Brown for Benning didn't happen at the trade deadline, apparently because there was no agreement on additional pieces. Its likely that there is no straight-up one-for-one to be had with these two players. In any case, you're asking for trouble if you plan to play Benning in your top four.

If that's all they can get for Kapanen, they're in real trouble.

Hard pass from Dallas.

Dallas guys whose opinions I hold in high regard suggested this trade to me.

The alternative is Liljegren or Holl.

Islander fans are very high on Mayfield.

Why is it a hard pass? Because you think Hintz plays 2nd line next year? Can't be because Pitlick is an invaluable member of the 3rd/4th line..... maybe you feel the 3rd is too much?

Bottom line is this. Kadri is an upgrade on Faska. Pitlick is replaceable. So your top 3 centres would be Seguin, Hintz and Kadri. That's a helluva middle. Jim Nill has balls as a GM. Frankly he entertains it I think. He may pass, but it is no "hard pass".

Provide the guy with actual feedback, you know insight as to why it's a hard pass.

Have to agree with that. Cannot see Lou moving a young blueliner. Not yet anyway, even for Kappy. My thoughts are he may try and offload Boychuk, but with the cap the team has, I don't see major surgery via the trade route.

There are better options via free agency than Kadri, and they'd much rather take Hintz as a 2C & Faksa as a shutdown 3C over Kadri as a 2C and losing Faksa.

As I said in my earlier response, two very knowledgeable Dallas guys are the actual origin of this trade. I had suggested Hintz and Honka for Kadri and two thirds, but they said Faksa and Potluck [dontcha love auto-correct?] was the right deal.

The way Hintz broke out this year, Kadri is a tough sell to get him. Really, Faska is a great fit as a 3rd liner and for payroll structure long term. If Hintz does what it looks like he can do, we maybe having this same discussion in two years. Honka over Pitlick maybe makes more sense for the Leafs though, but it looks as though he may finally figure into the plans next year.

With Boychuk and Pulock ahead of him, and Dobson and Wilde behind him, Mayfield is surplus to their needs. Note that your reluctance to release Mayfield is in contrast to newballcoach's opinion that Kapanen should get more. I agree with you that if anything, Lamoriello would be resistant to this trade rather than joyously embracing it. The final determining factor in my mind is that I think Lou is happy to let Eberle walk, but wants a replacement for him one line down.

Why not Dobson and a bone for Kappy then? He looks to be NHL ready..... more a victim of the numbers game (also see Hurricane Fleury, Haydyn lol)

I wouldn’t want Kadri as a third liner. We don’t have a place on the team for him. Faksa works great as a shut down defensive forward.

I think it’s a hard pass for several reasons, Hintz will likely be the 2C. Faksa has been an excellent shut down 3C and will be 25 at the start of 19/20 and makes over $2Mil less than Kadri. It doesn’t make sense to give up another affordable bottom 6 forward in Pitlick and a pick, which the Stars have in short supply. Not to mention the fact that Kadri’s value is the lowest it’s been since his stupid high hit on DeBrusk and the fact that everyone knows Tor needs to dump salary.

I said hard pass because I don’t think Jim Nill would entertain this for one second. It doesn’t make sense for the Stars. If Faksa goes to Toronto, it will be Kapanen coming south.

Disagree tbh. I think Dallas would be foolish to not accept this. Dickinson can take over the shutdown role and we can add another offensive piece. Yeah he’s got some baggage but he’s much better offensively than Faksa

Valid points. But I wonder how much longer that window is really open with Seguin and Benn. They clearly drive the bus (we all remember the "callout"). Kadri, for the Stars, is a better for than Kappy for the simple fact you win with 3 centres that can produce offensively. (Note: this Leafs fan recognizes they really won't contend next year, or likely the year after). Does Nill go all in or stick with a process?

All in he does it. Process he doesn't. Don't see grey area here.

Here’s the thing, Kadri had two more goals that Faksa this year, in 8 less games. Granted, he had 64 combined over the previous two seasons. But I don’t think Kadri is a better offensive player than other options that would cost much less to acquire, if not in salary dollars, at least in assets going the other way. Personally, I think Faksa can be a shut down guy and a 20 goal guy, especially if he plays on a line that’s not specifically a grind line.