Stinking at Hockey knows no age and is very familiar with Garret Sparks. I don't think Leafs Fans are being realistic by putting him in trades. What exactly has the guy proven to you other then making you sure you don't want him as your backup. If you haven't proven anything you have zero value. Sparks shouldn't be desirable enough to give up a pick for, he's more like waiver wire material.

Kind of brings to light just how screwed they are. All these trades and you still only have $300k in cap room for next season. Zero chance you get Kapanen and Johnsson under $3m at this point.

Players who make under 1.1m (I forget the exact figure) can be sent to the minors without any cap implications. So we see so many of these trades which are cap meaningless, such as Sparks. Now if you want to trade him fine, but anyone reason to think Hutchinson is better. Leafs aren't really screwed on the cap, but there are so many posts that the Leafs make trades trading greater money with a sweetener and then getting money back. IMO the better way is to trade maybe just one or two NHLer for a prospect/pick and then you're cap compliant. There are other teams in the same position as the Leafs this summer so it's going to be a crowded seller market.

Johansson turned down 4yr @ 2.6M earlier this season. Less term and slightly more money may work.
Kappy has out up same numbers as Johansson so very comparable. Gave him a bit more based on experience.

james neal is a playoff scratch. how does getting him clear cap space

It doesn't. It gets the Leafs Andersson and Ruzicka. Overall the Leafs save money on the trade and still get a player who I believe can still put the puck in the net if paired with Matthews.
The Leafs gain the experience in Neal, and again I believe it balances out their Top 3 lines more this way.

At worst, he does not work out and the following year when they have more money they can either trade at the TDL and retain salary or buy him out.

CBJ decline, Jenner can provide what Kdri brings at a cheaper price and won't get suspended for it.