Thanks for the feedback. Basically Toronto gets a top 6 F & top 4 D both at reasonable price for a top expensive winger. I think the player value (Rust & MP for Marner) is fair for Toronto, they need to add a 1st for cap savings.

Over the last 3 seasons, Rust has a total Wins Above Replacement of 8.5, Marner is 8.3. Obviously Marner was more productive & has higher pedigree, but overall their current level is similar.

As for Pettersson, he played a top 4 role this season & his on ice results were fantastic. Dermott’s stats were great too but he was in a bottom pair role.

Brian Rust is coming up on 29 years old. Last season was the first year he ever had more than 38 points or 18 goals.
Marner is much younger and has done significantly better than that every single year he has been in the league. (save this year he scored 16 goals in a shortened season) it us utterly laughable for you to pretend they are even remotely similar in value. If it was anyone else they'd be trolling.
Petterson is Dermott, he is not worth a 1st

Alright, maybe Marner is indeed a bit better than Rust. But you’re not factoring in their quality of teammate or cap savings. Marner played with an elite C (Kadri, Tavares, Matthews) in his last 2.5 seasons. Rust only played full time with Geno this season. As long as Rust plays with an elite C, he’ll continue his current production. At 3.5 Million that is a bigger steal than Marner at 9.

he isnt just a bit better, he is significantly better. Also this year, the only good offensive year of his career at 28 years old Rust played with Malkin and Gutnzel, so you dont get to play that card.
Marner put up 19 goals and 61 points as a 19 year old with Kadri, and Kadri somehow also had a career best year that year. funny how that worked.
And cap savings do not make up for the age and hilarious discrepency in actual hockey ability PLUS Marner's contract covers all his prime scoring years while Rust's covers his decline.
Terrible trade, you cannot polish that turd

If you're not saying a lot of cap, then it won't impact the trade value much. But here, you're saving 6 million and getting a player who is nearly as good.

I’m not undervaluing them. Simply Marner is just that much better. Marner has never had a season under 61 points. Rust is consistently a 25-35 point player who had a breakout season last year but still didn’t hit 60 points. Marner is an elite top line right wing. Rust is a decent second line right wing at best. Petterson is a solid 2nd pair D that could probably play spurts as a top pair D.
As for the team being a contender after such a hypothetical trade and draft selection, yeah. They are a cup contender and east favorite here.
However, if they get back the 15th overall, I think they use it on someone like Schneider.