Edited Aug. 20, 2022 at 3:07 p.m.
Quoting: Mr_Gardoki
These are not even close to the same situations. You guys CAN afford Kerfoot and you're looking to move him to free up space to do other things. That's a cap dump.
If they can afford him, then moving him for cap flexibility doesn't make him a cap dump. Why would they move him if it isn't in a hockey trade (or at least trade him at a reduced value) , if they can afford him? They won't be attaching assets to move him because they aren't over the cap nor does he carry negative value.
With Sandin unsigned, the Leafs could move on from someone else and keep him like you suggested, but assuming that the Leafs (not Leaf fans on CF) are actually trying to move him, getting a useful player at a discounted rate isn't farfetched and perhaps they actually get good value for him as well.
Both Kapanen and Johnsson were cap casualties in 2020. Johnsson returned Joey Anderson which is similar to the mock trade by the OP, while Kapanen was moved in a multi-player trade but it's safe to say he returned a 1st at least. The Leafs couldn't afford them because they signed Brodie and resigned Kerfoot if I recall correctly.