For the TDL move, caps don't really have much of a need on defence, as we're really deep in that area. Pominville looks good, but that cap is too big that alone it would put us over, and it's a bit expensive for a rental. Giving up 2 young players for a rental and a d-man we don't have much of a need for doesn't seem like it would work on the caps side.

All useless trades that make our team worse, especially if your playing Mittelstadt 4th line center and starting Beaulieu over Zaitsev

Great reply, thank you for your comment. I have heard the caps were looking for a lhd-man who has played over 20 minutes a game and I saw Burakovsky was on the hot seat. I guess I am in error. I should have retained 50% of Pominville's salary.

No chance Buffalo "helps Toronto with their salary cap trouble". There a division rival who we want to be competing with... If anything we go after them with reasonable offer sheets in hand to make their lives worse. Furthermore, we have no need to take on Marleau and his cap hit, and frankly, he has no reason to waive his NMC to come to Buffalo. Buddy's trying to win a cup. We're more likely to find RHD blueline depth through free agency, or just roll with Nelson as a number 6 if needed, in my opinion. I don't think it would take much to convince Dan Girardi to "come home" and play some of his older years in Buffalo. Tim Heed is also intriguing if he wants the chance to prove himself he may be looking to get out of San Jose and is an RFA that could probably be had relatively cheap.

Thank you for your comments. I know you both have strong opinions, but Marleau and Anisimov would upgrade the center, Zaitsev would upgrade the RHD (it was an over site that I left him off of the team, I am putting him back in now), Burakovsky is an inexpensive replacement for Pominville and the Sabres get 3 second round draft picks in the process. While you are correct that Marleau would not want to move out of Toronto, it was an idea to upgrade the team for next year and build for the future.

While I like Marleau and Anisimov , I think Anisimov is overpaid and he has a NTC which I dont see him waiving and also Marleau has a NMC clause which i don't think he waives to go from a contender to a non contender

All good, Burakovsky is on the trade block, but I think it's going to be one of those situations where GM MacLellan values Burky above what other teams will pay with his diminishing value. I personally don't see him being traded, MAYBE on deadline day if a team is really interested in him and throws a better offer at him late. MacLellan said in an interview a couple weeks ago that he is happy with the depth of the defense and will most likely not deal for one at the deadline (for the first time in 3 years).

As for Pominville I think he'd be a great pickup, not sure what GMBM thinks on getting a rental back for Burky, but maybe Burk + a mid round pick for Pominville. Who knows...

Thank you for your comments. I agree none of these would happen. IMO the trades if they did happen would help each team either on the cap, in the future or on the ice. I really appreciate your candid and complete comments. After all this is all for fun and dreaming.