Not unreasonable. We'll have to wait on some FA signings to see if Ott does anything but if they don't this is in the realm.

I don't think that's close to what's being discussed, but if it were, I'd take it.

The actual trade is so much worse for you guys. A 4th maybe, but a 2nd and you saved their cap issue, yikes.

I’m really confused, unless there’s a Tierney for a good D trade in the works.

Veterans - Tkachuk, Dadonov, White, Tierney, CBrown, Paul, Galchenyuk, Anisimov, Stepan, Watson

Prospects- Stuetzle, LBrown, Batherson, Balcers, Norris, Chlapik, Formenton, Abramov

Taxi Squad - Shaw, Peca, Haley, Beaudin

We got Nate Schmidt for a 3rd and we needed him because they needed to dump cap.

This player is worse, needed less and the team is closer to the season starting with cap troubles. How did they get more?

I’m starting to wrap my head around it, but it’s still a reach in good asset management.

So here’s my take, first possibility is there’s another trade in the immediate future, but I’ll assume there isn’t.

Stepan is a right shot version of Tierney, and pushes White to the Wing.

Arizona has been bad, and maybe Stepan has been dragged down with them, maybe he’s contributed to the bad play, but he’s not far removed from solid top6 numbers, but I’m not going to fool myself and think that he returns to those numbers.

Maybe Stepan can be at least a 0.50 to 0.60 point per game centre with two of these wingers, Tkachuk, Dadonov, CBrown, White. If they go with a checking line of Brown, Tierney, White, then Stepan gets Tkachuk and Dadonov. Stepan’s goal per 60 have been pretty steady the last 6 seasons, it’s his assists that have declined.

Stepan’s numbers go up, Tierney’s numbers go down, maybe.

Tkachuk, Stepan, Dadonov
CBrown, Tierney, White
Balcers, LBrown, Batherson
Paul, Anisimov, Galchenyuk

I think that Dorion thinks Stepan can be another Tierney.

Even if all that is correct, none of this has to do with Ott knowing Arizona needs to move cap and for some reason rewarding them with the full value of the player.
(this only being the full value of the player if he is the guy Dorion thinks he is. It's an overpay otherwise)

Arizona didn’t need to move cap, they can place Hossa on LTIR, they were fine.

Correct, my bad. Then I get your plausibility from Dorions side, I just don't think it's right. Which is I guess your spot too.

If Dorion has one more move to rid himself of some bodies this could turn out super well for you guys.

Good deal for Tampa too though.

|The Stepan trade following on the Paquette pickup spells the end of Logan Brown in Ottawa. Dorion obviously has no confidence in Logan to push him so far down the depth chart.. I like a lot of what Dorion has done but Stepan and Gudbrandson are headscratchers and the overpay on Murray is worrying.