Samsonov is also buddies with Ovechkin. Can we throw him in too? At least that would make the deal somewhat worth it for Toronto.

Toronto would be resigning Nylander if that was the contract extension. Only reason they are considering moving him is because he wants 10M+

Anything above 9 million wouldn't make sense for the Leafs.

How much are Marner and Matthews worth in terms of contract? I rather Nylander at 9.25 than Marner at 12.

Me too. I completely agree with that sentiment. But Dubas screwed up by not signing Marner earlier and signing JT in free agency. Marner could have been signed in the 8s a year earlier than he signed according to Kyperos. Instead, Dubas went out and got a fantastic center to play with Marner and raise his numbers and then signed him.

But that's the past. Neither Marner nor Nylander should be getting north of 10 million. Trade Nylander this season and Marner the next if he demands a raise.

I highly doubt Washington would trade that much for Nylander. Your talking a 2C, 1st and a top prospect for a 2C/W

I guess the question is can you convince Matthews or Marner to take a pay cut, or at least extend at their current AAV? What's the 2C plan post Tavares? Can you get him to stay on as a winger for a few years at 6 AAV?

It's going to be a hell of a job getting less top heavy and younger as I don't recall Toronto's prospect system had much of note outside of Knows, Robertson, and Niemela.

Nylander is a 1RW, Kuznetsov is more of a cap dump, and Lapierre was selected 22nd in the 2020 draft, playing in only 6 NHL games since then, so he can't be qualified as a "top prospect."

On paper the Caps win this trade.

Tavares coming off the books and the cap rising will help the Leafs a lot in the coming years. Also, the free agency class next year will be better.

While I agree with you on Nylander, Kuzy is not a "cap dump" and Lapierre, while not a "top prospect" is still a very good prospect (which I know you never said otherwise).

1) Kuzy has 133 points in the last two seasons (160 GP). Find me a "cap dump" with those numbers. A cap dump would be Matt Murray, which you would have to pay more than a 7th RHD and a 3rd to get rid of...

2) Just because Lapierre was selected 22nd in 2020 draft and has 6 nhl games doesn't mean he is still not a very solid prospect. Caps have a log jam of centers so there isn't much room for him. He has potential to be a 2c or a very good 3c center, imo.

As a Caps fan, I would probably lean towards accepting this trade though. Much better than the standard Nylander for Wilson trade that Leafs fans are obsessed with