I doubt Arizona considers trading Shmaltz for that. Taking about 11mil in cap dumps and trading Shmaltz for Valimaki and a first? No chance. Change Valimaki to Kylington, and add a high quality prospect, someone like Pelletier and a 2nd, and the Yotes probably consider. Cap space is extremely valuable right now, and it isn’t coming cheap, especially if you are trying to dump about 11mil. Monahan could potentially be flipped, but that is still up in the air with him having his second hip surgery. The Yotes won’t be trading their valuable assets for peanuts, and that’s what you are trying to do here.

I honestly don’t’ think see the point in giving up valuable assets trying to dump Monaghan and Lucic. Both have 1 year deals so you’re only paying for cap space this season. Lucic is a good leader and an important physical presence on the 4th line. Monahan could still return to form, so if anything he may carry a little value. I like going for Schmaltz but you don’t need to give up both of them to make room (Kadri isn’t coming to Calgary). Monahan, Valimaki and a 1st seems like a good start, maybe throw in Zary if that doesn’t get it done.

I find this position to be one of the peculiarities of CapFriendly. Someone like me is trying for a best case scenario trade for “my” team and someone comes along and points out that the other team “wouldn’t do that”

I think that logic and us gut checking each other is important to be within the bounds of realistic trades but I find the comments always overblown on that.

For example, in this case, there is 100% a reality where gaining all that future cash budget by not paying Schmaltz is something of value to Arizona. It’s a business decision. I believe it’s in the word of realistic. I’d be surprised if someone said it was not given how little value wingers traded at this year.

Yes, cap space is valuable, but in this case it is $5.8 out and about $9.3M in (Looch is half retained and passed along to Boston).

Is Monahan Valimaki and a first enough for taking on about $3.5M of cap space and gaining more long term cap flexibility and getting value for an asset that ages out during your future window? I would think the concept of “trade Schmaltz for anything of value to be worse this year and better in the future” would be the view from Arizona ownership.