I honestly think the Leafs would accept this deal.

I know Caps need caps space but Rychel is AHLer and Soshnikov is iffy NHLer.

I don't see how this helps the Caps. Either of them can be easily replaced by a prospect.

The Leafs would take that any day.

To be honest I think this would be a good deal. Rychel can replace Wilson's toughness and Soshnikov I could see bursting out offensively playing under Ovie and Kuznetsov. The guy has a lot of skill and skates like the wind but he just couldn't put up points playing with Martin and Ben Smith.

Tom Wilson is more than just a pretty face-puncher. His Corsi was 9% higher than his offensive zone starts last year. That means that when he's on the ice, the puck goes the right direction.

On the plus side, Soshnikov's was 14% higher, so he must really be doing something right.

If Rychel is even half as tough as Tom Wilson, how did Toronto just pick him up conditionally for basically a 5th round pick? And how does he only have 15 penalty minutes in his 32 NHL games, whicle Wilson has 619 in 313. One fight and five minors in two seasons as a 14th forward do not an enforcer make.

So how about just Soshnikov for just the 4th? Heck, make it a 3rd? The Caps could probably use a Russian-speaking right wing on a cheap contract, to try to get the most out of Ovechkin and Kuznetsov by making communication easier for them, so if they aren't sold on bringing back Alexander Semin, Soshnikov is definitely younger, even if his 14 career NHL points don't exactly scream "superstar."