Toronto won't eat that Staal contract when Tavares expires in a year. He's also still producing. The picks and prospect don't mean much when they are in win-now mode.

They also won't sell a very productive 2RD for a late 2nd

These trades make no sense for the Leafs. Retaining 5.5 on Tavares and taking on bad contracts screws them. How would they be able to replace him with no cap space? And affordable RD that can play then you're in your windows, they don't dump those for futures.

Neither contract is bad, and I thought the idea of adding two proven clutch playoff scorers would interest Toronto. It provides a cheaper, replacement 3C for the Leafs whose better at everything a 3C should be doing, and adds another defensively brilliant winger that can play top six minutes, and has done in his career. Tavares' deal itself sucks, but getting out from under half of it for the year and having the assets provided to go and get a RD to fill the void was the logic.

So the Leafs trade a 1B/2C for an old, replaceable 3/4C and no cap space? They aren't "out from under" anything if they gain 0 cap space. Make it make sense.

Tavares isn't a 2C right now. He's struggling, he's a 2B/3C. Staal is a 3C, making a quarter of the cap hit, and better at everything the leafs need. They get out from under half of the deal, and get two clutch playoff pieces to help with the postseason.

Do you not understand that retaining 5.5 just makes Staal worth 8 next year? And adding Fast means there are 0 savings. Toronto gains NOTHING and is worse for it.

Gee, maybe you shouldn't do this trade then if Tavares is so bad and Staal is so good

Again, they don't save any money because they are replacing the 5.5 with depth players and retaining the other half. They didn't get out of anything

If they traded him somewhere and that team bought him out and he signed in carolina like Marleau did that would make more sense.

But highly unlikely

Staal only makes 2.9, and does everything Tavares does. Retaining means you get the extra 1st and A- prospect to get a RHD man. Toronto gets scoring depth, something that's been a serious problem, and the assets to move for a Dman. The only difference this trade makes is that you have multiple, better depth pieces on cheaper deals, and pays for the RD you need. There's no cap space for the Leafs if they keep Tavares anyway, so this does nothing but helps them was the idea

Also even you put kokaniemi at 4c, lol

It doesn't pay for anything. 5.5 in retention plus staals 2.9 plus fast 2.4 equals 10.8 million, 200k less than Tavares makes

Last time I say this: GAINING NO CAP SPACE DOES NOT SAVE YOU ANYTHING, and trading a 30 goal, 65-80 point guy for two maybe 10 goal guys DOES NOT GET YOU MORE SCORING.

Cap hit and points are numbers. You add and subtract with numbers to get the difference. Like this: 5.5 + 2.9 + 2.4 = 10.8 - 11 = DIDDLY FLIPPIN SQUAT, and worse players with no money to fill the void. DUH.

Except, they're not worse players... that's the point. Jordan Staal was literally 4th in Selke voting last year because he is an ELITE defensive forward. Fast goes with him to balance out the cap. You get two guys with 15 goal-30 point upside. You lose a player with 30 goal, 60 point upside, making double what the two individual players make. You get a 1st and a prospect to then get a RD and fill the hole. It's not a complex idea to understand lmao

The self justification nonsense in this post is mind blowing. JT scored the OT winner to send the Leafs to the 2nd round last season. You know you are coming out with a massive win here. Being that your are the biggest canes homer on the planet you never make a move unless it's a landslide win. This is definitely that.

These comments are exactly as ridiculous as I expected. You know this trade only helps Carolina. You bash JT but want him at half his contract for two guys with term you don't want. And talk them up while slandering JT in a transparent attempt to get people to accept your nonsense reasoning. It's a joke

Tavares and Stall, both don't waive their NMC.
Tavares may be declining, but he isn't THAT bad, and is still a capable 2C. He's and so many others are why I am so hesitant to having big $$$ contracts for players into their mid thirties. When the wall hits, it can be severe.

Biggest Canes homer on this site is posting Leaf trade proposals every day; they never make sense for the Leafs but that is not the purpose. Like lots of others on here - he has realized that no team generates traffic like Leafs Nation. So even ridiculous proposals generate 👀 if you attach the Leafs logo. Centre of the hockey universe baby 💪

JT is still a good player. I'd wager a better coach would get more out of him. Keefe sucks

Apparently too complex for you when the math has been provided multiple times. You're either woefully unable to compute information, which is sad, or a big fat troll hiding under the Ambassador Bridge.

The fact he isn't responding to leaf fans proves without a shadow of a doubt this is just a lame troll post