How is the Value - Blockbuster with STL

Team: 2018-19 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Dec. 14, 2018

Published: Dec. 15, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

TSN has Parayko #1 on the trade bait list (not necessarily to Toronto ofc) and GM said anyone but Schwartz is up for grabs so I was seeing what he would cost and if we could even do it.

The return for the Blues:
Timothy Liljegren: The main piece of the trade has been excellent in AHL at 18 and has been just as good at 19, made world juniors (although injured atm) and will be a top 4 dman for sure, a top 2 guy if he hits his full potential. Parayko makes him expendable as both Reilly and Dermott can ply RD.

Connor Brown is a defensive specialist who can score and be a good TWF if put into a normal 3rd line role. Has even corsi even though he has a 36% Ozone start rate. Babs trusts him to kill penalties and shut down lines, which is incredibly hard to get and shows that he is currently buried in the organization and just needs more ice time to shine. This one hurts Toronto as Babs really trusts him to do the dirty work in the defensive zone, he is quickly becoming the most underrated Leaf by Leaf fans and shifting his duties will be an interesting task for the team and whoever it lands on.

Nikita Zaitzev: The negative hype around him is vastly overblown, and his inclusion is as a cap dump due to the fact he is overpaid. Used in right role and playing with a solid partner (more defensively solid than Gardiner) could do him wonders and you have a good but overpaid 2nd pair guy. Also, general consensus among insiders is that there is a market for him and he would return value if traded. Parayko is an upgrade to Zaitzev, so not much to say here for how it affects Toronto, as it is the whole point of the trade.

Mason Marchment is just about ready for the NHL and you likely have a 3rd line scoring winger on your hands here. Leafs have a few guys like him in the same spot so he is expendable, but you are getting a good little player to add to your teams depth. Think Sosh but better and younger and less injury prone.

A late 1st: Its a late first, could be John Carlsson, could be Gabe Carlsson, could be Rasmus Sandin who knows.
2 late 2nds: Not much to say here.

Depending on how the pro-rating works, Leafs could bring up Moore as an extra. Although they may stay at 22 in order to ensure bonuses get paid (3.7 mil is the likely bonuses given out).
On the retained salary, the Leafs essentially trade short term cap relief for a long term cap penalty, or the trade equivalent of a buyout. Helps the Leafs now and next year, helps the blues later on when they are contendng again and/or want to move Zaitzev. It effectively means the Blues retain 1 million for Parayko's contract, and the Leafs retain 1 million for the 2 years after that.

Inb4 1 star hur dur Zaitzev has negative value, Blues don't trade Pary for that!