I'd do it.

Would hate to lose Mercer, guy does everything and I think he could be a Parise / Stone type guy if he pans out but no guarantees there.

However I've always loved Nylander and he's probably a lock for 30 goals and 80 points every year on a line with Hughes.

Ya I think Mercer could be a good player down the road, and right now, and it helps with the cap. And Zacha and Blackwood are there.

How about Ty smith Dawson mercer and Mackenzie Blackwood and a pick

6+ years of Mercer or 2 years of Nylander?
Mercer is already ahead of where Nylander was in D+2 season.
I'm taking Mercer everytime

Idk, that’s a tricky one. It doesn’t really address many needs. Mercer as a right handed centre with upside does, but that’s really it. Zacha’s no more than a 3rd liner and he’ll be looking for a big raise this year. And Blackwood hasn’t proven anything in a few years. It doesn’t save any cap and doesn’t address many needs.

I can’t see Nylander getting moved unless it’s for a top 4 dman, even as enticing as Mercer would be.

Leafs take it, But i doubt the Devils would do it. Mercer might even be better than Nylander down the road.

Mercer is a great young piece that would be hard to give up but Nylander has flashes where he looks like a legit star. The guy could easily score 40, I mean he’s got about this year 35 and he’s playing with mainly Tavares all year as his go to go, and Tavares, well, he ain’t that good anymore. I’d hate to move on from Willy, and I know damn well he’ll breakout the way every smart Leafs fan know he can, but I think it makes sense for a big return. Something like a return similar to this for Willy where the Leafs get a young future very solid 2RW on an ELC (who can currently play), a bottom 6 guy, and another quality asset or two is probably the return. Other key pieces I’ve looked at in return for Willy (along with other stuff) are Tomasino from Nashville and Jarvis from Carolina

I would do it mainly to allow us to bring Mikheyev back. As Mikheyev has been such a key part since returning and I dont want to lose him. Plus that package aint bad.

Zacha and Mercer can be part of a new third line for us and we could see in 2022-2023 season

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Mikheyev
Kerfoot-Zacha-Mercer
Simmonds/Clifford-Kampf-Engvall

Also Toronto does not need a top 4 D anymore. If Dubas can bring back Lybushkin and if Gio agrees to a cheap extension (1mill range) were set. Both guys can hold the fort till Niemela joins

Issue is Smith is a LD. We got Rielly, Muzzin, Sandin and if he decides to return Giordano

Zacha makes more sense in regards to what were gonna need

As @aadoyle essentially said, doing a trade like this gives them cap space to sign other players. Mikheyev for example, or Campbell. You mentioned it doesn’t save cap but it does, at least in the short term. Zacha won’t command more than 4 mil, likely closer to 3. At this point I’m not sure Toronto need a top 4 d. An elite top pairing guy would be great but Nylander isn’t going to fetch one of those.