I think every time you use a letter, like team X, or Asset A, its an unknown. And I think there are too many unknown to be considered realistic. It works in theory but getting actual teams and assets to line up well enough (in real life) for this to go through is as rear as hens teeth.
You are dealing with other teams that are trying to achieve their plans, and summing up whats best for them. They are not just sitting around waiting for a situation that complicated.
It's not hard to put names to the assets and teams. That wasn't really the point of the post.
But before yesterday would Boston have been interested in OEL at $1.8M...for sure. And most of the teams in the wildcard mix, especially those such as Pittsburgh whose window is about to close, could use a veteran LHD for depth in a playoff run.
Then it just comes down to value of the assets. The value of a 7th is nominal. How much would Team Y give up for OEL at $1.8M? At that cap hit it would probably be a 2nd or a 3rd. The biggest challenge in moving OEL is the amount of his cap hit and the term of 4 years. Getting him at $1.8M removes a lot of that challenge. Boston just paid a very big price for Orlov. Using that as a market setter, OEL for a 2nd is not out of the question.
That leaves to be determined how much Vancouver would have to pay to offload $3.6M of OELs contract. A 2nd and a prospect (e.g. Rathbone)? Anaheim has a lot of cap space and is looking to get younger assets in.
So that would be:
Vancouver trades OEL (50% retained), Rathbone, 2nd to Anaheim in exchange for a 7th (expensive and IDK if I'd do it but it is realistic)
Anaheim trades OEL (50% retained) for a 2nd.
Pittsburgh trades a 2nd for OEL at $1.8M
Anaheim nets two 2nds and Rathbone and loses a 7th to take on $1.8M of OELs contract. That's actually pretty decent for them.
And, if Vancouver can use some of its LTIR space to take on a bad contract, that move it further in their favour. Maybe they don't have to give up Rathbone.
I don't disagree that it is difficult to line things up. But Boston/Washington and St Louis/Toronto just showed that it isn't too complicated to make happen.