Why does COL do that?

Why would Buffalo make either trade? These are head-scratchers for all involved.

From a Sabres fan perspective, i hate the AVs trade
Not a fan of either player we are getting
Manson is not what he used to be- getting old fast
And I’ve never liked RyJo- super overrated 🤮🤮🤮

Goaltending on this team is also not “Cup Contender” quality

Also, @ihopeigetit,
you’re way ahead of yourself here
We don’t even know if we are gonna make the playoffs this season

Vegas says no

Kind of confusing as to why either team makes that BUF/COL trade.

Capspace...

If Johansen hasn't had a good season and the Avs need capspace this would be a huge win of a trade for Colorado. $8.5m in capspace essentially

Yeah I can see that as an 'IF', don't get me wrong. The question is how much of that cap space gets used up on signing the trio they've acquired when the Avs would likely want to move these two guys (next year and the following year, or simply not re-signing RyJo) to make cap space for signing MR, BB, AG & LOC. Also would be a little odd for Buffalo to consider this (and even more odd if RyJo has a bad season). Even if they've made it to the play offs this season if we're talking hypothetically, does that move push them into contenders?

In theory, I can see why COL considers this, but it only interests them if Ryjo has a bad season, at which point BUF definitely doesn't do the trade.

Why would COL not want young cost-controlled guys for long-term, even if RyJo has a mediocre-good season? Even if Avs win the cup this year, doesn't change that this clears 8.5 shmilli. They could re-sign all 3 for the same cost as Manson. Buff would be interested because 1) Manson won a Stanley cup with E. Johnson so they can provide vet leadership during a run, 2) If RyJo has a bad season it'll be because he isn't meant for the top 6 anymore and is having poor matchups - he would bring vet stability on the 4th pair in Buff and he wins face-offs - which nobody else on Buff can. Would help tremendously to gain possession and preserve the lead late in a game - Buff is notorious for giving up leads.

The point being for Colorado, if you read the post you quoted, is that some of that cap they acquire is gone on re-signing the trio they acquire. They have to re-sign MR, BB, AG & LOC with that money. So whilst on face value it looks great, if you look at the players they have to re-sign it's not necessarily a smart move. Do you risk losing Rantanen, Byram & Georgiev (and LOC) if you're Colorado? Colorado need to shed cap whilst adding little going forward. Let's just assume that they CAN sign the trio for the same money as Manson. That's just reduced the cap acquired to 4 mil and they have to find a 2C as there isn't a viable option atm internally.

Peyton Krebs @ 2C for 1.5-2 shmilli per

What has Krebs done to suggest he is a 2C?

This right here.

When did Krebs suddenly become a 2C and if he's all that then why would you want to move him? Basically with this trade (and assuming a much more generous rise in the cap than you've illustrated here to take the cap up to 88 mil) the Avs would have 7m to sign a 2C, 4LW, 3LD and 3 healthy scratches if we're being generous. The only realistic two FA 2C's available as it stands would be Stephenson and Lindholm. The first you might get for 7 if you're lucky, but then you're still 5 players short, and Lindholm likely costs more. The only way it works is if they BANK on Krebs BECOMING one or Ritchie being able to step into the NHL as an immediate 2C, both pretty much pipe dreams. That way they probably still have enough cap to re-sign MR, BB, AG and LOC.

In addition to that if you're talking PK at 1.5 to 2 mil and then with a small increase or even staying the same for each of the others you're far exceeding Manson's 4.5 mil.