thats a big no from the Avs.

Either they trade graves or lose him to the expansion draft. They won't have much leverage

They have to lose something from the expansion draft regardless so let it be Graves....trading him for peanuts and still losing another good player makes them worse.
Avs will take their lumps with a guy like Graves, Compher, or Donskoi being selected in the draft and just continue on their ways.

Zibanejad > Kuzy

Caps say no

Avs also need to move compher or donskoi contracts next season anyways to re-sign makar and landeskog (and grubauer if he has a big year)

they do not have the move them, its tight but still have all the cap space to re-up all 3 of those guys. Sorry but avs are not in a position of weakness here

Unless it's after the expansion draft, Leafs decline. P point in getting a guy that they'd have to expose and probably lose to Seattle anyways.

If it's after, you're likely not getting 2 picks for Howden. He's drastically underperformed. Maybe through you a 4th or 5th with a low tier prospect but nothing more

Agree with Coga, Avs decline.