Personally, I don't think Dubas would make a deal for a player like Mantha; simply because they don't have a way to afford him beyond this year (assuming they could afford him for this year). It would mean you're forced into trading William Nylander in the offseason.
That being said, as somebody who doesn't really like the "fit" of the big 4 together, I'd entertain the deal. I'd assume retention for Mantha would be off the table, but Bernier likely retained at 50% without issue... the two of them for Frederik Andersen, Alex Kerfoot, and futures. Leafs then trade Nylander in the offseason as they'll need to pick up a goalie.
that s going to be some quality futures, Andersen is a cap dump, I don t see TOR trading Kerfoot, guy offers flexibiliy to your forward group but they may have to to clear space.
Bernier at 50 per cent has value, Mantha has value (not less than Zucker who was traded for 1st +B prospect). Assuming Mantha is worth 1st + Liljegren / Sandin type prospect, Bernier standalone’s value at 50 per cent should be around 2nd + 4th (see Lehner deal at a small discount), taking Andersen for the rest of the season may make that 2nd +4th into a first.
Maybe to make the cap work you find Chicago to retain 50 per cent from Bernier at a cost of a 6th rounder, and I wonder if you can do a trade back agreement with retention, like for a 4th CHI takes 50 per cent of Hyman, is that allowed ?
well overall in this scenario, there are no more picks in the draft for the leafs so they d better get the job done