At first I would have so no as a Caps fan, because we really need Grubauer for picks, but Fox is a great talent and we can just buyout Brouwer at that price.

That's the thought, the main trade here is Klimchuk and Fox for Grubauer rights all while losing Orpik's contract, I think the value is pretty close just depends if the caps would be willing to give up Grubby

Have to think TOR would be interested in a conversation for that package for Brown, right? I know Babcock loves Brown, and rightly so. But Stone adds defensive depth on their third pair (and might actually be more useful than Zaitsev in many ways), plus Bennett at 21 years old still has upside. Especially if given a shot in their top 6 back in his home province.

I think Versteeg is a useful player, but if he's going to be doing 4th line minutes, CGY is better off heating up a young guns competition for the bottom 6. Mangiapane deserves a long look. Dube could come to camp more prepared than people think.

Like you, I'm optimistic that Foo takes a solid 2-3 steps this offseason. Although right now, I'm not overly excited about that second line just yet. Tkachuk/Backlund are lethal together. And that's against the best lines every night. No reason to break up that marriage just yet.

Seems like a serious overpayment for Brown, and the Washington trade isn't doing us too many favours either. Not sold on the need for Grubauer and isn't Orpik's just another bad contract clogging up your D prospects? That's helping out Washington with two serious problems, while eating $2mm on Brouwer too? Not happening. And let's be serious, if you want Fox it would be Grubauer plus....

As a caps fan I really like this trade. Klimchuk still has potential to be a 3rd line winger and Fox could be very good as well. I don't think there is much of a doubt that the caps will be looking to trade Gruby this offseason, he's too good and we don't have money if we want to re-sign Carlson. I don't really know what we'd do with Brouwer, but with the retained salary maybe we can flip him for a mid-level pick, and getting Orpik off the books is a plus. Good trade, let's get it done!

The league knows that the odds of Fox signing in Calgary are seriously dwindling, they're not going to over pay for him when he has a shot to be a free agent in the next couple years. Grubauer is a more serious option than Gilles or Rittich at this point and you can just increase the window for those two guys to get into the NHL, also you could confidently lessen Smith's workload. Orpik is only one year of a bad contract, he is still an elite penalty killer and an effective left side 3rd pairing defenseman that could cover Andersson's ass for a year. Also his contract is off the books next year, we would only have to pay Brouwer 2 Mill for 2 more years as opposed to a buy out where we would be paying him 1.5 for 4 more years. The Brown trade, I would argue that Stone has next to zero trade value at that price instead of retaining we would throw in a low end pick to counteract his value, the trade then become Bennett for Brown straight across, you're basically getting a similar player but he plays on the right side and has produced much more, it may be an over payment, but not by much.

Brouwer at 2.5 million is a much more palatable buyout option as well! If he end up producing even just a little in Washington this trade is a win for the Caps I think.

First off, Bennett has outproduced Brown slightly , even while getting little to no PP time and a mixed bag of line mates plus shifted from wing to C and back to wing. His upside is also way higher than Brown so the Flames lose that trade.

As for Fox, he is currently entering his Junior year and to go FA has to play an additional full 2 years at Harvard then isn't available till 15 August 2020. Your speculation he would not sign has ZERO basis in fact. He has attended Flames development camp already and established connections, similar to Gaudreau before him and I think its likely he will sign, perhaps after this season, similar to what Gaudreau did (after his 3rd year). It allows him more development time and the majority of his degree, which can be finished just like Gaudreau is doing/has done. As far as his potential, based on what he has accomplished since the draft, and the comparisons that have been made for him, he may take the NHL by storm as an elite Top pairing D his rookie year. So, to think he's a throw-in or not worth much, think again. The Flames can wait, they have several other top-level D pretty much ready to go.

Now as for Washington, Grubauer has been pretty good, though he did wilt badly come playoffs, and is an RFA. With an even better Samsonov playing lights out, are they really going to let Samsonov sit and stew in the KHL by signing Grubauer for another 2-3 years? I believe Samsonov's ELC can only slide for another year (?), and how likely is it that Grubauer signs only a 1 year extension? Zilch. Well, who knows.... If you drop the retention on Brouwer, and drop Klimchuk, the Flames MIGHT consider giving over Fox for Grubauer, but it would be a difficult choice. They have many other options and I'd think Washington would have to further sweeten the pot to make it a go.