If I’m Toronto, I take this very quickly. Samuelson could slot behind Reilly for years to come as a solid second pair defence man. You are saving 5M roughly as well, which you could use 11OA, and or Ostlund to snag a good replacement for Marner in a trade. I believe this has the opportunity to make Toronto a much better team than they already are, but I’m not sure why Buffalo does it..

Buffalo doesn't do it. The retention doesn't matter. He's not the missing piece for the Sabres. Maybe if marner agrees to an extension, the Leafs won't get crushed in a trade, but it shouldn't be Buffalo.

Not enough

I agree. Toronto needs to add more to the return to Buffalo. Both sides decline.

As a Leafs fan I would probably be OK with this trade, but not super excited about it. Samuelsson hasn't shown he can be a needle-mover yet and he's 24. Ostlund might be something but I'm not jumping up and down about an undersized center, drafted middle of the first round, who hasn't played a game in the NHL yet.

Only way Buffalo is taking Marner on is with a deal to ship Skinner also in place.

The pick is of course high value and value wise its fair if not leaning advantage toronto but Toronto gets nothing in the short term so they'd decline it unless they could again flip the pick for a needle mover defenseman