I would not trade Dvorak + Keller + ARI 1st for Strome + Kravtsov + Hajek + NYR 1st -- that is really, really bad value.

you're obviously right
I traded them to set them free from the decline

Edmonton doesn't need another depth RHD, but it does need the cap space. Done! You can have Lyubushkin back when he hits the waiver wire, in October.

Why does either team need the Yotes as a middle man?

because Sabres asking price is too high
Yotes are maybe the only team which don't care to ruin their own roster
and Rangers unwilling to pay the price approach Yotes if they couldn't give them a hand with Eichel

Who plays 1B and who are you spending the cap space on?

Regardless of the fact that I don't think the Sabres or Coyotes would accept either of those packages for Eichel, I would rather resign Zibenejad (if reasonable) and then acquire Dvorak.

Less assets. Less Cap. Nice combo at 2C and 3C with Chytil.

Hutton plays 1B and I'm willing to take more toxic 1 year / LTIR contracts from other GMs

I mean in Edmonton. The comment was directed at uphere... I don't think this trade makes any sense for Edmonton at all. Apart from the 12 game stretch (in 24 days!) at the beginning of this season where Tippett ran Koskinen into the ground, his 2-year record is 26-19-3 with a .916 sv%. That's well above average, it would place him 21st of 76 goalies to play at least 15 games over the past 2 years, just ahead of Linus Ullmark.

You aren't getting him for nothing.

Yeah, that is a conundrum, but I think if Holland has the cap space there is a deal to be had out there.

We don't know what is going to happen with Marc-Andre Fleury, and depending on how that plays out another chain of transactions could shake loose an upgrade for the Oilers.

Forgive me, its the Friday before the long weekend and I just can't help myself.