... Umm, what!? With all due respect, this isn't NHL 2018. Who in their right mind would take those trades!?

Long term, you just lost Marner and Matthews to cap space.

If nylander signs for almost 8 were screwed

not really because leafs would free up a lot of capspace after this year as the following players are UFA: Hainsey (3 M), Pominville (4 M), Nash (3.5 M), McElhinney (0.85M) plus you have Hortons salary which can be put on LTIR for roughly (5.3M) giving the leafs a total of 17.8M in cap space based on this years salary cap. Not counting what Matthews and Marner are making currently which makes it 19.61M to get them both resigned (Matthews at 12M per, and Marner getting the same as Nylander). So this would mean that the leafs need to get rid of Dubinsky's 2.95M salary somehow (most likely add a pick and trade him for prospects) While filling out the 4th line with players under 1M. Once Marleau leaves a year after that the leafs will have enough cap space flexibility.

cap comparable is 6.75M based on what Johnny got from Flames a couple of years ago, but Nylander has a higher Ceiling and this is factoring in what he may command once potentially playing with JT with the leafs. Also JVR got 7M per year so I'd say its fair to assume Nylander would get something between 7-8M per year as Draisaitl got 8.5M from Oilers and Nylander is just below him in terms of Ceiling.

CBJ is desperate to get rid of Dubinsky's contract and they get back fair value as it's basically Zaitsev and Kapanen for Jones, and then Timashov, Brooks and a 7th for their 2nd and Dubinsky's contract.

Buf needs to get rid of Pominville's salary and they were in the market to trade Ristolainen for young forwards plus a D to replace him. So its basically Ristolainen for Gardiner, Brown, Sparks and Moore. Then Pominville and a 1st for Carrick and two 2nd's. 6th pick for Leivo. Leaf's may have to throw in potentially a conditional 4th which turns into a 3rd if Pominville plays more than 50 games with the leafs.

I definitely see where you were thinking and where it was coming from. I just think the value that you are offering is wishful thinking. Kapanen I think has top six upside, maybe even a first line fixture but Zaitsev has been looking like more of a liability, thats where I think you lose teams. Would be great to get Jones though.

Nylander needs a contract before the season starts so playing with JT has no relevance. His contract will play a factor in Marner and Matthews contracts in a year so it’s a big deal considering they will both want comparatively more then him. If he’s 8 Marners 9/10 and Matthews is 11/12. Kucherov just signed for 9.5 for some perspective