This offseason, the Washington Capitals and St. Louis Blues are in the same boat. Both teams are eager to move their top-six attackers in order to freshen up their lineups. Evgeny Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko may be switching teams, which may be a match made in heaven.
The 29-year-old Kuznetsov would join the Blues with four years remaining on his contract, which pays him $7.8 million a season. The Capitals have had enough of Kuznetsov's shenanigans, which have primarily occurred off the court, and have made it clear that they are open to offers. He scored 29 points in 41 games last season and has no-trade protection in the shape of a 15-team list.
The Blues may be the greatest offer for Kuznetsov for the Capitals, as Tarasenko is still one of the game's finest scorers; he just needs to stay healthy. The Russian star, who earns $7.5 million a season, is also 29 years old and has two seasons left on his contract. He has a no-trade provision in his contract, but he will agree to play with Alex Ovechkin. Tarasenko had 14 points in 24 games last season, and it's been a few years since he scored 30 goals, but a clean bill of health will go a long way.
When the stars align, it's only natural for both teams to pull the trigger. Given both teams' ages, wages, output, and requirements, this mega-deal is a no-brainer.
