Washington probably wants a young high end talent that can make an impact sooner rather than later, so drafting in the top 10 increases that chance. If they are going to wait on anyone, I think it would be Michkov.

What do you think the Oilers are going to do with Edmundson?

There are far too many pieces in that trade that do nothing for the caps. No reason to jump down to pick 31/32 from 8 for three mid prospects and a first round pick two years out. Easy decline.

He could go elsewhere for that return if Edmonton does not want him.

What if the draft looks like this after the first 7 picks:
Bedard
Fantilli
Carlsson
Michkov
Smith
Benson
Dvorsky

Would that entice the Capitals to think about the trade (with the best remaining player available likely being Leonard)?

As I said, Montreal could add another player to the mix.

The Capitals could get (1) Florida's first round pick, (2) Montreal's first round pick in 2025 (from Calgary), (3) Mesar (a first round pick), (4) Mailloux (a first round pick) and (5) possibly another team's first round pick in this year's draft (L.A.. gave up a first round pick in this year's draft + Helge Grans in the Provorov trade largely to get rid of Petersen at $5,5M, so MOntreal taking on a $7.7M cap dump could get them a first round pick).

That is the equivalent 5 first round picks for the #8 in the draft, with 3 players (Kidney, Mesar and Mailloux) that already have some years of development in them. Plus Montreal is taking on the entirety of the Mantha contract (which some people think is a "cap dump" while others do not).

Kidney, Mesar, and Mailloux are average prospects at this point. Teams DO NOT trade out of the Top 10 in the NHL DRAFT now that there is a Salary Cap. Teams DO NOT attach Top 10 Picks to “Cap Dumps” to move salary. If anything Teams drafting in the Top 10 trade within the Top 10, not out of the Top 10. Washington isn’t going to trade a guaranteed Top 10 pick for as many hypothetical future 1sts as you want to imagine. Your scenario is fantasy and has no objective place in a discussion of trading that pick.

Also what $7.7M “Cap Dump” are you talking about?
Also LA gave up a First Rd Pick (which they didn’t, that pick came from Columbus who acquired it in the Gavrikov trade) to dump TWO YEARS of Cal Peterson’s contract. Mantha in your hypothetical scenario only has one year on his contract.

Even as a fantasy your scenario is particularly poorly constructed. There is not a trade involving the 30th Overall Pick (FLA), Mesar, Kidney, Mailloux, and a mid- late-1st in 2025 (CGY) that even slightly entice WSH to move a known Top 10 Pick.

The $7.7M cap dump is Montreal possibly taking on another team's cap dump because the Habs have $7.7M in cap space.

Ottawa traded out of the top 10 for DeBrincat who was 2 years from free agency.

Oilers are 5 deep at LD options that I think they'd play before Edmundson.

Remember it only cost the Habs a 5th for his rights when he was playing well compared to the last 2 seasons, and with UFA defenseman like Soucy and Clifton projected at 2.5 million or less available. I think your expectation of return on Edmundson from any team are far to high too.

Fair point. I am not overly worried about the return for him. It was more about clearing the cap space (with some retention). Maybe a 4th or 5th round pick alone does it.

Yeah totally agree with what others have said:
1) Teams don't attach a top 10 pick (espeically with this year's draft class) to cap dumps
2) That is interesting math you came up to get 7.7mil
3) To answer your question, if it goes in that order, I still believe Caps keep the pick as they are looking to get younger and even after that order, there is plenty of talent (Leonard is still quite good)...but if the Caps would move the pick, a top-6 winger would need to be involved. I honestly don't think the Caps would be interested in making it work for any MTL players (besides Cole, who won't be traded after new contract)...

DeBrincat was not a prospect and there is not a player in your trade that is anywhere close to equivalent to DeBrincat.

DeBrincat was a 70-80PT player when he was traded. What 70-80PT player do you propose trading from the Canadiens for 8th Overall?

Not sure, but assuming Mailloux getd cleared by the NHL then I guess it's possible but I don't know. I would imagine they trade that pick for a player like Keller if he's available.

If Montreal can trade him without it costing them more than retention or a late pick, I'd call that a win.