I don't think ARI should trade for AM34. They are in the middle of the picture-perfect rebuild, but, as we all know, AM34 is the hometown kid, has indicated he wants to play here in the future, and this would make attendance, marketing, etc... skyrocket. Also, even if ARI does give up 2 1sts this year, they still have one to use AND 5 second-rounders, including 4 inside the top 42 (likely) and another just outside the top 12-15. AM34 has pretty much solidified himself as the world's second-best player this year, so I feel as if 4 1sts (including Guenther) and a very early second from MTL is fair. If anything, the Yotes will overpay big time for AM34.

BEFORE READING THIS: KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS THIS YEARS OFFSEASON, SO EACH TEAMS SALARY CAP IS DIFFERENT THAN RIGHT NOW.
Once again, I do not think NYR should do this trade (read to the end to find out why.) That being said, Marner is an absolute stud and is now somehow one of the most underrated players in the league (he's finally been getting some recognition after his 8-game goal streak.) The Rangers, who have hopefully, for the sake of this mock trade, given up on Laf (which they shouldn't do, it is unfortunate their prospect development is so poor), overreact and trade Laf away. The only way this trade possibly happens is if: A. Drury thinks the Rangers can win now. B. He can dump cap, resign the proper free agents, and still have a competent back end. Marner is a very tough player to trade away, and it's extremely hard for both the team receiving Marner (whatever team that may be) to orchestrate the trade properly. The Rangers are in the best position to get Marner, and also have a GM dumb enough to do it.

TOR retains $4,750,000. The 2023 second and 2024 fourth are solely given based on the amount of retention the Leafs are entertaining.

This is a quite realistic trade IMO. The Blues are in win-now mode more than most people realize: O'Ry has 1 year left on his deal and is nearing retirement, 1 year on Vladdy's deal (who knows where he will sign and what the cost will be), 1 year left before they have to pay Kyrou BIG money, and also one year left on key players such as Thomas, Sundqvist, and Barbashev. The point is: they have a BOATLOAD of expiring contracts. This may lead you to think: why on God's Green Earth would they take on Tavares if they have that many expiring contracts? WIN NOW MODE + salary retention. The Leafs will have to worry about cap floor (assuming the Matthews and Marner trades went through), and would be more than happy to retain salary, it just may cost the Blues an extra pick. And in 3 years, after Toronto is done retaining salary, they will be ready to compete again.

Nylander is such a stud, but if you're going through a rebuild, you have to trade their players when they are at their highest value. I don't know why, but I just have a feeling Nylander will be a member of the Kraken. I am a HUGE McCann and Tanev fan (hated playing against those guys In PIT), and a first as well. His value is so high also because his contract is unbelievable.

TOR takes on *probably the worst* contract in the league to get over the cap floor. In 4 years, this contract is done, and they can resign all their new draft picks. Works out perfectly. This will also allow for SJS to resign some of the starts coming up soon (Hertl, Meier, Karlsson.)