Major changes

Carolina signs Marner to an 8-year extension. By moving Orlov and Kotkaniemi, as well as moving Necas for an upgrade in Marner, Carolina can re-sign one of Skjei or Pesce. I’d bet on the re-sign being Pesce. Toronto still gets good value back for Marner, while also shaking up the core

Utah sends cheap value for a young forward in Robertson who can use a change of scenery, and Kotkaniemi is viewed as an iffy contract, but a guy who can still possibly pan out. They take a gamble, and it could pay off

Chicago sends Toronto their own 2026 2nd back for a young RHD who will get more exposure in Chicago with a better opportunity possibly than in Toronto. The Maple Leafs still get great value for Liljegren though

Tampa Bay sends a 3rd to a third party retained

This is gonna be a 3-way deal where a 3rd party is sent a good pick or prospect by Tampa Bay to retain $2.75M on Tavares. It would be hard to Toronto to move on from not only their captain, but a hometown hero. However, Treliving might have the guts to make such a huge move. It would definitely signal a change. I don’t see Matthews or Nylander moving after getting extensions, and I don’t see them only moving one guy from the “core four” and calling it enough of a shake-up. Unfortunately, that means Tavares moves. Though Toronto is retaining a lot of salary in this deal, they’ll get the assets to make a deal for a much cheaper and younger center option. For Tampa Bay, I only see this deal happening if Stamkos walks, which he unfortunately might

If they sign a top center (possibly Stamkos?) maybe they’d accept acquiring a HAUL for Schmaltz

Issac Howard’s signing rights (acquired from TBL in Tavares deal)

Toronto gets their much cheaper and younger 2C option, as well as a goalie who in the past has played well in front of a poor Coyotes defense. I could see Toronto giving up this insane haul for getting Schmaltz for 2 years at less than $3M per year in terms of cap hit