WSH/COL

[GM Office Q]

To Capitals:
F Wojtek Wolski (71)
D Stefan Elliott (70)
COL 2nd 2013 (39th overall)
COL 3rd 2013 (69th overall)

To Avalanche:
F Nikita Gusev (61)
F Jarret Stoll (77)
F Taylor Pyatt (59)

[GM Office Q]

This deal for the first time gives me some depth at right wing as all three players coming back my way are capable of playing on the right side. With Osala, Landeskog and Saad as my hitters, I needed to make a move for a guy to play with Duchene and Gusev, though relatively low CON, gives me a guy who can likely produce at a similar rate as Wolski but for a fraction of the cost. As well, and it cost me a second round pick to bridge the gap, I'm getting Stoll who can play on any line for me. He could step up with his 88 FO and play top line center, he could play with Landeskog and Saad to complete a nice second grinding line, or he could play in my bottom 6 and make the Avs harder to play against. Taylor Pyatt will also make the bottom six harder to play against as he should play well with O'Reilly (if ROR can ever stay healthy). All of a sudden, a bottom six of Ponikarovsky, Stoll, Upshall, O'Reilly, Pyatt and Hejduk looks a lot stronger.

The Capitals use their depth up front to get Wolski, a guy with ridiculous hitting and great offensive skill to vault the top six into one of the best in the league, while only giving up guys lower in their depth chart. A valuable pick, a mediocre pick and a prospect were included to balance out the trade. The cap hits coming from either side won't be an issue. Nice deal!

EDIT: Added Elliott's CON.

[CapsGM]

To Colorado:
F Nikita Gusev [61]
F Jarret Stoll [77]
F Taylor Pyatt [59]

To Washington:
F Wojtek Wolski [71]
D Stefan Elliott [70]
Colorado's second round pick in 2013 (39th overall)
Colorado's third round pick in 2013 (69th overall)

The main pieces of the deal are Gusev + Stoll for Wolski + #39; after the playoffs it was pretty clear that I needed some more physicality up front and bringing in Wolski is a step towards addressing that. Stoll is a consistent 50 point player and always plays well in any position on any line, but he's been sliding down the depth chart behind more talented acquisitions (Tarasenko, Parise) and draftees (Hofmann, PDG). I had high hopes for Gusev, but I couldn't keep all three of Tarasenko/Friberg/Gusev around since they all have a very similar skill set. I lose two top-six forwards, but it's worth it for Wolski and I still have a significant amount of cap space to acquire another winger. I can draft a solid prospect with #39 or use it as trade bait to move up in the first round.

Pyatt for #69 + Elliott is a depth move - Pyatt is a decent fourth liner with CON as his only drawback; I doubt Elliott will ever make it out of Hershey, but I'll be happy if I can draft a role player with #69.

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

Approved.

Addresses needs/desires for both teams.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Entered.