U really hit the post on that value for Matthews and Gardiner. More definitely could b added.
But Id say the puck is in the net on the other trade.

I think this would be better titled a Leafs nightmare. These trades are horrible. The 2 best players in all of the trades are leaving TO. Matthews is not going to get traded, PERIOD. And all these Nylander for Hamilton trades are being proposed by people who don't understand hockey or team needs. Hamilton is right handed but isn't good defensively and takes a tonne of bad penalties. Toronto already has that type of Defenceman. Trading Nylander for another problem blue liner hurts TO a tonne. Goals are the hardest thing to come by and Nylander creates a hell of a lot more offense than Hamilton does.

So you dont think I should trade Zaitsev and Gardiner then?
Figure I could get more for them? They were only included to try and get some sort of value from Matthew's and Nylander... those guys need some sweetener for the talents of Ferland and Chychrun...

But in all honesty, Hamilton is a stud possession guy... easily one of the better defenseman in the league. 64 Penalty Minutes isnt terrible, sure a little more discipline would be nice and Babcock would provide that. I dont see anywhere that screams problem defenceman from Hamilton. If going off just points, Nylander had 66 playing with Matthews, Marner, PP etc, where as Hamilton had 44 sending off lead passes to Gaudreau and Monahan and sending bombs from the point.
I could change the trade to send Nylander + to STL for Paryako. Paryako is the bonafide top young defenseman in my opinion. But STL isnt looking for more wingers, they need centers.

How about you don't trade Nylander, Marner or Matthews. They are the stars of the team and will be for 10 years at least. Hamilton didn't have such great possession numbers until he was paired with Gioradano. I don't like Hamilton cause he isn't a winner

Matthew's is an elite 1C... Keller is a 1C, playing in Arizona. Had 65 points last season to Matthews 63 (Matthew's played 20 less games though). Matthew's to me wasnt a team player in the playoffs at all. He seemed scared, tired at times, didnt have that drive to win. Granted he could have also been playing injured.
Getting a 1C + Top 4 D + JVR top 6 replacement in Dvorak is decent value... maybe I could send more because Gardiner was included, but I honestly dont think that Gardiner is all that good... great offensively, poor otherwise.

23M for the trio... some of that money would be better off used on a defenceman imo... not taking over a quarter of the teams cap. Matthews and Marner could carry their own lines. Nylander seems to struggle without a bonafide player centering him. His time at center wasnt terrible either, but really needed guidance from Marleau...
I'm one of those cynical Leafs fans. Happy Dubas is looking after the team. He is a smart guy that knows hockey. I'm just a guy on the internet

Nylander is 21 years old and has a tonne of potential, should have been the 4th overall pick his draft year. Sending him for a player that has less potential but plays defence is a mistake. Remember when Edmonton sent Hall to New Jersey? The leafs have zero bad contracts currently. If they can keep it that way, they can afford the big 3 and still upgrade the defence. They could even sign Tavares, the big 3 and still afford a guy like Tanev to bridge the gap until Liljegren is ready to play in the NHL. Then you have 3 years of him on and ELC. The Leafs are in a great position because they don't have contracts like Lucic or other terrible contracts for declining assets.

I'm honestly not that high on Nylander and Matthew's. I'm of the mind that the more effort you put in the higher you get rewarded. That is why I like Marner and Andersen. They are always dialed in and Marner always has his legs moving. Matthew's and Nylander lack that effort in my opinion... my opinion isn't popular, I get that but Matthew's and Nylander were quiet in the playoffs, and really lacked any drive even in the regular season... (I didnt catch every game, but watched like 40ish games over the course of the year + playoffs).