My only real issue with this lineup is that I'm really not thrilled about losing Gus. He was a better possession player than TVR last year, and I think the return should be better for him. I'd rather move McNeill with Bickell and a pick.

Also, why Greening? Hartman is ready for NHL minutes, let Desi play on his natural wing. Overall nice work tho.

Think you're right about the draft picks in 2017. To get more value for the Hawks, maybe Bickell comes to the Leafs for that 4th rounder you traded to Buffalo and the Hawks keep Gustafson.

Given up a 2nd round pick and retaining salary on Greening just to pay Shaw similar money if not more to fill a similar roll seems like a huge step back for the Leafs. If we are helping you with your cap situation we would need to be compensated beyond just Shaw.

Note I say this knowing that Shaw is a good player but in the cap would you need to be underpaying your bottom six players so you can overpay your top six.

From the Hawks standpoint, I still trust a proven veteran like Greening over Hartman to produce at the NHL level. Greening registered 15 points in 31 games and could give the Hawks bottom 6 a much needed scoring threat. I love the idea that Hartman and other young guys will finally be ready to provide the depth we need, and didn't have in 2016. However, not convinced they're all ready for everyday roles.

We could possibly try a Svedberg swap instead of Gus, however they all know what we do. Gus shows much more potential, or at least did in his puck movement game. Hope to keep him too, especially as a bridge until Pokka is fully ready. Maybe the hope is that McNeill gets that trade done instead, as you mentioned.

rgtai: The Toronto pick that comes back may not be as high as a 2nd, but I would think there would need to be a decent pick to compensate the age difference between Shaw and Greening (24 and 30). Shaw has his best years ahead of him