If you remove that Nick Ritchie cap dump from the Ottawa trade you're probably close. AS-IS that's a super easy NO from Ottawa.

If the 3 is for Sanford and the 5th is for Holden, there needs to be something else going to Ottawa for taking Ritchie on.

I agree with this, but you're forgetting that Dorion traded a second for Derek Stepan at 6.5M. Only reason this wouldn't work is because Ritchie gets paid more than his cap hit next year meaning Melnyk vetoes the trade.

I don’t see what the Stepan trade has anything to do with this. Dorion traded for Stepan because her somehow thought there was still a top 6 forward somewhere inside that old man (clearly wrong). Has nothing to do with Ritchie who literally just passed through waivers. Stepan’s literally never been on waivers in his life.

I think Gio will happen via 3-way trade

As 1.6875mill can be fit in even with Ritchie on the T-Squad

Somehow I think Holl may end up in Seattle as Hakstol loved him in Toronto and trusted him when it came to the PK. Dermott though I dont think Seattle would want as he and Hakstol apparently had issues with each other during the Canadian division and especially in the playoffs.

I think a trade involving Holl a 1st and maybe a 4th or 3rd would go to Seattle. Gio would go to Detroit and then get flipped to Toronto for a 4th at double retention (50% from Sea and 50% from Det).

Works well for everyone

And from there Toronto just trades for Braun to replace Holl and goes with

Gio-Brodie
Rielly-Braun
Muzzin-Sandin

At the deadline.

Point is Dorion makes moves that will never make sense to anybody so it's entirely possible.