Joined: Apr. 2017
Posts: 1,120
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Any move that TOR makes will need to swap cap, which is why Nylander is the easiest choice (big number, young, no movement protection). Taveres would be the obvious choice, but that cap number and the protection will limit what/if they can do anything. The Bertuzzi/Nylander trade makes sense (though, with retention and DET taking on more salary, I can't see the package worth DET's 2nd rounder, but one of the others 2nds yes).
The only way you can do this trade is if you truly believe Bunting is that good, and not just a product of Marner/Matthews, and you are ready to pay him as a UFA in a year, along with finding a RHD and another offensive LW to play on the 2nd line.
Who knows what is going to happen with Matthews in 2 years, if Bunting is real, and if Bert is the missing piece. But the signings actually make TOR much worse than the trade. TOR has 2 more seasons to get a cup, or might have to blow it all up. TBL showed it can be done.