Garland has 17 points in his last 22 games. He is not available.

so what youre saying is the raptors lost the trade

Not meant to be an actual deal, just a fun mock based on the NBA trade that took place

They shot themselves in the foot by not moving him last year at the deadline, this is the most they could have got for a guy on a expiring deal who is about to be 30

Swap garland with kuz and i think both teams accept

The player can be Garland or Kuzmenko or Hoglander but the prospect would have to be a needle mover.

You analogy has two flaws:
1.) Siakam's stats were down from previous years. Guentzel's are steady / up.

2.) Toronto is clearly in a rebuild and is very bad with no reason to resign Siakam. The Pens, while low in the standings, are statistically one of the top teams in the NHL and are not committing to a rebuild with one of the best 1C in the NHL. Toronto had to sell, the Pens do not.

Consider this if you were the Pens GM. You can trade Guentzel now or you can resign him to a 8yr 9MM deal then eat half and trade him for probably just as much in 3 years (when he's 32]. You get 2.5 more runs and get a great return. The trading team gets a elite player (somewhat slower) for 4.5MM with an ever increasing cap.

You don't have to sell.

The best comp I can find is Hossa in 2008. 29yo winger. Around 40 goals for the last 3 years. Expiring deal of 6MM per.
Traded for 2 muddle 6 guys under 25, a low 1st, and the 30th ranked prospect in the NHL.

That comp for Van would be
Kuzmenko + Hoglander + 1st + Wallander or Lekkerimaki

Yeah just with play style wise Brown and Garland are far more similar