Quoting: Leafs_and_Sens_Fan
In what world is Benning worth more than DeMelo? He's worth a low 3rd the Sharks 3rd is just outside the 2nd round.
I'd say you were just a touch in favor of Edmonton for all of the trades.
Myelnk doesnt want to trade Gaborik because he can use him to count towards cap hit and insurance pays for the contract.
Take out the picks in the Ottawa trade.
Benning is younger, comes with RFA club control, can be signed for half of what Demelo is going to make on his new deal, and maintains one of the highest GF% of all defencemen in the league over the past 3 seasons (he's 24th for reference, outperforming guys like Klingberg, Jones, and Ekholm). Demelo was traded for a mid-third round pick. Given the above, Benning is easily worth more. The third acquired for Bening is more, and the deferred 5th Round Pick is effectively nothing.
The Montreal trade comes from Montreal fans. The Ottawa trade is two trades in one, the basis for which was created by a Sens fan. These are fair deals.
The actual dollars owed to Russell after his signing bonus is paid will be less than what the Senators have to actually pay in insurance for Gaborik's deal. The Athletic just released a piece on this two days ago. It literally saves the Senators money, I don't know what else Melnyk would need. Let's break down the Senators deal: Oilers fans and Ken Holland will maintain that Jesse Puljujarvi is worth a pair of 2nd Round Picks or a high 2nd and a B-prospect. I've settled for one of Ottawa's mid-second round picks, a B-prospect, and the pick Edmonton gave up in the Ennis deal. Is that not fair, given what the ask for Puljujarvi - likely to have a higher ceiling than whoever Ottawa drafts with the Columbus pick - is? Gaborik is swapped for Russell in a deal that both teams benefit from, and Edmonton passes along a 3rd Round Pick because they're arguably getting more out of the deal than Ottawa is.