I would rather have Yammer on the 2nd line and move reinhart with McDavid and having blake on the 3rd line.

Instead of all that, Holloway and a 1st/2nd would be better for Buffalo

Hmm, I’d do Holloway and a second for the rights to Reinhardt, but would hesitate to give more. And Kassian has to be included to in order to make the cap work.

If you want buffalo to take your cap dump in exchange for the significantly better player it’s going to have to be Halloway, Kassian, and what will be 2 late 1sts. Since both picks will be between 20 and 32 I think you can spare it.

Kassian isn’t necessarily a cap dump - admittedly he’s underperformed this year but he’s showed promise in the past - in the 2019 calendar year he played 80 games and had 44 points (22G, 22A). And Holloway is our top offensive prospect.

Here’s my counter:

To Buffalo:
2021 first
2022 first
Tyler Benson
Kassian (700K retained)

To Edmonton:
Sam Reinhart

The points Kassian scored during that season were because he was playing on a line with Connor McDavid. Let’s not pretend he did any of that himself. I am fairly confident you could put on a pair of skates and score 20 goals playing with Connor McDavid for a season. Kassian is a 3rd or 4th liner being paid over $3 million. That’s cap dump written all over it.

Halloway is the only reason Buffalo would even think about this trade. Taking him out of it takes the point out of it. The two late first round picks are worth less than he is in this trade. Benson deserves an opportunity, but at this point he is no better than a third line player and Buffalo has more than enough of those.

I disagree with your assessment of Kassian - Nugent-Hopkins, for instance, was not able to produce on a line with McDavid and he’s a first overall pick.

Holloway is a better prospect than Benson, yes. It could well be that he’s what it takes to be the deal done.

I'd take this trade if we are moving eichel, imo cap won't work for you guys if you sign mrezek, he will command more

You can have the rights to Reinhardt for free. But not for Reinhart