Quoting: Hal1ax
I’ve watched a lot of Bracco and he is exactly that, plays a similar offensive game to Nylander. Perimeter creative playmaker, however, not as good a top end speed through the neutral zone. What you don’t get with him is chasing guys down in the neutral zone. They’re both equally bad in the defensive zone. He is top 6 nhl quality when it comes to offensive zone capability, it’s the other 2 zones that may keep him in the press box, especially with a coach like Babcock.
Can't say I've seen Bracco play but he sounds very similar to Nic Petan who many Jets fans had high hopes for but couldn't get much of a chance with Maurice who is very similar to Babcock with lineup choices.
Both are small, creative play making wingers who were 2nd round picks. Seems the only way guys like that will succeed in the NHL will be either they have elite skill like a Gaudreau or they have to play in a top 6 role with other skilled players but will Babcock give Bracco (or Petan) that opportunity? Tough to say but the early season absence of Hyman will be Bracco and Petan's best chance to prove themselves to the coach, they've got their work cut out for them.
So does Nylander need to go to make this all fit? Sure it does for a season and should free up the money to pay Muzzin, Barrie and Ceci in the 2020 summer if the Leafs want to keep them around but is the cap gonna rise enough to pay future RFA's and UFA's like Bracco, Moore, Andersen and whoever else? Maybe but it seems like it'll be tough if not impossible to build a contender with three $10M+ players. Dubas has done pretty well this summer, will be interesting to see what he does over the next few seasons to make everyone fit, he's probably praying that Liljegren and Sandin can step in on ELCs and provide him some temporary cap relief.
I think he'd be making a mistake to trade Nylander though, I think he'll rebound this season and prove he's worth his contract.