I hope the Leafs do this. And then hire Berube to try to turn PLD into a competent player.

Why the heck do the Kings do this? They aren’t giving up Byfield

To get rid of Dubois and add 90-100 point player.

As for motive, it's said in the description.

Kings want nothing to do with this.

They certainly want to get rid of Dubois.

They certainly want a 90-100 point player.

But I do agree they do not want to lose Byfield...but he's the kicker here. Without him, nothing happens.

I'm not against to take Marner, but this is way too much to give up and in any case the Leafs would need to retain around 1/3 of the salary.
I like the idea with Tarasenko + the Panthers also will have to figure out how to extend some key players, therefore maybe he's going to be available, because he's not one of the key re-signing for FLA.
I don't like the third line very much and a 20 man roster is unreasonable

I doubt Leafs is able to retain salary on Marner, consider Dubois+Byfield is very likely gonna cost more together than him.

How much do you think Leafs needs to add to make this work?

Fwiw it is a 21-man roster with Kaliyev as the scratched guy.

The Leafs are definitely in the need for some offensive restructure, as they are also stuck in a similar "1st round-exit-situation" like the Kings are. Maybe they are even moving some other big name, to have some more room for moves.
I think the Leafs would need to retain around 30% to make something work. You just gotta get Marner with some kind of extension, otherwiese its just too much to give up.
My fear is, that the Leafs are benefitting big tme from this deal by getting Byfield when he starts to be great and by getting PLD, who can easily bounce back.
Btw if Lizottes extension costs $2,5M, I think the Kings shall not do that. They need to keep it below $2M

With Matthews and Nylander having fresh extensions on their table and Tavares being just about the most unmovable contract in the league, I'd have to assume Marner is their best option to start some.

I see Kings being in a situation too where some changes are needed, their situation from the Leafs is not that different, which is why I think these two teams could form good trade partners. We've seen that Marner does not work as the leading horse of a team, but consider the talent of the guy, he could thrive in a team with more experienced lads in there, and I think proven cup winners like Kopitar and Doughty are exactly that. He could be a fantastic elite tier supporting cast player (like for instance Kessel for Pens during their cup runs). Leafs don't really work, because they don't have a leader like Crosby in there...

Alternative trade I like is swapping Marner for Saros. NSH needs offensive depth, TOR needs a top tier goalie. NSH has a future replacement goalie already in Askarov, so keeping Saros isn't an absolute necessity for them. That exchange could be mutually beneficial, with some added pieces here and there.

In this particular trade, both of them are taking big risks - TOR is giving up a Top10, maybe even Top5 RW in the league for a big flop of a contract, but receive a very solid prospect in the exchange too, which is the risk for LA too. LA here is regardless going to get a very, very good piece for them, Marner alone almost outscored Byfield and Dubois combined so they don't have THAT much to worry about here. Whether Leafs retain on Marner short term for one year is potentially negotiable, but if Kings do re-sign him I think they end up spending at least the same amount Leafs does with Nylander on him. The risk factors are not that different from the Tkachuk trade, with one key difference and it's the other team getting the player with RFA rights, not the one getting the current best player.

Lizotte's contract can be made smaller if necessary, both in term and cap.

That's a big kicker. Nothing happens.