In my opinion, you're not going to get a draft-pick-poor and essentially rebuilding team like Arizona to give you multiple picks for any player you're likely to offer them.

I don't think you can retain salary on expansion draft picks.

I think vaule wise the trades are pretty close. But I don't like giving up McCann but you probably are right that it would take something of vaule to make the trade..

they aren't giving MP away.
And it doesn't cost McCann to move Matheson, it probably doesn't cost anything, unless a deal was already worked out with Seattle some time ago.
His play was good this year, and last, and he'll easily be moved. FFS they moved Gudbranson for nothing and he was far worse a defenseman than Matheson.
ZAR take out the 4th. He'd return a 2nd. It's not some high cost for a guy who's a anywhere bottom 6er. That's probably a standard cost. Especially considering you get term.

The Rust trade, that's a hard one, I don't see him moving anyway. That's a great contract to have, they aren't gonna move it.

Gudbranson had 1 year left on his contract. Matheson has 5 at 4.875 million. While I agree the Pens shouldn't sacrifice McCann to get rid of him, it's unlikely a team takes him without some form of payment, especially when the cap isn't going to increase much for the foreseeable future

This would be an absolute trainwreck of an offseason if this happened. That being said. To answer your question of "are these trades fair?"

Pettersson you could probably take out an extra 4th and it would be fair. Overall though that trade is fair in value.

ZAR one makes sense value wise IF he's got a contract worked out.

Value wise the Colorado one might be a LITTLE heavy in what the pens are giving away, but the third for fifth really brings it back so I'd say its close to fair value, but it would be a stupid ****ing trade for both teams.

Lastly, it would probably cost something for Sea to take Matheson yes, since he's got that big 5x4.8 contract, but idk if McCann would be what it would cost. More like a 3rd round pick. McCann had a BEAST of a season. Almost matched his point total from the previous season and played 20 less games. He really took a step forward this season into being a higher end middle-6 winger. I doubt you'd need to give up that much value just to take Matheson, who himself played completely fine last season.

Easy no from the Avs.

Gudbranson got trade to 3 different teams LOL
This isn't even close.
Matheson is a far better player. On top of it there are far worse defensemen out there trying to get moved. While the market is just bare. Jack Johnson got a contract last year. FFS, let that sink in.

He's working around that by having Seattle officially select McCann, then trading Matheson for "expansion considerations".