Why do you have Matthews on the wing?

Leafs really have no desire to to take on OEL's 8.5m long term deal or maybe not even Schmaltz at 5.875m. Besides OEL's retired in Arizona and his NMC kills the deal.

How about.... NO

Don't worry he'll be coming home eventually anyway.

well yeah, people retire to Arizona all the time

you mean Quebec? That's where the Coyotes will be by the time Matthews' contract is up anyways

I'd trade Matthews for Chychrun, Keller, Soderstrom, Hayton and 2 firsts

I'd trade Sandin, Nylander, Kokkonen, Robertson and 2 firsts for McDavid

I'd do that in a second if Leafs didn't have Tavares

yeah, and edmonton wouldnt. Which is the point. You dont trade guys like McDavid (or Matthews). unless the over payment is so vast that it's nigh on incomprehensible. The Leafs arnt trading Matthews unless it's the deadline of 2024 and he has said with 100% certainty that he isnt re-signing. And that also isnt happening because it pretty much never happens with superstars, they stay with the team that drafted them 99.9999999% of the time if they make it to UFA with that team

Leafs are obviously going to attempt to retain Matthews but if you don't think the trade I put is beneficial to the Leafs and is a massive overpay then you're wrong. It would pretty much destroy the yotes giving the Leafs 2 lottery picks most likely, 2 elite top 4 dmen, plus Hayton and Keller

Of course you would. Its grand larceny

except that Matthews is literally the best player in the league at doing the most important thing in hockey. Scoring even strength goals. Like, literally the best. And your evaluation of the proposal is a best case scenario. The firsts could very easily be 15+ in bad drafts. The defenders are both FAR from being elite top 4 Dmen and Hayton could pretty easily top out at being just an OK 2C. As far as Keller goes, hes a nice 2C, but again, a 2C. This is more likely a bunch of dimes for a dollar trade than it is what you described. So no, the leafs wouldnt be better off.

I really don't see why Matthews is going to want to go to Quebec city.

Where did I say the Leafs would be better off? You obviously don't know about the Yotes if you think Chychrun hasn't already established himself as a top pairing guy at 22 and Soderstrom is a great defensive prospect. Keller is a winger, not a centre and Hayton has 1C potential, you can say any player could top at anything

I wouldn't, Matthews just has something that doesn't come around often. He can take over a game and score goals at will. When you are in a long series that sort of skill is a game changer, and he's still just entering his prime.

I think it weakens them in the short term which is not a good idea with this core they have. Maximize the chances over the next 8 years, not weaken them.

dude, you called them "elite top 4 defenders" one is a good 2-3 guy who has a good shot at getting better and the other is a prospect who compares more with the guy the leafs drafted in the 3rd round last year than he does actual elite prospects.
And if Keller is a winger (he's listed as a C everywhere ive looked) then the leafs dont need him. Hayton has 1C potential? really? Wow, then Sandin has HHOF 1D potential. Potential is only as valuable a the likelyhood of it being achieved.

This is if we had to deal Matthews for some reason cause he was leaving/demanded a trade

Besides Defense the biggest issue with Toronto is that they have too many scoring star style players. That sounds weird I know. Just like when Edmonton has Hall, Nugent Hopkins, Eberle, Puls.

You have Taveres, Matthews, Nyalnder, Marner. Too much money wrapped up in 4 players. You need some mid range players with grit and character.

Crazy idea but if I were Toronto I would trade Tavares. And put a better supporting cast around Matthews. And sure up the team. You only need one line of superstars.

Marchand, Bergeron, Pastanak
Ranntinen, McKinnon, Landegskog
Nylander, Matthews, Marner

Then the 2nd line should be just below that skill level at a cheaper price.

Remember the year that the Rangers has Lindros, Messier, Bure, Holik, Nedved, Kovalev. Too many stars don’t work.

He won't, he loves the spotlight and you don't get much more spotlight than you do in TO.

Not if Florida beats them there. Honorable mentions: Ottawa & NYI

Don't need to be an arse, yes I know what potential means thats why I used it in that way, you made the pessimistic argument for Hayton while I argued the optimistic side, he'd most likely be a solid 2C. Chychrun was the 2D (that means top pairing) on one of the best defensive teams in the league while also being their best offensively talented defenseman and would fit very nicely in the Leafs system. Comparing Soderstrom to a 3rd rounder taken less than 12 months ago? This guy is a beast, Dobber Prospects has him projected as a 3rd dman and at 19 already has 2 SHL seasons under his belt. Finally, Keller is listed as a LW, C, RW here so hes not listed as just a C everywhere and hes always been a LW as far as I can tell and has taken less than 200 FOs in the league

What about Pittsburgh? That notion is nonsense. You can never have too much skill. And paying stars is never the problem. Paying mid range depth guys too much is a huge problem in this day and age. Look at teams like the Islanders and all their over 5 million dollar contracts for good but not elite players, they are going to have huge problems fitting Barzal who is there best player. TO has no problems with their cap and their defence is underrated and is only going to get better with age.

The Islanders will stay on Long Island but you are right Florida is doomed as well.