Why would the Leafs want Laine? Even retained - he’s exactly what they don’t need 🤦🏻.

It's because they aren't trying to win. Or the more likely answer → they think the way they are trying to win will work (delusion)

Columbus doesn't do this.

Jackets would just keep Laine

$3.7M retained over (approximately) 3 seasons is $11.1M, or more than one John Tavares. That's an extra Boone Jenner per year. Do people realize how insane that is? Columbus doesn't even entertain retaining that much, regardless of the package. We don't need to trade Laine, he's 25. If you want the player, take the whole contract. If you don't want the whole contact, don't take the player. Makes no difference to us, I don't see any universe where Toronto even enters the Laine conversation.

DeMelo would be a solid upgrade on the blue line. Might need more of a raise as a free agent, however.

What has Liljegren done to earn a 4 mill/per extension?

Laine makes $8.7M. That's a huge amount for a 1 dimensional player whose attitude gets him healthy scratched. For the Leafs to take Laine they have to evaluate Laine's value t9 them, not what some other team is paying him. Personally at 1/2 retention I.e $4.35M he's a good deal. At full $8.7M you'd need to pay a healthy amount to dump him.

I get that, and you're not wrong, but we just don't have the urgency to dump him, especially if we're retaining. His contract is up in 2.5 years, when this team should be hitting its stride and players like Fantilli and Jiricek will be coming off their ELCs. He's overpaid, but when he's healthy he can and has performed like a 1st liner, with the exception of this year (where he's rarely been healthy, thanks Lagesson you sub-NHL bum).

The only realistic options are:
1) Columbus keeps him until the end of the deal, and hopes he performs close to the contract. Then we either cut loose/trade at the TDL with retention if he isn't performing, or extend him at a reasonable rate if he is.
2) A team that thinks he's going to rebound trades for the whole deal, and gambles on a buy low candidate. Columbus gets something to be done with the player entirely and moves on.

Neither of those remotely match the Leafs' situation, so they're out, full stop IMO. And Columbus doesn't need to retain to move him because see option 1.

Take it one game at a time?

STL passes. No chance they let Perunovich go for that. And if they would I certainly hope NYR jumps in with a better offer