Love Reimer but not worth a first

The inflated return for Reimer is a 2nd, not a 1st. Maybe San Jose lucks out, and gets some extreme conditions that will never be met like the 2nd becomes a 1st if Reimer plays x amount of playoff games for Toronto.

Toronto doesn't need to include a cap dump. Reimer takes up Kallgren's roster spot. Which means, they clear 750k in cap. Toronto currently has enough cap due to LTIR to make the move. If Murray returns before Liljegren, Toronto can waive Murray and send him to the AHL to work on his game. That will clear enough to fit in Reimer. If Liljegren returns first, Toronto can send two players to the AHL and roll with a 22 player roster.

I would say a 2nd, and Toronto kicks in a 4th round pick to compensate San Jose for burning a retention spot until the end of the season. The historical cost for retaining on an expiring contract as a third team at the deadline is something like a 4th.

Not a first

Probably does take a first, desperate need for a starter ups the price. 50% retention on Reimer and taking on useless Simmonds doesn't come free either.

I agree Toronto probably doesn't want to give up a 1st for him, but if SJ is adding a 3rd they probably have too. The 3rd could be pretty early and the 1st/2nd would be pretty late.

I think a more fair, realistic deal, though, is Reimer for Toronto's 2024 2nd + Simmonds and maybe like an extra 5th for retention

Why is San Jose adding a 3rd though?

I see these types of trades online all the time. They are EA Sports let's take advantage of the AI style trades.

As in, people think Reimer is worth a 2nd, so instead of doing Reimer for a 2nd, they do Reimer+a bunch of random pieces Toronto doesn't want that make up the difference between a 1st and a 2nd.

Trades rarely work like that. Teams don't want to give up 1sts, unless they have to. If there is already a path of least resistance in a 2nd round pick, they aren't giving up a 1st, even if they get back a few extra pieces.

A 2nd for Reimer is already an inflated gun to the head type return. There is just no universe where he gets a 1st. The only exception being if there are conditional elements like playoff wins, that Reimer is never going to hit, and by some stroke of luck he outplays Samsonov and they meet the conditions.

yeah I agree Reimer for a 2nd makes more sense, I was just saying for a 3rd because that's what's in this trade proposal

I really like that trade that you suggested, I think both team could find something each want and need. I would also give a fifth or fourth round pick as compensation to keeping Simmonds final year contract.