I think you have the centers in the wrong place. Tavares has made a career out of making the players around him better. You can find evidence of it in just about every season on the Islanders and with breakout seasons of his wingers on the Leafs in Marner and Nylander. People don't like mention him when referring to these guys having their best seasons on Tavares' wing but he definitely deserves some of the credit. Matthews has never had that same kind of impact on his wingers. If I were to pick someone to get Mittelstadt going, I would definitely pick Tavares to do it over Matthews.

Other than that, I'd at least drop the 2nd in the trade on Toronto's side. You get a bag of depth and a depth prospect for Miller, 2 prospcts having trouble acclimating to the NHL in Liljegren for Mittelstadt though if anything Liljegren is the more valuable of the 2 at this point due to Mittelstadts lackluster performance so far in NHL games and Pilut is a guy who'd rather play in Russia than for the Sabres, hes not worth anything.

All in all, I'm not a big fan of this trade for the Leafs. Miller isn't a big upgrade over Holl already and needs protecting in the expansion draft. I'd rather just keep Liljegren and Dermott going forward. Mittelstadt hasn't really shown what he is while the Leafs could use that center depth now in Kerfoot rather than counting on a 41 year old Thornton playing every night at 3C. This trade doesn't really make the Leafs better at all.

I agree with everything you said but I think a left handed passer with Matthews might be something scary. I just think it's a look he likes better.

Pretty nifty overall

Alot of these points feel like oversimplifications based on kinda circumstantial evidence, the Pilut thing especially (is he not just being loaned during C19?)

That's a bit harsh on my part but yeah

Pilut declared he was leaving for the KHL long before the covid loans and covid loans don't exist with the KHL, they were an agreement between the SHL and the NHL. Theres a good reason he's not currently signed to an NHL contract. He's not coming back this season.

None of those depth players are what the Sabres need
I think they easily pass

pilut is a fringe nhler and seems intent on going to the KHL.

the rest of the trade doesnt make a ton of sense for the leafs either. Kerfoot and Dermott are both similar value to miller and younger, both is overkill. Miller's only benefit is he's a RHD. Mittelstadt hasnt really performed at the nhl level and is probably pretty comparable to Liljegren at this point, tossing in vesey, SDA, and a 2nd is just gravy

@Byrr
Taveras makes every one better, you are correct.
Excellent analysis of the trade and lineup.
@TML1991
I agree with your assessment of Pilut.
I was excited when he signed with Buffalo and he had an incredible early start in the AHL, but that never translated to NHL success.
I also agree that this trade favors the Sabres
@CJ01
@Jdfitz77

As a Sabre fan I make this trade without question.
Miller = 2022 2nd round pick (TOR)
Miller = Dermott (balances LHD with RHD)
Pilut = Der-Arguchintsev, Semyon
Pilut = Liljegren, Timothy
Mittelstadt = Vesey, Jimmy
Mittelstadt = Kerfoot, Alexander
IMO Buffalo is getting double the value for each player traded.

The lines could be:
Skinner Eichel Olofsson
Hall Staal Cozens
Vesey Kerfoot Reinhart
Girgensons Eakin Okposo
Thompson
Defense could be:
Dahlin Jokiharju
McCabe Ristolainen
Dermott Montour
Liljegren

I simply don’t like ONE player we’re getting back in the deal

Mitts still has top6 potential imo
And Pilut has top4 potential imo
I just don’t wanna trade their “upside” for guys i don’t like

And Miller is an underrated & solid player imo as well


Instead of Dermott/Liljegren- just sign Pilut

Vesey is nowhere near top line quality imo
U know i don’t like Tage, but let’s leave some room for a couple young guys to fit into the top9 somewhere

Besides Eakin, we have plenty of other Center options for the bottom6 :
Cozens, Ruotsalainen, Asplund, Girgs, Lazar- heck, maybe even Staal when Cozens is 2C ready
Kerfoot is just an overpaid & average guy imo

The reason we’re getting all those extra pieces,
is bc we’re giving up the best ones
No thanks


And MOST importantly....
let’s upgrade the goaltending FIRST, since Cap room is tight
And THEN we can play around with the bottom6 & defense

I agree with everyone of your assessments of the the Sabres.
Casey was given fourth line minutes. played with third line players and produced third line points.

Miller is much maligned on this site.
On many teams he would be getting top pairing minutes.
Buffalo has Dahlin, Ristolainen and Montour so he gets left overs.

Pilut certainly came to Buffalo with great credentials.
He may return, I hope he does.

I will yield to your evaluation.

I’d be ok trading those guys too- anyone is tradable-
just not for the players proposed in this particular trade

Example:
I’d trade Mitts & a 1st for Kuemper

I just don’t see value in trading for depth players from the Leafs