Blue Jackets get out from under half of Merzlikins boat anchor of a contract and acquire a plug and play complimentary forward in Jarnkrok who specializes in the PK, plus a nearly ready for prime time defenseman in Kokkonen and a forward prospect with talent but a longer runway in Voit. A 3rd also goes Toronto's way to make up for the imbalance.

The Leafs get a 1B to Woll's 1A albeit one with a checkered *recent* history. But Columbus has not been very good lately and the Leafs are jettisoning their two worst defenders this off season in Giordano and Brodie. In a different situation, this doesn't work. It could here. They part with 'do everything' Jarnkrok but have the veteran forward depth to compensate.

Minnesota gains the ultimate set up man for Kirill the Thrill. Putting Marner opposite the Russian makes him a legitimate 60 goal threat on an annual basis. Marner himself, when healthy (which has been almost always) has turned into a 30 goal threat himself to go with the playmaking and the killer defense. And he is a year younger than Kaprisov. This trade of course assumes there is an extension signed.

The Leafs gain a ready replacement for Tavares at center to slot behind Matthews and mesh with fellow Swede Nylander for most of the latter's deal. They also grab a mid round 1st and Danila Yurov, who as it happens was Leaf prospect Nikita Grebyonkin's teammate with Metallurg Magnitogorsk last season.

St. Lous badly needs to get younger on the blueline with Krug and Leddy being 33, Faulk being 32, and Parayko 31. This allows them to do so. Timmins is a offensive talent who excels on the PP with good size and mobility but no longer fits into Toronto's long term plans. Niemela is Toronto's top rated blueline prospect. He was just under .6 PPG in his first year in NA and has the Kris Letang tool kit. As for Holmberg, the comparable for Blues fans is a familiar one. Think Alex Steen. Middling offense for the most part, flawless defense, and more grit than you'd expect. Every team needs guys like that. The Blues also garner a 5th out of the deal which is where they found Matt Kessel in 2020.

The Leafs get the lengthy defensive partner to put with Rielly during their Window of Contention. Yes he is signed for six more years but the last two have a 15 team 'trade to' list attached to them should they want to move on from him.