen is better than Carlson. Carlson is extremely lazy and he feels entitled to Mike Green-esque money next year with never having Mike Green like productivity. The only thing common in those two players is a lot of talent (some achieved, some not achieved) and a lot of stupid mistakes and turnovers. Watch closely and last year Carlson gave up his defensive role too many times leading directly to a goal against. Granted Orlov makes more mistakes, and Orpik is terribly slow of foot, but Carlson's mistake were costlier. Anyway...

Also...what GM put a $5M contract like Moulson's on the 4th line? Did we not learn from the end of the Brooks Laich era?

I love the Caps as much as life itself, but within the next 5 years you will still see Holtby on this team (as he is the Kolzig of the modern era). And you'll still see Oshie too, as he is too necessary of a leader. Only variable could be Ovi leaving for Russia if they fail miserably 2-3 more years...

If there is a massive rebuild like youth movement...then, you're probably close to right (except for Carlson)...but hey, good go at this...not easy to think about at all!

1) moulson was to cancel out the orpik contract hes a ufa after that season...no harm there

2) carlson is def better nisk .....played with orlov who is amazing in comparison to alzner. .. and hell be playing the majority of the time next seson with djoo and 2 seasons ago he had career numbers playing w orpik until he got hurt. people who say carlson isnt good are the same people saying ovechkin is past his prime and going down hill after a bad season its just dumb. and mike green is det best d man......

3) if u think holtby is staying then caps can get top $$$$ for samsonov hes a top 3 goalie prospect in the nhl

4) but next season i wont be surprised to see carlson go back to being the top d man in wsh esp if djoo plays well w him

Ehlers is a 21 year old with a 25 goal season. He could certainly break out and score 30 on Backstrom's wing. But in two years, there's no reason Vrana couldn't, also.

...but seeing Ehlers' cap hit makes me feel slightly better about Kuznetsov's. I mean, if Kuznetsov were four years younger, and could score five more goals in a season...