Take advantage of cap-strapped Teams

Leafs decline, they will want a first round pick at least

Trading for POJ to trade away Vaak doesnt really make much sense, we just offer sheet Sandin at 4.2M at that point and only give up a second

Id make that EDM trade every chance I get

Im not convinced POJ is even better than Mahura honestly, that PIT deal is really bad for us

Not sure how much leverage the Leafs really have. I personally wouldn’t hold my breath for a 1st

The PIT one I’m the least sure about. Tbh I’m all but out on Mahura. I’ve never seen him look like an NHLer when he’s played with the big club. Haven’t seen much of POJ at all but like his size and heard/read pretty good things. Is he really not materially better than Mahura?

I've always been high on Mahura, even with his struggles so far, im not convinced POJ is an upgrade on him.

Benoit and Vaak are a wash with POJ if not better

Zucker is gonna take at least a first to dump, there are only 5 teams that can take his AAV on without sending cap back. ANA, ARI, BUF, CHI, DET

I cant see him wanting to go to ARI or CHI, so that leaves best case 3 teams that can take him on. Us BUF and DET. he is going to cost a first to dump as much as pens fans wont like it

POJ isnt even enough for me to take Zucker, i would legitimately still want a first attached because I dont see much value in POJ for us, best case he gives us a guy on par with Benoit and Vaak, worst case hes worse than Mahura, and we took on a huge cap hit, and gave up a better player, and two draft picks for an AHLer

No upside to that for us