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I take it the Brendan Smith trade is a pure cap dump. He's making $2.35MM in the final year of his contract, cap hit of $4.35MM. Not a lot of options for that, Detroit, LAK, Ottawa, maybe a couple others. Eight healthy scratches aren't great, but if there's D depth, then it can be explained somewhat, but only playing 11 minutes a game, over 62 games, that's not good regardless of how good a teams defence is. At 15-16 minutes, people could argue that his low ice time was because of players ahead of him, but 11 minutes means they didn't want him on the ice. Even at $2.25MM, that's still a lot. The next lowest toi D played 4 minutes 53 seconds more a game.

Basically, you need a team to buy that draft pick, since the player isn't helping the situation much. Ottawa isn't a rich team. You would have better luck with the Detroit Red Wings or the LA Kings.

Wings wouldnt work because Smith and DET had a rough break up.

Oh boy just minutes after I post about Hayton being overrated *90s voice* TO THE EXTREME so this is awkward, but I really feel he's more a B+ prospect

Even the announcers when he was picked were stumbling over themselves to justify him going 5th

In that draft! Especially. Great googaly moogalies

ha, it literally just came up in convo with someone. I dont know who he is or what his value is, only saw that he was 5th overall so figured hes probably a pretty good prospect. But I ready your review/description of him... Ill chalk this one up as a loss/overpay for the Rangers.

But I do wonder if its worth "helping" ARI and taking on Stepans contract while also acquiring Hayton, which based on your assessment would maybe a 2nd round pick and Gauthier.

Idk why Arizona would do that.