I like this concept a lot, and I think it would work very well for Detroit to utilize the cap like this.

I think that the Blues would need to pay more to dump 10M of cap onto Detroit. Potentially adding a prospect like Kostin along with the 1st (assuming its late).

I think the Coyotes would want more in return than a 7th, since Raanta is still a serviceable goalie. Potentially trading them a serviceable forward like Glendening for their bottom 6?

Uhh no. The offer above is the absoute upper limit of what the Red Wings could ask for. Sending a 2nd for Steen and getting back a 3rd for Bozak is closer to true value. None of it matters if those Blues players won't waive to go to Detroit, which seems likely.

Take out the first in the ARZ trade lol, Raanta is still a capable starter, and should go for no less than a second, Stepan has a bad contract, but again is still an NHL caliber player, it's not like the Marleau dump where CAR had to take on 6 mil in completely dead cap, I'd be surprised if ARZ would have to pay more than a third (but i could see a second being reasonable fs) to move him

Who realistically has the cap space to take on a 5M Bozak for 3C duties without cap going back? He’s a useful player don’t get me wrong but you can’t overpay your 3C if you want to retain AP. Steen and Marleau are within 500k of each other and that’s why I doubting the 2nd to move him. That’s also why I did the 4th going back but I’d probably switch it to a 3rd if needed.


Raanta isn’t returning a second round pick the guy can’t stay healthy and Stepan although is an NHL is grossly overpaid therefore is a cap dump.

Edit - I think you’re talking about this ACGM which has Dvorak also in it.
https://www.capfriendly.com/armchair-gm/team/1806436

So the assumption with the Arizona trade is that a 1st = a 7th.

Yeah that’s gonna be a hard pass from Arizona

Let’s completely skip over the 6.5M + 4.25M being shipped off. I get they can still play in the NHL but they aren’t worth their cap hit especially Stepan. This only makes sense if they want to go after Hall.

Just bc he can't stay healthy doesn't take away from his skill (solid starter quality) and he certainly still holds value (I've seen tons of BUF posts on here giving up a second+ for him) I never said Stepan wasn't a cap dump, it doesn't cost a first+ to move any salary you know...

@ Marleau trade to Carolina...

I'd argue that Marleau = Stepan. It was only dead space because Marleau refused to play. Stepan could say the same thing about Detroit and just not play. Not sure if it would be dead cap, because his contract isn't a 35+ one.

Never said it would cost a first to move any salary. When your moving 10M+ without any coming back that’s when the cost is a little different then moving 1-2M. If Arizona isn’t trying to sign Hall then it doesn’t make sense. It just doesn’t make sense for Yzerman to be doing any favors though or paying a 2nd for Raanta when there are going to be some quality FAs available or use that 2nd for a young starter. I just highly doubt Raanta garners Buffalo’s 2nd since he can’t stay healthy, 1 year left, and over 30. I can’t name a recent comp trade for that fits that description.

Raanta is easily worth a late 2nd, and despite the injuries, easily worth his cap hit. And besides, for Detroit it doesn’t really matter because he’s gonna be a UFA next year and they can easily can afford him.

Stepan, while absolutely a cap dump, isn’t like guys like Okposo or Vlasic or Jack Johnson who all undoubtedly have negative value considering their cap hit and their term. Stepan only has a year left and still provides decent value. So let’s pretend that getting rid of him is worth a very early 2nd.

Raanta and Stepan’s value essentially cancel each other out, but there’s still a discrepancy. So I’d throw in an extra 4th going to Detroit to even things out.

So with that logic you’d do Stepan + 1st for 3rd? The hangup is solely with Raanta being involved.

We won’t get rid of a 1st just to get rid of one year of Stepan. 2nd the most I’d give up. Especially when it’s known that Arizona’s future is largely uncertain and the level of their play isn’t guaranteed to be top-16.

This is interesting, but personally I think very naive. There are few other teams that can take them. Contending teams would be happy to pay Pietrangelo instead. Trading Steen and Bozak gets Pietrangelo in return.
So in this case STL gives up Steen, Bozak, 2020 1st (+the other piece that theyll need to add) for a 4th and Pietrangelo.

Marleau's deal contained an agreed buyout, Steen's would not. And Steen's real dollar salary is about half of what Marleau's was. I still don't understand why people pretend that these players being dealt would be the same exact situation with the same exact price.

1- So wait? Teams can't afford Bozak for one year, but can afford a guy who'll make nearly twice as much for several more years?

2- You are correct that taking extra cap in a deal has its price. Ya know what else? has its price? Acquiring better players when you're beyond terrible.

Oh I don't think Pietrangelo would go for Detroit, he would be insane to, we SUCKED this year. But most summers more contenders can afford UFAs. Pietrangelo will need at least $8m, Hall will command similar, Holtby won't be cheap, etc. once you picture homes for UFAs there will not be many teams with sufficient space to take on the Steens, Bozaks etc. that allow for the signings and re-signings. imo you're looking to exclusively the basement, LA, NJ, Ottawa and Detroit. Once those teams resign their RFAs, theres a limited cap space available. For example Detroit will have about 20, so in this trade theyre using about half of that. Steen and Bozak don't factor much into their future if we're honest, theyre not competing next year, so Yzerman would have to try and get more back than a single pick if he can.

Yes, Marleau was also 6.25 mil in completely dead cap, you still get a usable player in Stepan, TOR pretty much HAD to move Marleau, ARZ could move Grabner Ranta Goli Demers or (if they have to) Hammer, and there's always the chance they just can't resign Hall lol

yes, he technically could, but Laf could technically say i don't want to play for any rebuilding team and refuse to sign with the team that picks him 1 OA

When 4.25 mil of that 10.75 is 100% worth that money that changes things, it's not like you're moving 10.75 mil of cap dumps (also Raanta>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Bernier)

I like these deals as we could flip them all at the deadline and acquire more picks, especially if we retained. I'd double down on the STL trade and add in Jake Allen, assuming STL can no longer afford his back up services. I would need a little more than 1st coming back tho, assuming it would be 25-32nd pick overall. This trade would allow STL to re-sign Piet and bring in some younger and prly cheaper guys to replace Steen and Bozak. There are plenty of options between STL and DET that could work and benefit both teams greatly.

That makes sense considering the outlook of the team as they aren’t true contenders and what does the team look like without Hall. Would it help with lottery protection?


When did I mention Bernier >= Raanta? Yeah, Raanta is the superior goalie when he is on the ice. Bernier has been a capable starter for us and we can find someone to help with the load through FA if need be, as I mentioned earlier. I really only included Raanta with Stepan as both combined should surely give enough cap to sign Hall. As I mentioned with the other poster Raanta could be excluded but they didn’t want to give up a first. If the intent isn’t to sign Hall then the trade doesn’t make sense, like I initially said. A user on HFB poster every teams cap space and I think it’s going to be slightly harder than normal to move cap especially 10M+.

Wtf is in their water? They're treating bozak like some washed up player and then throw them in their lineup as a top 6 forward

In case you didn’t see the Wings last season they were a historically bad team so most players would make our top 6/4.... Our center depth goes Larkin - Nielsen so.....just because you can make a historically bad team doesn’t mean that contract isn’t good and the major dump in that trade is Steen but let’s forget that.

Lottery protection would certainly help, but like I said, it would be really hard for Arizona to yeet a 1st just to get rid of a year of Stepan. I definitely understand where you're coming from, but I personally wouldn't even consider getting rid of a 1st just for that.