With a great abundance of top 6 forwards on the market this trade deadline, teams like Toronto should be all over this. In another win now year with no series wins under their belts, it's time to buck up.
Meier trade:
- With SJS seemingly unwilling to pay out his $10,000,000 mil offer sheet and/or pay him $9,000,000 annually on a longer-term deal, seems like Meier's time in San Jose is done. What is so interesting about Meier's situation is the aforementioned RFA rights. Meaning at the draft, Toronto can turn this seemingly "rental" into some futures of their own. As for the value given up here, I would consider this fair for San Jose. They get what is looked at as Toronto's top prospect in Matthew Knies, a "cap dump" in Kerfoot, alongside a good B-level prospect in Hirvonen alongside a 2024 1st. Considering the "cap dump" in question was a 50-point scorer last year and consistently a .5 PPG average player, Toronto gets the flexibility to save draft picks in a strong 2023 draft and send their 2024 1st. No chance Toronto will have cap space for Meier unless drastic moves are made so with his RFA eligibility comes flipping potential. Boy wonder Kyle Dubas could come out of this like a genius if he recoups even close to the amount of assets he lost, especially if Toronto finally wins a playoff round
Schenn trade:
- I was a little iffy on this one, considering Timmins becomes the odd man out (lets be honest Dubas isn't waiving Holl) but this is what Toronto has been missing. The physical presence of Muzzin on the back end has been missed and Schenn brings that and then some. Instead of having to choose between Timmins & Holl, maybe running 11/7 would be the right call? But anyways, this is likely the price for a Luke Schenn or even more, and if you want that type of game Muzzin played, this is it.
Cousins trade:
- Spontaneous addition here, Florida looking a little down bad here, Cousins is a decent depth player who (stop me if you heard this before) FORMER SOO GREYHOUND! Not a bad depth piece for a good team like Toronto. Maybe FLA would rather a younger player in Hunt?
Took inspiration of the Meier trade from other armchair GMs but knowing Toronto fans are the most vocal so I'll likely hear it for this, but this isn't a half bad team! (just don't read my username)
Sharks have stated they ARE willing to pay his 10 mil QO. That's why if a deal get's done, it'll be a deal the Sharks really like.
Knies is a A- prospect at best. I'd put him on the same level as Bordeleau who is right in between that A and B level. I wouldn't call Hirvonen a B level prospect, he's already 21, very small, and average at best production in Finland so who knows how he'll be playing a North American game. Niemela I like but has dropped off quite a bit in production this year so I think:
2023 First, Knies, and Niemela (and Kerfoot for the cap dump) would be a good return.
I think this is fair, maybe some issues with the Florida trade but that is just because I'm unfamiliar with the player coming back. I think Schenn could fill a Lyubushkin type roll this year slotting in next to Reilly as needed but still trying to keep his minutes down. Also I really liked the in depth writeup instead of some low effort impossible trade.