Quoting: GiggywithGibby
I would challenge you to find a current cup competitor that has the cap space and would give you more than a late round pick to get him. Only team that comes to mind who has cap space and is a competitor is Minnesota. Everyone else who can afford him sees no value in him because he is a rental.
Toronto is significantly over the cap, doesn't want to loose Sandin, and attached NMC to everything that moved outside of their league min players and their Coredashians. The only players they can realistically move are Muzzin, Kerfoot, and Holl. Muzzin's only trade home evaporated today when Ana picked up Kulikov, so he is out. Kerfoot is the next biggest contract, and is internally replaceable, and every other GM knows this.
The best deal you would get from ANA is hockey swap Kerfoot for Grant. Minnesota might throw you a late round pick, though their fans seems to think that wont happen. Where else are you going to send him?
i like how you broached this with "cup competator" like those are the leafs only options to trade him to. There are plenty of teams who need decent forwards to fill holes in their roster, other teams looking at potential flips and teams that think they are a lot better than they are and want to put on the best team they can. You do also realise that teams can....move cap back! oh my god! the leafs could bring back a player with a lower cap hit and make the money work! it's all so crazy!
and no, toronto is not significantly over the cap, they are less than 1.5 mill over the cap with 14 forwards, which includes at least two guys who make 750k and wont be on the roster.
Toronto doesnt have to worry about losing sandin, if he doesnt want to sign a deal he can sit, they have 3 guys who can play the left side right now.
Literally no one is saying the leafs are going to get clear day market value for Kerfoot, but man, people like you are just so gung ho about them having to pay to get rid of him when it isnt remotly true.
And where else could they send him? Any team who needs a middle six forward. Literally half the league easy