The JVR experiment didn't work the first time, not worth sending prospects and picks to try it again.

Not sure how it didn;t work, he had career years, without the Matthews, Marner and Tavares of today. He wasnt resigned in Toronto because he cost too much in UFA.

The best forwards in those JVR years? Kadri, Tyler Bozak, PA Parenteau?

The fact that you call it an experiment, we he scored 294 points and 154 goals in a leaf jersey with 4 seasons of 54+ pts (the other two seasons were the strike season of 48 games and an injury which limited him to 29 pts in 40 games). Thats an experiment?

Fair enough, experiment was the wrong term, and his numbers were decent at the time and have been since he joined PHI. That's what happens when you post without doing much research (me, not you.)

I'll come at the trade a different way. The Leafs simply cannot afford his contract, even with 3M being retained by a third party. I don't even think they can accrue enough cap space by the deadline to take on 4M. Correct me if I'm wrong, but they would have to run a 20 man roster for the season to have anywhere close to that kind of available cap space. That, or an injury to a player with a decent cap hit that will keep them out long term (knock on wood that doesn't happen). I also don't think 2 3rds is enough to convince another team to carry 3M for 2 season, but that is up for debate as well.

They could potentially afford him next season, but that's only if Reilly doesn't come back. At this point, their focus should be addressing the LD spot rather than use the minimal cap space for a LW. Too many unknowns around Sandin, and Dermott for that matter, to assume they are ready to handle bigger minutes that Reilly currently has.

With only 3 picks in next years draft, I'm assuming that the Leafs will be careful with who they offload picks for, if they do it at all.

Pretty fair and honest, respect to you.

I think that your argument holds weight and is very valid (two year retention by a 3rd party costing more, cap space in 22-23 (although I think TMLF cap space in 22-23 is dependent on how well they do this year: are they forced to trade one of the big 4?) and their lack of picks/depth of prospects).

I agree with those, and Im not saying its now or never for the Leafs, but I think they have to progress further into the playoffs than the 2nd round for them to continue with the club as it is now. The inability to re-sign and continual loss of top players in UFA, continually fixing roster with risky vets and dealing picks/youth at deadline to plug weaknesses. Does JVR fix those issues, I dont know but Foligno, Nash, Thornton, etc.... approach isn;t working and I think TOR may be willing to make a splash like this (I mean foligno got a 1st and 4th, and JVR at 4mil is worth more than that).

Not sure about Ustimenko. If they went with 13 forwards and 6 d they could afford a decent backup goalie.

I like it otherwise