-The rumoured cost to dump Zaitsev is a 2nd (this seems low to me).
-The rumoured ask for Chychrun was two 1sts and a top young player, The Coyotes may have to be liberal on the "top young player" billing as nobody is biting and they already have scratched Chychrun.
-Calgary has been tied to Chychrun. Ottawa has been tied to Weegar.
-It is difficult to assess where Weegar's value would be, but I would suspect it's going to be much lower than it was in the summer. Anybody with a large cap hit and term who isn't playing great is going to be difficult to market in a trade.

The rationale behind the trade is that instead of trading Arizona a 2023 OTT 2nd to take Zaitsev, the cost for dumping Zaitsev and acquiring Weegar is bundled together, which brings the second 1st that Arizona needs to move Chychrun into the equation.

Ottawa trades the weaker WSH 2024 2nd, a protected OTT 2023 1st, and Thomson (low value throw in due to waivers next year), and Zaitsev to Calgary for Weegar.

Calgary trades protected GGY 2023 1st, protected OTT 2023 1st, their 4th best prospect (Zary), Thomson, and Zaitsev to Arizona for Chychrun. Calgary keeps the WSH 2024 2nd.

The value doesn't have to be perfectly on point so long as the disagreement isn't that Ottawa throws in Pinto or Greig, or Calgary throws in Wolf. If you think Ottawa would have to throw in an additional 2nd, or Calgary throws in another piece to Arizona, etc - fine. It's more about the concept of the deal, which is that Calgary cuts bait on Weegar after a bad year and uses him to subsidize an upgrade to Chychrun, with Ottawa also sending Zaitsev to Arizona to subsidize Weegar's cap hit.

Weegar is worth more than that.

This is underwhelming for Ottawa... they get a reliable defenseman which would solve a lot of their issues, though the cost is pretty steep. It would have to be a protected first; they can't lose a top ten pick for Mackenzie Weegar, much as I respect that guy.

I'd do this easy as Calgary.

Arizona would be getting quantity rather than quality, and I think they really want a guy who can be as good as Chychrun currently is.

Not bad, though.

Add another pick to cover Zaitzev and AZ accepts. BOKO rocks.

I suspect the current realities of the nearly flat cap, the risk of his term after a bad season, and the possibility that he had a NTC amended into his current contract means he isn't.

I don't think Ottawa gives up a 1st for Weegar normally, but you have to factor in dumping Zaitsev.

Weegar on paper should be worth a 1st, but I don't think Calgary would be able to drum up the bidding war necessary due to all the factors I mentioned in my previous posts.

We are talking about a protected 1st, a projected late 2024 2nd, and at this point a C prospect to dump Zaitsev and acquire Weegar. That's pretty reasonable value that I only think is possible due to Weegar's play this season, the lack of fit in Calgary, and how few plausible destinations there will be for a big 8 year contract with a NTC. People have to remember that this is one of the toughest environments to move players with term. Look at all the good players sold off for very little this past summer.

Theoretically the Zaitsev value is baked into the deal, but if another pick needs to go to ARZ in your opinion, that's not really a deal breaker. There isn't much value in arguing about whether Ottawa kicks in another 2nd if we otherwise agree on the base or idea behind the trade being viable.

On the topic of Arizona, I don't think they see Zary as the kind of young player/prospect they want in the trade, but watching how things have gone down I think if a team comes to them with two 1sts and a decent but not spectacular former 1st rounder like Zary, they would pull the trigger. They can't drag this thing on forever, and offers aren't likely to improve in the off season.