Both aren't playing great. Mirtle was saying that one thing teams are interested in is trading a bad goalie with less money but term for Samsonov. This seems like a great example. San Jose gets a goalie who was really solid last year for a guy they got for free and if it doesn't work they can just let him walk this summer. Also gets them out from under Blackwood next year.

For Toronto it's just taking a risk on someone new. If he can just get to being a .905 goalie and play 40 games its good enough. Woll is signed through next year so you can afford the bad year on Samsonov.

This might seem like a weird trade but it makes loads of sense.

Johnson/Clifton has been a bottom 5 D pairing in the league by xG%. Clifton plays better up the lineup thank Johnson which indicates that Johnson is at fault.

Klingberg is slightly better at 5v5 (surprisingly) but more important Buffalo has an 11.6% PP. So he can jump in there and actually help Dahlin/Power develop on the PP since they've never actually played with a PP specialist.

Buffalo has plenty of cap space so they are taking cap here but they are actually saving money.

Klingberg's base salary is $2M
Johnson's base salary is $2M
Stillman (in AHL)'s base salary is $1.35M

So Buffalo need to pay $2M (Klingberg) + $770k (retained)
Toronto pays $1.23M (Johnson) + $1.35M (Stillman)

So Buffalo is saving $500k in real money and taking on just under $2M in salary cap (assuming Stillman stays buried cause he counts against the cap).

$500k seems negligible but we all know it matters to Buffalo and could actually be additional budget they are allowed to spend at the deadline.

If Edmonton is looking for a change this makes sense.

If brown plays a 10th game it counts for $3.25M towards the cap next year. So Toronto is essentially just getting him to bury him.

Bouchard is a good young player in my eyes. I know he's got loads of hate but I think he fills the role Klingberg was supposed to fill but better. (Yes you have to live with the bad to get the good)

Edmonton is supposed to be really high on McMann so they get him. Jones could be a solution or stop game in net. He's cleared waivers so he is risk free for them and can be sent down.

Kampf can help them defensively in the bottom 6.

Minten can be their longterm solution at 3C if they see McLeod as a LW in the top 6 and prefer RNH on the wing as well (especially as he ages). Or he can be a trade chip at the deadline.

The 1st is an asset if they decide to throw in the towel or a trade chip if they can recover.

I think this strategy of taking a few players who could work around the edges and support the big guns that you know can win is going to be a winning one for Edmonton.

Add McMann/Kampf/Jones to their lineup and remove Bouchard/Brown. You could get a more defensive bottom 6 with more physicality, some league average goaltending and less turnovers on D. The PP takes a hit but if you start winning some 5v5 minutes this could turn around quickly for Edmonton.