He was really only posting that because Holy Makinut posted that Muzzin and Brodie were 'just as good as Slavin and Pesce'.
I guess the point is with Seattle taking the Canes 4 and the added cap is that they COULD theoretically fill out the roster with good surrounding players and a great defence. Whether they are able to is another story and one that you can't really answer. However, if they take the Leafs 4 players and use up half their cap on that then there's no conceivable way they can have a balanced roster.
I think it's fair to break things down like this. Each position should be measured against each other.
CANES
Aho = 1C
TT = 1W
Trochek = 2C
Svech = 1/2W
LEAFS
Matthews = 1C
Marner = 1W
Tavares = 2C
Nylander = 1/2 W
If we base it
solely on play this year then I think you rate them like this...
Matthews > Aho
Marner > TT
Tavares = Trochek
Nylander = Svech
You can make argument Tavares over Tro or Tro over Tavares. You can make an argument for Willy over Svech or Svech over Willy. Moving forward I think everyone takes Svech as a player and I really don't know about Tro vs Tavares. If this year is how the next few play out then they're probably even. Trochek has been phenomenal for the Canes I can tell you that.
If you bring contracts into the debate it gets much muddier.
No one is going to touch Matthews in on ice talent. He's a top 3-5 player in the league and you could argue higher if you want. He costs a ton but he's worth it. Aho is great but he is not going to be on that level. Is the difference in value $3.2 AAV? I don't know.
TT is never going to be the point producer that Marner is either. TT is a great 70-80 point player, maybe ppg, who plays excellent defence. Marner has 90-100+ point upside and can PK as well. He costs a ton but he's also very good. Is he worth $5 AAV more than TT. No definitely not.
With Tavares v Trochek and Svech vs Nylander it's kind of hard to answer because both Tro and Svech need new contracts soon. If Svech signs for around what Willy got at $7AAV (which seems reasonable since he's not getting $8+) then I think you go with him moving forward. Tro has 1 more year a $4.75 and if he has another year like this one he'll get good money. Tavares money? Hell no. Tavares at $11 AAV for the next million years is an overpayment and misuse of the Leafs cap. When you have AM as your 1C you don't need Tavares as your 2C and you certainly don't need to be paying them both $11+.
Value wise the Canes contracts are much much better and they still produce really well. Not elite like the Leafs but maybe maybe the production difference is like 15% whereas the cost difference right now is 50%. Moving forward that gaps closes. For Seattle in this scenario, there's really wrong answer. Elite talent is hard get but you have to pay for it. Great players on great contracts are hard to get as well and the extra cap space can set your team up for a long long time.
You can argue it either way but obviously there are some non-negotiable facts involved as well.
TLDR; Go with the Canes 4