Not sure I follow this one - Leafs get Crouse who will slot into the bottom 6 with ease and they get the cap dump of Ritchie for the 1st? I think the Yotes like Crouse enough that they may want to add another piece and do it. Would like to hear from Yotes fans though.

I'm pretty sure the Yotes would do this. Personally, I'm keeping the first and using the buyout or just burying him

My original idea was

Crouse for 2023 1st + Dermott + Ritchie

That way Arizona gets 2 players and a 1st for Crouse. While Toronto gets an all around player who as we saw in the past can be a solid top 6.

The one thing with that though is Dermott will have some interest and as we saw with Washington and Sieg, Dubas could trade Dermott separately and get a 3rd round pick

Boston basically at the time gave up a 1st, low B prospect, and Backes for Kase which as we have seen in Toronto if he was healthy for Boston oh boy that would have been a bad dump trade for Anaheim.

I dont think Toronto plans to keep the first round pick this year. Dubas job potentially is on the line if they dont go far in the playoffs so why would he not make a splash at the deadline to bring someone in and give the team a chance

As rn Toronto is either gonna go up against Tampa or the Panthers who have been red hot these past few games

Rn I think this team still needs some help as these past few games have highlighted. Crouse is also future Kerfoot insurance especially with Campbell's next deal coming up

As with a QA of 1.75 mill, Crouse is viable, while 3.5mill Kerfoot is not.

Thing is, there's not a single player available on the market that can push TOR further than what they have right now against the likes of TB and FLA. They have more grit than they've had in years. An upgrade on D and a back up goalie they can rely on if Soup gets hurt are the too most important things to this team. Forward depth is good. Kampf, Kase, Soupy and Engvall have all played above expectations. Simmonds has been great, and of course Spezz is still being Spezz. An additional depth F and back up goalie shouldn't cost a first. A top 4 Dman might, and I could be talked into that if a god one that fits comes along.

Don't get me wrong, I love Crouse and think he'd be a great add to the team. If it's a first added, it's Holl (not Dermott) and Ritchie for Crouse and Lyubushkin (just as a depth guy). If not, I'd do Crouse for Ritchie, Dermott and a second (preferably in 23)

Why would AZ trade Crouse for Leafs garbage. Send Knies and your #1 for Crouse and Luby.

Clearly overvaluing Crouse right here lul

And lul sending Knies would be a significant overpay considering hes gonna be a better player from day 1