I think that Toronto makes that trade.

I don't see why you would trade Dillon, though. That left side looks scary weak to me (after Vlasic, of course).

Toronto adds more cap and gives up the better, younger player plus a pick? .. Toronto declines easily.

Thornton will take closer to 1 million I bet and Pavs is going to be closer to 6 million. I would not pay Donskoi that much, would rather spend it on Lebanc. Also, I think Dillon stays and Melker is out the door.

Sorry . . . Braun is an indisputably clearcut improvement over anyone else on the right side currently on Toronto's roster other than Nikita Zaitsev, and there's no assurance that Zaitsev will be staying, either. Even as a #3RD, he's more valuable to the Maple Leafs than Connor Brown.

Is Ziatsev a UFA now? No he isn't he's under contract and will do what he's told, just cause he asked to be traded doesn't mean he will be

Yea I agree with you. Leafs have to do get rid of cap before even considering that trade.
But even the post has just a roster of 20. I'm afraid the signing of Karlsson is going to force the Sharks to do all kinds of deals to be cap compliant. Something like the Leafs signing Tavares....and the cap situation a year later.

LD need bolstering. Perhaps keeping Dillon would make things work. I do think Toronto makes that kind of a trade given their desperate need for a better RHD. Brown is relatively expendable in Toronto's lineup. Paid as a 3rd line forward, but bounces between 3rd and 4th lines. Zaitsev has indicated he wanted out, I see him as leaving, but not sure if SJ is the right spot for him.

Sharks will have to work cap magic to get their group to stay together. I definitely see Thornton signing a league minimum 1 year deal to help the Sharks with cap space. Captain America.....I'm not so sure.

That's exactly why I said "there's no assurance that Zaitsev will be staying." My point is that even if Zaitsev stays, Braun would still be one of the two top-4 RD's on the team.

I agree, Braun can be had for less than Brown

Your team does not fit under the cap since you need to add 3 players to the roster...

Boy, were YOU right!!