If they are retaining that much salary you need to add a hell of a lot more to that trade buddy

Chicago doesn't want to trade any draft picks since they host the draft this year. Toronto doesn't need a center. I would think it would be something like:



JVR




Ville Pokka
Ryan Hartman
1st Rd Pick

Schmaltz can play wing, you know, plus he's got higher skill potential than Hartman - he just needs more time, which should be fine with the Leafs since they're in rebuild mode. Schmaltz is probably a better asset to move for the Leafs too, if they so choose.

Either way, the Hawks wouldn't trade Hartman either imo because they need him more at the moment than any other prospect/rookie. Pokka is definitely up for grabs. And I don't think Chicago is opposed to trading some of their picks from 2017 (they have 10), just not their 1st and possibly not their 2nd. I think they'd move the 2018 1st in a heartbeat too.

The bigger issue is that the Hawks may not be able to trade for any player with more than a year on their deal. They just won't have the space for even a discounted JVR next season.

TOR would be stupid to accept this deal over the one proposed in this ACGM.

I wouldn't do Hartman and a 1st...

Pokka and a 1st..

Hartman is going to be too good to give up.... It's not like Hartman is years away from being a great player, he's well on his way now.

The funny part is - that if Schmaltz reaches potential he will be a player very similar to JvR....

As a Leafs fan, If I were their GM I would make the following offer:

JVR ($1m retained)
C. Carrick (young RHD making 750 k this year and next on ELC)
F. Gauthier (young 6'5" fourth line centre on ELC)

for

Pokka
Schmaltz
Hjalmarsson
Kruger
2018 1st

It probably makes the most sense to do this after the season but before the Expansion Draft.