Yeah I’m not trading Schneider for Smith. We just got rid of Buch to make room for Kakko and Kravtsov in the top 6. I’d remove Chytil and put a 2022 1st instead for Dvorak, drop the 3rd and add Jones instead of Georgiev.

Nice work! Only question is: are you letting Zib walk? Strome contract off books will give you enough to resign Fox, not both.

I like Dvorak not smith tho. Wing is not a need, C is though. Chytil and Jones would probably be an adequate return for Arizona if im not mistaken.

I see what you're saying, and in a perfect world I'd probably agree with your proposed moves. A couple things on my mind:

1) I'm not sure moving Buch was purely to make room in the Top-6. Yes, it does this, but I think it was also due to cap space issues for 2022-23. I'd rather be able to resign Fox and Zibanejad than lock up Buch at his asking price, especially with no guarantees that the cap will increase a significant amount after this season.

2) Personally, I'm not sold on having both Kakko and Kravtsov in the Top-6 this season. One of them, yes, but I'm not convinced we compete with them both playing those minutes (but maybe I'm wrong). I think one more year is needed before going this route, hence why a guy like Smith (one year left on his deal) would be a good stop-gap solution (plus, he is liked by coach Gallant, who may have some say).

3) Removing all of Schneider, Chytil, and Georgiev from these deals doesn't solve our cap and roster issues for next season. I think they have to be moved - there is no room in the lineup for Schneider behind Fox-Trouba-Lundkvist; although I like Chytil, he likely can't be resigned (for cap reasons) if we still acquire Dvorak; and Georgiev will be unaffordable after this season if we plan to go with Shesterkin as our #1.

Thanks for the feedback!

I think losing Smith's contract (in this scenario) in addition to Strome's would open up enough to resign both Fox and Zibanejad -- unless I'm not seeing something!

What about Georgiev and Jones for Dvorak? If I had to choose one to keep, I'd keep Chytil (for the center depth, especially if we plan to lose Strome).

Absolutely it would open up enough space for both. But then why trade Schneider for a one year rental Smith when this team still looks fringe playoff - not quite contender level.

I think two reasons: (1) to give coach Gallant a player he already likes, at least for a year; and (2) to allow us to at least compete for a playoff spot, which I think is needed to keep some of our key guys happy (e.g., Panarin & Shesterkin, both of whom were not pleased with the Buchnevich trade).

Keep georgie. We're gunna have a real 4th line this year. That may mean we have to shed chytil because we want more workmen type forwards. Georgiev is going to be a future huge trade chip, and has been healthy while Chytil has caught the injury bug in recent years and is underrated.

I mostly agree - but this only pays off if Georgiev is worth at least a 1st come trade deadline. Not necessarily guaranteed, but I could get behind it.

Thanks for the feedback!

Good work! No problem

No point giving up Schneider for Smith after they just gave Buch away.