21 man roster til Robertson is 100% back is kind of a yikes. However, should be back close to start of year so maybe Leafs can survive it just not a lot of depth which could provide issues.

AZ has never made any indication they are looking to move him, its hockey media hacks they promote that. Willie without a contract isnt going to bring in some huge haul at TDL and in this proposal AZ gives up 2nd. So at the end AZ loses one of their top players, loses a 2nd, gains lafferty (they dont want), and hopes for something for a TDL rental (albeit a really good one but still a rental). This does not move AZ rebuild forward at all - it sets it back.

Not even in the same galaxy

TDL moves get made all the time with or without a contract. If guys like Bertuzzi, Gavrikov, Jeannot can get a 1st round pick...Nylander will get a 1st+. He won't get (2) firsts or any mega haul, but he'll get a good return.

Also, don't underestimate the financial impacts. That's NOT just media. FAR from it. AZ's been the dumping grounds for LTIR contracts, for Low Salary High cap hit, for non-signing bonus contract acquisitions for a decade plus. I can think of 10 off the top of my head. the money is a HUGE HUGE HUGE issue for them.

AZ gets a restart. They get out from under Chayka's mess ups. YES, it's taking longer, but when you lose 1st rounders like Chayka did...it takes time. Getting Tempe approved would have helped alot too. They're back at square one and I'm not convinced Mesa is a whole lot better than Glendale's situation. Tempe or Scottsdale...I'm in! It was a LONG drive to Glendale for night game after work.

Over the last (2) years... 0.95 PPG player for a 1.02 PPG player....delta of ~5.74 points, but AZ does not have the money. However, it's not exactly exploiting AZ either because they should want to do it too, but Schmaltz is very good.

Let me re-phrase this. Would you rather spend $10M on a 1.02 ppg player next year or $5.85M on someone that at VERY likely achieve the same PPG when he actually gets to play with a good team?

Not for that return

Let's be crystal clear that this is an overpay for Nylander. 100% very easily an overpay. $5.85M for a .95ppg player is one of the best contracts in the game. Nylander's looking for $10M+...which is absolutely insane. The ONLY reason AZ does this is because it saves them ~$22M dollars and Nylander will get more back as a rental at the TDL. IF AZ wanted more draft capital...they'd retain on Schmaltz, BUT then they have to pay a portion of his contract.

of course they can move him w/o contract - saying w/o one his value is good but got to offset they lost a 2nd - so any 1st in the 20st is not a huge leap up in the draft.
they are below the self imposed 60m payroll (3 LTIR under insurance), different owner, different GM. they already did a restart and are well into it, this sets back everything. lose a top 27yo for a currently 17yo (who wont be helping for years).
Alma school y 202 is great location.

Having it in Tempe would have been great though. I grew up and moved back to CHI...lived in AZ in 2010-2012. going to Cubs games where you can walk to bars/restaurants makes for such a better experience. Being able to walk to Mill would have been nice. You're right though that maybe I'm just comparing Mesa to what I wanted vs Glendale, but Tempe would have been amazing.

I don't think AZ is as far along as you'd like them to be. Drafting Simashev and But is pretty clear to me that they don't expect those guys to be available any time soon. Have you heard otherwise?

agree the Tempe locale was better (although the traffic in/out would have be awful) but a mile from the cubs complex - that area has potential

agree the Tempe locale was better (although the traffic in/out would have be awful) but a mile from the cubs complex - that area has potential.
they arent near completion but trading the established guys who can/should be key pieces in few years for more future picks is just going to slow things up. as for the two picks 2 years in KHL or in NCAA or OHL/AHL very few 18/19 yo are ready so unless got bedard or fantelli whoever was going to be couple years away anyways.
plus there is the optics - you trade away 2nd best scorer for TDL moves/more futures (when have 37 picks in next 3 years 30 are top 3 rounds) sends bad look to fans and other players. I'd rather start packages multiple picks to move up, AZ has only 11 reserve slots and no contract slots (TML has 28 and 4, Vegas has 29 and 3) and w 14 picks next draft they dont have slots.