Anaheim HARD PASS. You aren't dumping Muzzin on us and getting our most NHL ready RD prospect to boot!

I like that deal for Nashville

NSH declines. Trenin is a better fit for the bottom six, and his new contract can't possibly be as high as Kerfoot's cap hit.

Now that there's no semi-spurious "cap floor" issue, I can't see Anaheim being interested in Muzzin without a serious incentive.

I'm still convinced that the best deal for both sides is Muzzin without any retention for a trade back in the 2023 draft -- either at the trade deadline or on draft day, when the relative placement of the respective picks will be more or less known (at the TDL) or absolutely known (on Draft Day One). The issue is whether Toronto can afford to wait that long.

I don't know man I have a hard time believing a Muzzin deal requires added incentive for a team with cap space to accept a deal regardless of his cap hit. Would have to see it to believe it.

See Marc Staal to the Red Wings for example. It will cost you to move him

I wouldn't acquire Kane and not stick him next to Matthews; you think Matthews and Marner are good? Try out Kane

I could see Anaheim going for Muzzin. Warren might be a price to high but an 18 yr old D man (big RD) is a gamble. Muzzin would give Anaheim an incredibly good D core. He could also be a great TDL player along with Klingberg to haul in a lot more. It all hinges on how healthy he is.

Possible - but maybe for less?

Muzzin is more valuable to Toronto than anywhere he's likely to go. Taking him out of your lineup weakens your team by at least some measurable increment. Meanwhile, contenders don't have the cap space for him, so that limits potential destinations for him to teams that aren't going to see the playoffs this season and aren't likely to be there in 2023-2024, either. As a result, those teams would be buying an expensive veteran player who comes off the books just as their window of opportunity is opening -- so, what's in it for them to take on that massive cap hit?

Do you think that Oliver Bjorkstrand, who is a productive top-6 RW 6 years younger than Muzzin and with 5 seasons of term, is more valuable than Muzzin? How much more valuable? I just don't see Muzzin's value as much more than Petr Mrazek's, even though he's more valuable on the ice, due to his 50% higher cap hit.

I'd love to keep Muzzin but if it enables a trade for Kane then I'll be the first to thank him or his time on the Leafs. Muzzin would be a great fit on LD for you guys and based on your cap space I don't see any evidence of his cap hit being a hindrance. But I do get where you're coming from. Curious to see how it plays out if at all.

Marc Staal? Again I'd have to see it to believe it as Muzzin and Staal are not in the same league.

Oh you know you're right. Similar point totals when Marc was moved and his cap hit was nearly identical. Only this time Muzzin's got another year left on his deal. There's a good chance you might have to pay more to move him

While still a serviceable 6-7 dman, Staal to me is more an older poor man's version of Muzzin who is a still a top 4 dman on most teams.

Definitely right now. Yes that's absolutely true. At the time of the trade he was on NY's 2nd or 3rd pair. Muzzin is very similar

I definitely think Muzzin is most likely going to be moved the next off-season (and perhaps they actually get something for him if he does good).

If they do end up moving him this season, it will probably be for a proven solid RD with a cheap contract. Leafs will probably have to add for the cap difference.

I agree that they are similar as far as both being reliable veteran, shut down dmen. I could be biased here but I just don't see Staal being close to the level of Muzzin.

His cap isn't a problem for us, and his real money owed is appealing, the problem is he is taking a spot on LD for two seasons. We are going to loose all our RD except Drysdale this off season, and will have a huge hole there. Meanwhile, we have Zelwegger and Mintyukov waiting for the 2LD spot, with Fowler on first pairing locked up to big term. We could slot him into bottom pairing shutdown role, but Vaakanainen and Benoit need the reps too, as they are also both LD.

Our LD spots are all essentially spoken for at this point, we really need guys on the right after this year. Maybe if Klingberg ends up a good fit for us we sign him to a reasonable deal and pair him with Vaak or Benoit to balance out his lack of defense.