Ottawa can't trade both MacArthur and Gaborik and make it to the cap floor.

That said, Zaitsev to Ottawa for a late, 6th/7th seems to be a good deal for both teams...

We're giving away five NHL roster players for the pleasure of adding Hamilton, and we still can't ice a full 23-man roster?!?

Agreed. I think you could get Hamilton for Kapanen and a pick

They only gain around 4.5 in space and can sign UFAs if anyone will go. But would prefer your idea

Yep. But Sparks is replaced, And pretty sure Oz is gone anyway. Go to a team that they may play on so only real losses are Kadri and Brown with Brown replaced within for cheaper. I admit not ideal but pretty sure anything we see won't be. Plus don't see better RD coming in until the following year. Smaller roster quality over quantity. Possibly not realistic

Think we may need more. Plus would need to lose more pieces of importance than the 3C and 3/4 line winger we currently are for cap purpose. Could keep picks though

Idk how many times it gonna post this same sentence but here we go
Marian Gaborik’s contract is Insured, Melnyk pays $487,500 and gets a 4.875 mil caphit which is perfect for him and there is 0 motivation to move that, same goes for mcarthur

Ottawa isn’t trading guys that take up cap, but no salary. They want more guys like that

If anything that Carolina trade is an underpayment by the leafs

Won't make that trade again then. Thanks for the info

Swap Kadri for for nylander?

Yes that's one aspect but also you need to be sending back actual value not scraps like ohziganov sparks and brown if you want a real dman you have to pay for it with real value not players who would probably clear waivers if you tried to send them down

Hamilton for a Matthews product and a pick...? No chance Carolina gives up one of the best offensive defensemen in the league for that.

Thinking back on it, I’ve changed my mind. +1