that doesn't get McCabe with the retention.

Ya your probably right. Give what you need to get it done with retention.

So Toronto's 23' first for half retained mccabe. Hawks accept.

2nd round, Hirvonen, +4th ? this still might not be enough with 2 years retention.

Hawks are loaded with LD prospects, but are a bit short on RD prospects. Mitchell, to me, will be servicable but won't doesn't move the needle much, Regula is so so and Crevier a work in progress. So how about the Leafs work Niemela in the package somehow?

I think Davidson still wants draft picks, esp. in 2023. He needs to eat salary on Kane and Toews deals (assuming they happen) and would probably like to do the same on Domi, so if he eats salary on McCabe, it's going to tie his hands a little. And so he'd definitely start with a first in 23 for McCabe and do what he could to make it happen --- send back a 3rd or something.