I would have said no way no how just a week ago, but what is very clearly a seller's market... Orlov...WOAF! Pending UFA getting a 1st, 2nd and 3rd, wow. Chiarot vibes all over again. I would expect that TOR still gets 50% retention on this deal, but who knows anymore.

Would the hawks use there last retention spot and would they retain for 3 years I would love that I figured they need to retain on Kane

I'm not an "insider", but from what I've been reading is that the Hawks would indeed use retention on McCabe in the right situation. I tend to think that TOR is a good place to use a longer term retention slot. TOR has a good farm system and good assets to send back. They clearly value cap space AND are at the cap ceiling every year. I don't know the exact details of a trade, but the framework is there imo.

That’s fair

IMO Way too much for McCabe even with the Hawks taking on Kerfoot. While he is a veteran and brings a little to the table. He is not that much of an upgrade on Sandin.

Adding Lafferty to the Hawks deal and just skipping the Kuraly deal and it’s interesting

That said I expect you see the Leafs look at depth Dmen that will be a 7/8 defender and perhaps another bottom six forward. So McCabe is likely out. I think names like Nick Seeler, Justin Braun, and maybe Luke Schenn (although his reported asking price should push the Leafs out of that one.

I don't think there needs to be retention on the deal, I think sandin and a first is more than enough to get McCabe it would be cool to have McCabe right in the prime of his career and plays with a fire under him and skilled.

Kerfoot to a playoff team with cap space for a 3rd and a prospect or to a non playoff team for anything and Dubas uses the excuse that Holmberg is sitting there not being used and that guy should be on the team... Or I guess trade off Murray to Chicago talk him into it but clearing room for mccabe is the move in my opinion and getting Holmberg back in the lineup.

Also the Leafs could use a bit of security on the backend but they don't need a superstar D so McCabe is perfect, maybe kerfoot and a first is good enough

I’d rather kuraly over holmberg for this playoff run

I get that but the Leafs are very set on D from #4-8 Reilly and brodie are very efficient the 3rd spot specifically sub 2 spot is where the need is, McCabe is perfect.

I don't know enough about kuraly I feel like it's splitting hairs

Getting off of Kerfoot is not at all a tall task. He’s only owed 750K in salary this season. Craig Smith was pretty easily shed and he has an owed salary or 4.3m