The only TDL trade we should make

Team: 2018-19 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 9, 2019

Published: Jan. 9, 2019

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Whether you agree with the value of this deal or not, my point is that we shouldn't be giving up too many top quality futures in a blockbuster deal. The shanaplan is about being good for a long period of time, and once the core is locked up this summer for 6-8 years it will be about using these futures to fill those roster spots for cheap.

And realistically giving up high quality futures for a Edler/Tanev/Kronwall caliber player just isn't worth it, does the upgrade of Tanev over Hainsey on the first unit suddenly make us better then Tampa, absolutely not.

Jensen gives us a slight upgrade and would cost us at most a 3rd rounder.

Anything can happen in hockey, so we still have a slight chance of beating Tampa this year, but if we keep our futures, and play our cards right, I could almost guarantee that we will be a better team than Tampa in 2-4 years. And compete with them every year until then.

My one exception might be Hamilton though, if we could get Hamilton for Kapanen, Lilgren, 1st and 3rd I'd do it(which I know is very unlikely). Only for him since he's 25, has a low cap hit for a few years , is a true top pairing defensemen and will be for years to come. Parayko is simililar but I don't think St Louis would trade him without Nylander being apart of the deal, Carolina is more of a wild card because of their hockey illiterate owner forcing their Gms arm