Well the only reason he didn't have to include a first was because a GM was willing to do a trade like this, which I don't think anybody should've done, but picks are picks.

And they are early in the second round so it’s not like we acquired Justin Holl for that same return

Probably between 45-50 so it's not a bad pick, still should've gotten more for taking on that much cap for 2 years.

Ottawa is 10000% buying someone, no reason to dump Zaitsev now otherwise

Or maybe they setting up for this Summer as before GM's catch on and ask for more sell him ASAP then wait and see whose available

As this offseason has good options

Personally I think they going to get Fabbro as Nashville apparently is trying to move him but lets see

Probably just creating cap space to re-sign Cat and Pinto and the crew

And adding Fabbro who I believe is an RFA in the summer

Im just waiting for the JJ-Zaitsev pairing

this is from last season - matthews changed his game to be more physical and block shots and it has had a negative affect on his defensive impact.

aadoyle this season

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There is a tweet I posted in one of the forms explaining it best Matthews has actually gotten better defensively this year as he has made more defensive plays than Philip Danault who is one of the NHL's best shutdown C's and has been leading in takeaways and tied for blocked shots if anything hes gotten better.

@aadoyle last season

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the things that made matthews great defensively is his ridiculously high hockey IQ taking away passing lanes and just overall being in good position. Now he's finishing his checks and making more of an effort to be physical but it's not making him more effective.

We also got to factor who hes with. Hes gone from Marner whose amazing defensively to Nylander whose doing not the best defensively. And when your not 100% healthy there tends to be a drop. But still hes doing enough to where im like alright just get healthy but keep her up

K I think I know what OTT gonna do

I said Fabbro no no no

I think Dorion going bigger

And bigger I mean Parayko

if he's not 100% healthy I understand there being a drop off but it was noted that he wanted to change his game and it just doesn't seem to be working out for him. He went from elite defensively to below average because he's focusing on the wrong things. Matthews should not be focusing on blocking shots.

I feel a combination of not 100% and changing his game and adapting could be the cause to the stats drop. But in general Matthews blocking shots has saved goals here and there so as long as hes not actively killing himself im fine with it. Just needs to continue learning and adapting

If Sebastian Aho was made available he'd be the 2nd best D on the market. He'd be a good fit on Dallas or Minnesota

So...
Gavrikov to Boston?

and

Chychrun to Ottawa?

I think Parayko to Ott cause notice how the reports OTT talked with Blues about Parayko came out then they do this

As Ottawa needs a RD (Parayko) not a LD like Chycrun

Kinda odd timing for the Zaitsev move to me - I don’t see the motivation. Is Ottawa motivated by a playoff team? Otherwise this would have waited until anytime up until the draft yeah? Don’t new contracts start on July 1st? So Chychruns NTC that begins next season is months away.

Unless they just want some shiny new thing for the remainder of the season to test it out.

Isn’t it abnormal for 2 non playoff teams to complete a cap dump trade at this time of the year?

Edit: if for Parayko it’s kinda the same thing. Why would the Blues care if this deal occurs at this deadline versus anytime in the off-season up until the draft. Perhaps it is Parayko, and a playoff team is bidding on him, and the Blues will take that deal, except Ottawa likes him also. I guess something like that - or another similar situation makes sense.

Bruh. He's a 6th D in NYI based on accrued ice time. A 27-year old playing his first year as a full-time NHLer.

Analytically he's been great, but...2nd best D? Tone it down a notch.

There gonna be in on Chychrun, I assume. But there Cap Situation is still very tight and not ideal. They wont be able to fill both the Starting Goaltender, and 2RD holes very easily. Spitballing a little here but what about Calen Addison? He's been healthy scratched 4 Straight games I believe and he's young, and shouldnt cost too much against the cap next year either.

Chycrun to OTT makes no sense though as hes a LD. They need a shutdown RD who can play with Chabot or be with Sanderson in a mentor role

Chycrun makes more sense for a team needing a LD like LAK

For Ottawa I feel they did this just to get cap space

Chychrun>>>>
Gavrikov>>
Kulikov>
Ghostisbehere>>>>
Parayko>>>>
Soucy>>>>
Ekholm>>>>