The Edmonton trade is just Habs fans & media dreaming. Armia is a cap dump, he's a 4th liner making way too much money, with too much term, into his 30's. Edmonton just paid Arizona a 2nd + 3rd + 4 spots in the 1st round to move a better player on a better contract (Kassian).

The fact that Montreal's media and fans think they can trade this guy for a perennial 50-point RHD who is on a value contract making just $4.5M is incredibly naive. And that's putting it as kindly as I possibly can.

While I guess the WASH trade is somewhat close on value, Caps say no. Caps do not have a need for a middle 6 center. Maybe down the line, but not for this season. Could be a hot take, but I think Mantha has a breakout year this year. And finally, no need to trade a very young, still developing top 2 LHD.

And picks, although the Caps could always use extra picks, don't really help them with the "win now" mode.

Caps pass. They don't need middle 6 centers, they are stacked at center with Kuz, Strome, McM, and Eller. Mantha>Dvorak and Fehervary>Savard. The picks might make up the difference but the Caps are in a win now mode and those swaps are a downgrade.

FWIW Paul Byron might be ready for the start of camp, if not early this season, so more than likely not LTIR at all for him unless he gets injured again.

I figured as much ... Can a 3rd or a 2nd round pick going to edmonton make this deal realistic?

No. You'd have to find a team willing to take cap dumps to move Armia - Edmonton is a contender so they aren't playing that game.