Nashville declines

Why would they decline?

Ekholm for Kerfoot (middle 6 forward), SDA (B level prospect), Conditional 2nd (A to B level Prospect) and 3rd (B to C level prospect)

Forsberg for Engvall (bottom 6 forward), Liljegren (A level Prospect), 1st rounder (A to B level Prospect)

Nashville could have a bounce back year next year if they were to keep these guys but I don't think that it is unfair trade value.

I dont get the point of going out and trading for ekholm only for him to play 3rd pair minutes. And i dont see the point of playing him more and having either of Reilly or Muzzin playing third pair minutes.
If we trade for a forward who has years left on his current deal beyond this season we open ourselves to losing Holl to Seattle. I would much rather target a rental player and go 4-4-1 and expose Kerfoot and Dermott while protecting all of our current top 4.

Trading Dermott, Liljegren and losing Holl in the expansion leaves this team with a deficient on defense once again especially on the right side, like the last handful of years.

I also think Nashville could get more if they sold these players separately. They are Both top tier trade options for contendors.

Nashville has no interest in Engvall or Kerfoot. They would only be coming back to balance money. Preds have an abundance of middle to lower 6 forwards. They are looking for futures only. Both trades are on the low end for Nashville and that’s assuming no salary is retained. With $4mil in salary retained, the offers are ridiculously low.

Kerfoot and Engvall dont hold much value. SDA is a nice shot in the dark but probably wont be an NHL player. Liljegren is nice and the picks are nice, but both Forsberg and Ekholm have another year on the deal and are top tier players. The asking price for them should be huge even before retained salary.

The reason I would make this trade is to get a top 4 D (Ekholm) on a cheap deal for next season which allows you to resign Hyman for sure and maybe even Anderson. You let Seattle take Muzzin or Brodie in expansion. Top 4 next season is: Rielly, Ekholm, Holl,, Muzzin or Brodie with Sandin and a bogo like Dman on your 3rd pair. This also solidifies the top 6 for next year with Forsberg, matthews, marner, hyman, tavares, nylander. I see why parting ways with liljegren/dermot could hurt the team on the right side but it's also about cap flexibility next season and the season after when Rielly is a UFA. If this were to happen i don't think there would be a better top 6/top 4 in the league for this season and the next.

But considering it's known that Nashville wants a similar package to what the leafs gave up for Muzzin wouldn't SDA, a conditional 2nd, a 3rd suffice. probably upgrade SDA to Hallander as he is more of a solidified prospect but I do not think it is to far off. plus you are adding a 2nd line winger or 3rd line centre in kerfoot which was not included in the Muzzin trade.

If either of Muzzin or Brodie was playing poorly i would be all on board galaxy braining going after Ekholm and exposing one of them. They are both playing well though. This is not a way to get UFAs to come to the leafs. Dubas goes out of his way to make right by the players in situations such as Leivo and Lehtonen. Exposing two recently signed UFAs after they play well and then almost immediately backdoor them to another team is a good way to not have UFAs want to sign here.