Done

I really want to say that's not the right value for Girard......but it's the right value for Girard.

You can probably have Manson for that, but not Girard. Honestly might not be a terrible idea, depending on what else happens with Toronto's D between now and then.

No, it's not.

I mean, the issue is that we are likely going to have to lose one of Manson, Girard or Toews next season and that's not going to be a secret. When a team is up against the cap and needing to trade, they're not in a great negotiating position. I am definitely on the side of trade Manson first, but a return like this might be the best we can do regardless of who we offer up.

Done. Leafs will pay for retention

Lots of teams will want a young top 4 dman on a good contract. There is always a market for them.

Easiest yes ever

No it isn’t. Hronek was traded for a 1st and 2nd, Newhook was traded for a 1st and 2nd, love him hate him Girard is a cost controlled top 4 dman that produces 30pts with zero PP1 time, he is worth an ass load more than Timmins and a 3rd.

Zhiglov, Smack, Kamenev, Clurman and a host of others are never getting NHL contracts.

The Avs would have been, yes!

If Toews does 5 years, it's going to come in much closer to $10M than $7M; it's practically guaranteed he's going to be paid $50M+ on his next deal, one way or another. I still think all these gymnastics to keep Toews are unnecessary; they have too many big-time guys they need to re-sign soon and they're going to want a lot of money. With the good UFA crop next summer, it is entirely possible to build a very good but affordable corps around Makar, Byram and Girard and still improve up front and in their depth which they need to do if they're going to be legit contenders. Can't do that if Toews is taking up $8-10M in cap.

Especially if Landy comes back, we simply can't afford to sign Toews and reasonably expect to keep 29, 96, and 8 for their entire primes. And those three NEED to be the priority. Bring in a 4-5 million dollar guy and let Byram and Makar start carrying the load more.

Yeah, it could definitely hinge on Landy but I think, even if he doesn't come back, committing $50+M to Toews through his declining years is probably not a good idea nor is it necessary. Mac is already locked up but Rants, Makar and Bo will need new deal within the next four years (Rants and Bo in the same year; yeesh) and they have to keep all of those guys. If Landy can't come back, they could have his money, trade Manson to get his money and not re-sign Toews. Combine that with cap increases and they would have space to re-sign their core guys plus add premium UFA's on D and F to create a more balanced roster that can truly contend.

That's why they're in the AHL

You aren’t burning NHL contract spots on guys that will never play in the NHL. Smakov isn’t even playing in the KHL and has only played 9 games in the last 2 years, and Russian players in general aren’t coming to North America to play in the AHL when they can make more in the KHL and stay home. Imo the Avs problem with developing non high 1st rd picks is they give a bunch of fringe prospect guys and don’t play guys in the role they will play on the NHL in the AHL, guys like Kaut and Bowers were dropped into top line roles and not roles they should have been learning in the AHL.