Assuming you mean 2 million retained on Shattenkirk. Rangers say yes, but I don't think Toronto does. Shattenkirk is mainly an offensive defensemen and they need defensive

Three issues:
1: If Nylander would sign for that little, he would be signed by now
2: The Leafs wouldn't trade him if he signed for that little. They want to keep him, the issue is the salary
3: The combined cap of Namestnikov and Shattenkirk is way more than we would be willing to pay Nylander, and would make huge cap problems next year. It would make way more sense to sign Nylander to a good deal and keep him then pay 10+ mil for those two players

yes i know the rangers accept and toronto wouldn't-- but in terms of salary and point 3, is it better to address an area of weakness (RHD) with Shatty at a reasonable <5 mill cap hit for a .6 ppg on avg for his career defenseman (i know he's bound to decline post 30), and get a complimentary player in Namestnikov (he performed great beside stamkos and kuch, he'd probably do the same with marner/mathews/tavares)

Overall isn't it SOMETIMES more beneficial to spread the cap out in two positions rather than one?

Leafs really can't afford that cap. But Leafs don't want/need a 3rd line LWer at 4m and the defence deficient Shatternkirk at any cost.

Maybe $2,000,000 for Vladdy [this year and next] because the rangers don't want to eat $2 million for the remainder for Shatty's contract.