Yeah, no thanks from CBJ, We don't want to be anchored by that contract even if you retain a decent chunk. We can have Laine with a similar cap hit and not regressing and only getting better over the remining 3 years of that Tavares contract.

Need to add in the JT Miller trade

That's a much worse team

I know Marner is pretty great defensively, but youch, that's a big ask of him on a line with Miller and Laine.

That's also not enough for Matthews.

I can't believe I'm typing this as a Jackets fan.

Progressing eh? How many years does he have to be a good but flawed player before people realize he's not really a star. Also this whole thing is a mess.

He does a rare thing well, and he does it very well. He comes from a hockey-mad nation with a small population who all consider him a megastar. If he came from Canada, no, he probably wouldn't be considered a star as an empty-calorie goal-scoring winger, but he's flashy off the ice and from Finland. And he really has gotten better defensively the past two years. He's never going to be a stalwart, but do you really care if he's not in the running for the Selke if he's potting 40+ goals a year? No. We know he's flawed and we're not arguing he's not. We know he's not Matthews. That's okay. We're still not trading him for the boat anchor that is Tavares plus soon to be 34 year old Wayne Simmonds.

I am honestly not sure why your observation that he's good but flawed has to do with anything else mentioned. He can be that and still progressing. He can also be good but flawed but greater value than Tavares and cap dumps.

40 goals a year eh? Once in 6 seasons

JT is still a point a game centre in the NHL. That is something a lot of teams, including Columbus don't have but definitely want

If we're being technical, JT hasn't been point per game since his first year in Toronto. He's 31. We'll take him if Toronto takes Voracek and a non cornerstone prospect back.

Lol, the "JT is in a massive decline" is so silly

Easy no from VAN. They can get a much better return than that for Miller.

JT's never even hit 90 points. Not even a current top 10 center in the league

I would wager a pile of cash that you also say "points aren't everything" whenever arguing about your favorite players.

Absolutely pitiful offer for Miller. The 32nd is the most valuable thing on this for Vancouver.

From the Leafs the offer has to start with Liljegren+2023 1st+

seems to matter to you though, that's why I said it, because yes, people with less points than him were still better this past year. Taking into consideration linemates doesn't help his case either

I wouldn't say he's top 10 centre, top 15? Probably still right now but obviously if you had an up and coming guy with a lot more runway, you'd take that over JT. But right now? He's still an incredible hockey player, despite what people say. He wins draws, cycles so well and is a great leader. Despite it working so well last year, Nylander and JT just didn't seem to work anymore. They didn't play much together the last 15 games or so and both really took off on their own. I do think a guy like Knies would be so good with JT, a fast power forward and a play maker would be decent. Kerfoot would be good, if they can keep him. It would be a top line on more than 1 team I would bet. But it'll be secondary behind Matthews and Marner but they are top 10 players, Matthews the 2nd best player in the game, so they will be a high paid 2nd line that people will make up evidence to make JT seem like he's declining. He isn't really yet.

I never stated he was declining, but still have never been too big on him, cause even though yes he's great in other areas and not just a one dimensional offensive guy, he's still not the best out of that realm for an multi-facet offensive center. But he's being paid so. Because of that, he will get criticized more, if he isn't playing to his money value, which frankly he doesn't play up to it all the way. Now there's a few reasons I'm sure you know of partly desperation but also a major target for the league, so he got a lot of money (good agent ) Even after all the little things he does though, the game does center down to outscoring your opponent. Someone like Riley Nash was near the top of the league in (I can't remember exactly what stat) but it was something along the lines of least goals against when he's on the ice... but also very few at all goals for. But you don't go out and see Riley Nash getting Selke votes.

I know you probably know most of this but I'm just giving you my clear stance, he's gonna get criticized more for his large contract, cause while it's one of the biggest, he still isn't in that super top tier of being a take-for-anything for any team. Although he may be the better player in a comparison, the contract would not make it a smart move, and it'd be better to keep the lesser for more team realm success, hence this Laine stance. This trade would be a Toronto win for both their scoring and Laine's, while giving Columbus a (7.5 years older) need, taking their best scorer away for someone who can still produce but not at the highest of ranks for his position. This swap right now does not step Columbus in a giant step towards contention, and by the time they would be there in predictions, Tavares is already approaching his mid 30s on a giant contract.