Trade deadline season always brings out the boldest ideas, and this latest Puckpedia Puck GM proposal is a perfect example of Maple Leafs fans reaching for the moon.
The deal sends Simon Edvinsson, an RFA, and a 2027 fifth-round pick from Detroit to Toronto. In exchange, the Red Wings would receive Ben Danford, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Miles Wood, and Toronto’s 2027 second-round pick.
On paper, the appeal is obvious for Toronto: a shot at one of the NHL’s bright young defensemen. But the math gets messy fast.
The proposal would trim roughly $7 million from the Maple Leafs’ cap, yet it doesn’t account for the hefty new deal Edvinsson would likely require. He’s looking for around $10 million per season, and that number would count against this season’s totals as well.
With the tagging rule in play, Toronto only has so much room to commit to future salaries beyond this year.
Detroit’s side is easier to understand from a cap standpoint. The Wings have $28 million in current cap space, so absorbing the extra salary wouldn’t be a problem.
The issue is what they’d actually be getting back. Ben Danford is a useful piece, but most fans clearly don’t think he’s enough, and the rest of the package doesn’t move the needle.
The Red Wings would also be taking on Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Miles Wood, adding a veteran defenseman and a depth forward into the mix.
Puckpedia’s “Who Says No?” tool came down hard on the trade, landing on “Shawn Horcoff hangs up,” and the fan vote backed that up in a big way. Ninety-two percent of voters said no.
That reaction makes sense. Detroit would be parting with a high-upside young defenseman and getting back veterans plus a second-round pick, while sending out only a fifth. And with no pressing need to help Toronto solve its cap problem, the Red Wings have little reason to bite.
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For a Leafs blue line that leans heavily on Riellys minutes and puck-moving presence, any absence is going to be felt quickly. The club did not offer any further specifics, leaving the next update on his status to carry real weight as Toronto waits to learn whether this is a short-term issue or something more disruptive. [Read more 🡒]