Judging on what clearing out cap space for meh players cost right now, you have to give up a pick to get rid of Panik.

canucks accept, virtanen for a RD is what we need

True. Its not much of a realistic trade proposal.

Based on his full season's output last year, that's correct. On the other hand, Panik started slow with some kind of injury, and got just two points in his first twenty-two games, I think? Then he finished with twenty even strength points in thirty-six games. On pace for 45 even strength points, projected to 82 games. Go back a year to when teams played 82 games, and that puts him among the top twenty right wings.

So don't sugarcoat Staal and pretend he's Panik.

Thought no GM ever.

What in reality happens: "hmm, i think Panik could be a decent addition to our 3rd line, he's been fairly productive in the past, wouldn't cost many assets.. oh wait i can't be paying bottom 6 guys 2.75M a year for the next 3 seasons, moneys tight as is, and why the **** would i give the Caps anything they're forced to make a move to get under the cap. damn im smart"

True. The 3rd might not happen this summer, but you're right about Panik being a defensively sound wing who's been productive in the past in a top-six role, and this spring showed he's ready for that again. My most recent Panik post was to trade him for a meh prospect, also to NJ, but really you're absolutely right that the only reason the Caps consider trading a guy who can play any wing spot in their middle six on a pretty good contract he just signed last year is because cap space is tight with every team, and they might be able to get even more of a steal on another UFA. If so, the return wouldn't matter much.

Yup

I think GM's likely see him as a similar player as Namestnikov, and he only returned the Sens a 4th round pick last season. Add covid and how teams are likely to shy away from term and it gets pretty rough.

I could see a team like Buffalo make a call but i think you have to have more than one team interested if the Caps want to get something back, instead of giving him away for free, retaining or even adding a slight sweetener.

Yeah, I could see both Jensen and Panik being moved if they're not done signing guys.

There have been nibbles on Jensen from Toronto and Vancouver fans. There's mumbled interest in Panik from Buffalo and Ottawa. I think teams still want to see what they can get in terms of UFA superstars before making realistic depth moves.

Jensen for Virtanen means WSH could get stuck paying Virtanen up to 4.5M after arbitration, so yeah, they'd have to give Panik away for free, and teams would see that happening, and no team that would rather have Virtanen than Panik would take Panik. So they'd have to do both moves at once. And in the end, Jensen+Panik>>>>Virtanen.

Not sure I agree. Neither Panik or Jensen is an elite player. Virtanen may be. He is young, fast and big. I think both Jensen as a RD and Panik an analytics darling have value. I do agree both moves need to done in tandem. One doesn't work without the other.