There's only one 88 and he plays for the Hawks!

1 - The cap is not going to be near 88. It will be around 84, at best.
2 - The Blues laugh and hang up.

Sorry, man. Real talk.

Blues aren't trading Pietrangelo rights, And fat chance he signs that cheaply he wants closer to $10 million per not $8 million.

Blues should take that trade. He's a UFA, they could still sign him back anyway, plus get the assets.

Lol, when has anyone ever gave up that much for a UFA's rights. It is usually just a conditional pick when they realize they won't sign him. The Leafs could get a really good D who is signed with term for that package.

Bracco has zero value (I cannot stress this enough) and Johnsson may be damaged goods (at least for the next year+). I like Dermott, he is a decent LD, but may be redundant/not needed in our group. Most importantly, adding all these players to the cap pretty much makes it impossible to re-sign Petro, who likely wouldn't appreciate the gambit in the first place.

I think with the Corona issue, the cap will no go beyond $86 million, and the players would have to agree to increase the escrow, which is always a sticking point to cap determination.

Next, if it gets to the draft and Pietrangelo is still not resigned by the Blues, I suspect the Blues will take what they can get for his rights. The fact that you are having the Leafs make such a generous offer to them solely for rights is way way too nice, extremely Canadian of you, and a little ridiculous actually. No way they would ever make that offer, since they would automatically become one of the favourites to sign him, in large part because this is his home town. Let me preface this by saying the Leafs would be among a group of favourites, not necessarily THE ONE AND ONLY favourite. The Leafs will not be offering that package up, since they could sign him for free, though it would likely cost them just under $10 million AAV on a 7 year deal. Maybe something in the ballpark of $9.25 million AAV.

For that too happen, the Leafs would have to trade some wingers, and probably Dermott as well.