Ottawa doesn't really care about winning in the next 3 seasons, and they have a buttload of cap space. Their focus will be to keep salary near league minimum (for Melnyk), while gaining assets for the rebuild. IMO the two players that seem destined to be traded eventually, are Boedker and Smith. Boedker is a speedy middle-6 winger, and Smith is ideally a 3rd liner with some grit to his game. I think both would be good fits on EDM.
As for EDM... they want to win now, and get out of some bad long term contracts. They don't want to sell the farm, but it looks like they may be willing to give up an asset for the right deal. I think that deal has to include improving the team now AND giving them options under the cap long-term. Lucic is the main culprit obviously.
My proposal:
To OTT:
Lucic
Benning
2020 1st
To EDM:
Boedker
Smith
Year 1 [salary (cap hit)]
EDM: 6.250 (7.250) *Boedker and Smith
OTT: 8.000 (7.900) *Lucic and Benning
Year 2
EDM: 3.250 (3.250) *Smith
OTT: 4.000 (6.000) * Lucic
Year 3
OTT: 5.000 (6.000) *Lucic
Year 4
OTT: 4.000 (6.000)
The upside for OTT in this proposal is obviously the 2020 pick. Lucic and Smith somewhat equal eachother in terms of production and leadership, and Boedker hasn't been there long anyways. The downside is the 4th year of Lucic's contract. Some would argue the 3rd year is also a burden, but with Bobby Ryan still on the team (in year 3), they will not be in a position to compete anyways. Now, with only 1 year left on Looch's contract, Ottawa will be in a decent position to retain on Lucic and trade him after the first three rebuilding years. It also sets them up to make a big splash in free agency in 2022 and 2023. Guys like RNH, Hamilton, Landeskog, Gaudreau, Forsberg, Barkov, Hertl, S.Jones, etc... are set to be UFAs in those years. Many will not hit it, but some may, and OTT will have rebuilt and likely be looking to make a splash.
As for EDM, they upgrade their team short-term, but also aren't locked in for long. Smith can center the 3rd line, and Boedker's speed might mesh well with Draisatl or McDavid. He's certainly at least be good on the 2nd line with RNH and Draisatl. The downside is they lose their 2020 1st/ The silver lining is they should make the playoffs (in 2020) and need that pick a lot less than before. They are no longer tied to Lucic's long contract, and they have some cap flexibility.
Value aside, I think this deal improves both teams in terms of their goals/needs.