MTL address's its issues on Faceoffs ,LD ,Hitting and Goaltending consistency worries by taking on older contracts in the TOR and CHI trades allowing them to pay less.

COL and WSH deals was about making both teams better for the playoffs without them giving up much more then 4th line /bottom pair slotted players who play a hitting role primarily with low minutes for players who can play a similar role while logging more minutes .

I highly disagree with Marleau move. You cant give up a 2rd pick for a guy who’s 39 yo. Pretty sure they will accept the offer without the 2rd pick

i gave up ours which i figure will be 55-62nd pick so fairly late similar to the 2nd TOR gave up for Plekanec's when they needed him to play a similar role .

Marleau is not only a great faceoff center and a true leader to the youth but also only 2nd to Alex Ovechkin in PP Goal's among active NHL Players . sure he's over payed but we cannot ignore what he brings to the table and the fact that his 2 biggest strengths are MTL's 2 biggest weakness's makes me willing to take the gamble regardless of cap or age .(primarily because we have cap to burn the next 2 years and need a faceoff mentor for Kotkanemi ,Poehling and Suzuki anyways )

if Plekanec is worth a late 2nd at the TDL its hard to sell Marleau as worth less then that IMO but if i could get him for less i would regardless of age as where he plays youth succeeds around him just look at SJS faceoff stats before and after Marleau then do the same for TOR as once he leaves everyones average goes down because he comes in for the tough DZ faceoffs which keeps the rest of the centers from lower their average same way Plekanec did here for years with Galchenyuk and DD

Marleau does not waive his NMC as A) he is smart enough to realize that he has a better chance of getting his name on the Cup in Toronto he has nothing left to prove it’s the Cup he wants B) wanted the NMC so they could not move him because he wanted to finish his career there so why would he waive it, C) he does not care if Leafs need to move him, the very notion of that is ridiculous.

Crawford does not have a 10 team NTC, he has 10 team he can be traded to list, 20 he can block.

Would you take on Kulikov in the summer. He would be great next to petry or weber

He sucks, you will likely be buying him out. Unless you want Alzner for him, that they would do.

Toronto

I would also add that Toronto would never trade Marleau to a division rival.

And Crawford would not accept to be a backup. Like Fleury.

Why not? Marleau does not make Habs better than Leafs and taking 3 picks from them is a bonus. Trading within the division is not as taboo as it used to be now that divisions are bigger and you don’t play a team in the division as much as you used to. If it makes you better you do it. If it makes them worse really do it.

Just asking, have you seen any jets games recently? After JoMo and Trouba, he is our best d. He has been physical and is getting more confident. Just a matter of time before he starts putting up a few points ( hopefully) although I am happy with his current play. He is making Myers look flawless defensively

MTL is one point back of Toronto in the standings. They could very well face each other in the playoff. And you are going to help them load their guns and weaken your lineup prior that? It is not a taboo, just common sense. They did trade together last year for Plekanec, but MTL didn't care because they were out of the playoff's picture.

You want to make the same deal during the off season? Then Toronto could consider it if the value offered by MTL is better than anything else. Still not an ideal situation.

Ask Dorion how happy he was to see Matt Hoffman land in Florida 12 hours after trading him to SJ. LOL He was soooo pissed he even put a clause in the Karlsson trade to be sure he is not traded back in the Eastern Conference (a 1st round pick penality). That's a real thing.

All depends in the situation. I’d happily take 3 picks away from a division rival for 1 year of a 40 year old when i know i am better than them.