Why is vegas doing this?

Toronto would take that in a heartbeat. You could get more for Bonino without retention

Vegas is looking for RD not LD

Jarnkrok wouldn't a bad piece for VGK since he's a quality top 9 forward on a cheap deal, but they have no shortage of LHD. And trading Ekholm really depletes Nashville's top 4.

Ekholm can play the right side, but I was looking at it as Ekholm - Theodore // McNabb/Martinez - Schmidt as their top 4. As far as depleting the NSH D, yes it would hurt. But getting back Hague helps in the long-term. They can add a stop-gap (Hutton in this case, who would be enticing for Seattle -- partially why I signed him to that contract) and then they have Hague/Davies/Farrance who are all young and could take over the 2nd and 3rd pairing LD spots. All of a sudden, NSH has Hague - Fabbro // Davies/Farrance - Carrier who should all develop into capable defenseman and are all under 23.

I originally had it as Engvall + 2nd + 3rd, but with adding Watson I dropped the 3rd to a 4th. I think it helps both clubs. Gets rid of Watson's contract, gives NSH some picks, and gives NSH a younger player with size -- and it gives TOR a great, defensive 3C (who can also add points) + some grit to their bottom 6. Could always increase the picks going to NSH, but the basic premise works for both teams I think -- picks and youth to NSH, bottom 6 help to TOR.

Yeah still doesn’t really answer why we’re trading Tuch and Hauge. We already have enough trouble scoring

After coming up short, they want some changes. Currently their top 4 D is listed as Martinez - Theordore // McNabb - Schmidt. With Ekholm, he'll immediately be their best LHD and could slot perfectly with Theodore on the 1st pairing at a low cap hit for his level of play. They also get an extremely versatile top 9 forward that can play up and down the lineup -- PP or PK. For where VGK are right now and wanting to win, I think Ekholm makes a lot of sense for them. That would also give them the flexibility to trade either McNabb, Martinez, or Holden and gain some extra cap space.

On behalf of all of LeafsNation, DONE!

Not entirely sure why Vegas does this but, DONE AGAIN!!

VGK was 10th in GF last season and only had 3 less goals in the same number of games as TBL this playoffs. I don't think the narrative of VGK having difficulty scoring is very accurate. You played a very defensively-minded DAL team and couldn't make it through them. That's one series. This team as a whole can score, and Tuch barely producee during the regular season anyway. If you had Jarnkrok instead of Tuch this season, you would've been 6th in GF in the NHL. Not saying Jarnkrok is a better offensive player or anything, just pointing out that VGK does not have difficulty scoring goals.

seriously, keep watson or ship him to the moon, no one wants him. The rest of the trade is ok, though the leafs would need to move salary to make it work

I will admit VGKNation is a little too in love with Tuch but Jarnkrok is a downgrade. Yeah Tuch had an off year but he was injured and missed over 20 games. Jarnkrok is a bottom 6 player and Eklholm is not a player VGK needs to move the needle. If they are upgrading their D core its for a bigger impact.

Lol this reasoning is not how to build winning hockey teams. Tuch was hurt a majority of the year. This isn’t a trade I want anything to do with

I'm not saying Jarnkrok is an upgrade offensively over Tuch (he would be defensively though), just showing that even with a few more goal VGK are nearly top 5 in GF. But if VGK isn't interested in Ekholm, then the deal just won't work. Just thought I'd try something different and see what people think!

What reasoning? I just showed that even with a few more goals VGK was nearly top 5 in GF. They aren't lacking in the goal scoring department which is what you suggested. That's the only point that I addressed because you said VGK wouldn't do the deal because they "have enough trouble scoring" -- which is just an inaccurate characterization of VGK.

If you don't like the deal, that's fine - I was just trying something different as the deals on this site can get stale sometimes. If you're not feeling it - fair enough.