DISCLAIMER: I do not think this monstrosity of a three team trade is at all likely. Seattle is probably done with their offseason and I don't expect them to trade for Karlsson or Nylander right now, which I think is the smart move on their part. I made this ACGM purely for fun.
Since everyone keeps making mock trades sending Karlsson and/or Nylander to the Kraken, I thought I'd see if I could create a three-team trade that fits them both onto the team while still working cap-wise for all teams involved. The result was this:
Seattle trades: Jordan Eberle, Justin Schultz, Brandon Tanev, Chris Driedger, 2024 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 3rd round picks, 2025 1st and 2nd round picks
Seattle receives: Erik Karlsson (28% retained), William Nylander
San Jose trades: Erik Karlsson (28% retained), $2.75M of cap space (for retaining 50% of Eberle's cap hit)
San Jose receives: Justin Schultz, Matt Murray, Chris Driedger, 2024 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round picks, 2025 2nd round pick
Toronto trades: William Nylander, Matt Murray
Toronto receives: Jordan Eberle (50% retained), Brandon Tanev, 2024 3rd round pick, 2025 1st round pick
Reasonings for each:
Seattle: It's looking like the Kraken will stay the course and grow organically, but they could pursue a big trade or two to really level up the roster ahead of their third season. Karlsson and Nylander would provide a massive jolt to their goalscoring and power play. Furthermore, Seattle has enough cap flexibility to swing a big trade and still be able to afford extensions for Beniers and Tolvanen after next season.
San Jose: The Sharks are embarking on a rebuild, so I assume they'd be looking for future assets as part of the return for a Karlsson trade. However, they'd have to take back some money as well. Murray and Driedger could provide them some more options at goalie, and Schultz could be a solid trade chip come the deadline. All three are also on expiring deals, so San Jose would have a lot of cap flexibility in the near future.
Toronto: Should the Leafs trade Nylander, they'd probably want players in return to help them win now. Unfortunately, being $7.6M over the cap complicates matters; they can't really take back much salary. In this scenario, Toronto is still getting future draft picks as a big part of the return (which they can flip for more immediate help if they so choose), but they also get a replacement top-six forward in Eberle at a reduced salary and a bottom six forward in Tanev whose play style is right in line with what Toronto has been adding this offseason. The Leafs also get close to the cap by shedding Murray.
Let me know your thoughts. I look forward to reading the debates in the comments section, though I urge you all to be respectful in your discussions. Cheers!
Nylander wouldn't come with an extension, but I doubt Seattle would pull the trigger on a trade for him unless they at least felt reasonably confident they could get him to stick around beyond this season.
Note: San Jose would also retain 50% of Eberle's cap hit. Seattle’s 2024 1st round pick is top-10 protected.
I don't really know what prospects the Sharks would be looking for in a Karlsson trade, so I made the bulk of the return draft picks, which fits Ron Francis's trade MO better anyway. The picks could be substituted with prospects of equivalent value.
Think the Leafs win big time. Yeah, they trade the best player Nylander, But get a solid third LWer Tanev,,,,which is needed, Eberele retained.replaces Nylander. Getting rid of Murray allows cap flexbility this year and next. Plus a first and second? I know many Leaf fans would disagree, but I would do the trade even if the 1st and 2nd weren't included.
Think the Leafs win big time. Yeah, they trade the best player Nylander, But get a solid third LWer Tanev,,,,which is needed, Eberele retained.replaces Nylander. Getting rid of Murray allows cap flexbility this year and next. Plus a first and second? I know many Leaf fans would disagree, but I would do the trade even if the 1st and 2nd weren't included.
thank god you're not the gm lol this would be one of the worst trades in leaf history, and that's saying something. i'd rather give willy $12m than trade him for two plugs
No way Sharks do this. Need to add a good prospect. And 0% chance they'd retain on Eberle. They already would only have 1 retention slot left after EK, so this would leave them with none
If the Sharks included Sturm, took back Wennberg (assuming he's a unneeded asset with a Beniers/Gourde/Sturm center line up), what would it take to add Wright?
From my perspective, add the NJD 2nd (potentially a late first) next year the Sharks have and remove the 2026 SEA 2nd.
thank god you're not the gm lol this would be one of the worst trades in leaf history, and that's saying something. i'd rather give willy $12m than trade him for two plugs
I would suggest you expand your knowledge of the NHL and it's players and realize there are other players in the league other than Leafs.
To call Tanev and Eberele plugs? Eberle 63 point last season, hardly sluggish, Tanev with 35 points. Gee, It wasn't like Eberle had Matthews and or Tavares as his centres.
Look what the Leafs get out of the trade. Trading 7m in Nylander, but only taking back 6.25m. Don't have to buy out Murray which saves 687,000 in cap this season and 2m next season. So this season that about another 1.4m in cap to fill out the roster with another player, so maybe they don't have buyout Brodie
And Nylander and Leafs still have option next summer if Nylander wants to sign with the Leafs or 31 other NHL teams.
Agree with statement if you change one word. Leafs to Kraken "thank god you're not the gm lol this would be one of the worst trades in leaf history, and that's saying something."
Leafs decline. Not trading Nylander with an extension in place for an old man and a bottom 6 forward
FYI, in this hypothetical scenario Nylander is getting dealt without an extension in place. I'm not as convinced as others that Nylander, if he is traded, would automatically extend with his new team. He might, but right now he is a rental until proven otherwise.
If the Sharks included Sturm, took back Wennberg (assuming he's a unneeded asset with a Beniers/Gourde/Sturm center line up), what would it take to add Wright?
From my perspective, add the NJD 2nd (potentially a late first) next year the Sharks have and remove the 2026 SEA 2nd.
I'm honestly not sure what San Jose could really do to entice Seattle to include Wright in a Karlsson trade. The Kraken are looking to compete now, but really are aiming to make a big leap once their initial wave of prospects make it to the NHL. Wright is going to be a core part of that, so trading him for an aging Karlsson would disrupt that long-term plan in a majorly negative way.
I'm honestly not sure what San Jose could really do to entice Seattle to include Wright in a Karlsson trade. The Kraken are looking to compete now, but really are aiming to make a big leap once their initial wave of prospects make it to the NHL. Wright is going to be a core part of that, so trading him for an aging Karlsson would disrupt that long-term plan in a majorly negative way.
I agree with you. SJS is unofficially in a rebuild and we need prospects/younger kids.
Haha! Thanks for the entertainment, this was fun to read! Francis is just not that aggressive and instead committed to his build thru the draft approach, but it’s interesting to ponder the what-it’s.
As a Kraken fan the bit that really hurts in this proposal is losing Tanev, guy is totally underrated, all heart, excellent PKer and agitator and chips in at a clip for a bottom 6 guy. He’d be difficult to replace.
Cheers for taking time to put this together!
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