I would much rather have the 8th overall and then signing a UFA than Keller

If we are not trying to win another cup with Ovie than I would agree with you, but I’d say trading the 8th overall for a young star player on a good contract is a good move

More assets are better than one for a cup-winning team. Bertuzzi, Domi, or Compher would be worth not trading for Keller. In every post you make you seem bent of destroying the teams future. You're not helping the team win another cup by sacrificing what could be a huge part of the team post Ovi. You can't bet that you'll get a pick this high again in a draft as good as this.

Post Ovie era Capitals I’m pretty confident we will get another top 10 pick…No guarantee that any of those free agents would sign with us, and if they do they won’t be on team friendly deals.. Also trading an 8th overall + next years 1st for a young star player is not destroying a teams future imo, post Ovie era we can blow up the team and rebuild.

This draft is very front heavy, and that 8th overall pick (and all early 1st's this year) are worth far more than usual. Keller will be a star, sure, but the trade isn't good for Keller as the Coyotes should be moving towards being competitive in the next couple years, and for the Caps as they're trading away too much value for Keller.

Keller is only signed for the two years after Ovi, meaning he wouldn't be there for the rebuild. He would be 28 for the NHL season without Ovi, meaning he's aged out of a rebuilding team, younger guys that the team drafts would be the ones you keep at that point. Keller would probably we traded after Ovi leaves in this reality because it would mean a full rebuild of the team. With the 8 overall in 2023, you probably get a player that plays big minutes in 24-25, Leonard Reinbacher would be NHLers by then. They would help it be a transition rather than a full rebuild.

Just because dumping Mantha to another team is realistic for them doesn't make it automatically realistic for the acquiring team - which, in this case, is definitely true for Buffalo. They will need to trade a forward (i.e. Olofsson) or not re-sign another (i.e. Jost or Girgensons) just to free up a roster spot for one of their prospects - they're not going to take on a reclamation project at his cap hit like Mantha.

Would definitely trade 8OA for Keller. Would like to wait and see if Michkov is there or not before trading

Me too & ya I agree if Michkov is still on the board I’d love to draft him

I was looking at there daily face off lineup before Doing Mantha to buffalo, figured he could play instead of Rousek or Greenway.. either way the team taking mantha doesn’t matter they just need to find someone that doesn’t mind taking a low risk high reward chance on him

If a trade could be constructed Mantha and WAS 2023 2nd for LAK 2023 3rd, the Sabres may have some interest.
It would be difficult to find a spot in the line up for him, while Mantha is a big body, but he does not hit enough nor does he PK.
I agree with @rktkt66 Buffalo would not make this trades as it is written.