Yeah leaf’s still decline that in my opinion

The only good Risto trade is to another team not called TML!

I think both teams say no, from the Flyers are still relatively competitive this season and burning a retention slot with term attached is usually a no go for rebuilding teams.

Ristolainen isn't that much of a needle mover for the Leafs , and the argument could be made that at one point he was the worst defender in the NHL.

However he's had a bit of a career renaissance with the Flyers (Nothing Crazy, but think Jack Johnson). In 2023, Ristolainen is basically Zadorov lite, where on a playoff team Ristolainen is a 5D/6D, and Zadorov being a 4D/5D.

The Leafs getting second rounders is important in faciliating other moves around the Deadline, the going rate for mid tier rentals is always going to be a second round pick.

Yeah so take out the 1st and the seconds and maybe I’d entertain the idea but I don’t think he’s the defender the leafs need

I think everyone opposite the Leafs declines on these.

-Philly has 4x$5.1M left on Risto's deal, and you're asking them to retain 4x$2.125M, plus take on 4x$2.5M of Kampf & 3x$1.35M of Reaves so they can turn a pair of 2nds into a 1st/3rd/5th combo? Kampf is a fine defensive center but would be a 4th liner on the Flyers (assuming they went to keep their C depth chart as Couturier - Laughton - Frost), and Reaves isn't necessary when they already have Nic Deslauriers signed for three more years. The Flyers are adding cap, getting redundant players, and the only real improvement on their end is they get to turn a 2024 2nd into a 2024 1st. I can't speak for Flyers fans, but I personally don't see any reason for Philly to make this move.

-Combining the two Tanev trades - I can't see Calgary sending out Tanev fully retained for a late 2nd and a non-prospect; and I also wonder why Nashville would not only offer a retention spot but throw in a solid bottom-6 winger for a pair of midround picks and a borderline prospect like Kessler? Trenin plays a similar "gritty bottom-6er with scoring touch" that Tanner Jeannot played, and look at what they got for him last deadline.

-Lou's not moving Clutterbuck unless Cal asks out - and I don't think he'd settle for a 5th and a warm body if he was moving him out, personally. If Clutterbuck was available, I'd assume that some contending team would pay more than this for him (and I assume the Islanders would be open to retaining him down to make the return better.)

He was basically a top 10 DFD in the league last year when paired with a puck moving D in Sanheim and asked to make defense his focus, this despite playing on a team with a severe lack of talent. We've seen what being paired with Rielly has done for guys like Schenn and Bush, and Risto is way more talented than both and has already proven he's capable of more. RR is a 2nd pairing D at the very least, so you should swap him with Z in your explanation. At that cap hit for 4 years this would be a no brainer.