I've been saying for a while that there is an easy was keep Jake if the Leafs think he's really part of their core.
1. Trade Nylander and Brown and a 3rd round pick to Carolina for Pesce, Saarela, Kuokannen and a 1st round pick.
2. Trade a 2nd round pick and Patrick Marleau to Arizona or Florida, with an agreement for them to buy him out and have him resign in Toronto for 1 year at $3 million.
3. Trade Zaitsev for whatever you can, to whomever you can.
4. Resign Gardiner at 4.75 million long term.
5. Bridge Johnsson and Kapanen.
6. Sign Michael Ferland as a free agent.
Johnsson (3.0) / Matthews (11.6) / Kapanen (3.5)
Hyman (2.25) / Tavares (11.0) / Marner (10.5)
Marleau (3.0) / Kadri (4.5) / Ferland (3.5)
Saarela (900k) / Gauthier (833k) / Moore (775k)
Kuokannen (750k)
Muzzin (4.0) / Reilly (5.0)
Gardiner (4.75) / Pesce (4.0)
Dermott (863k) / Rosen (750k)
Holl (675k)
Anderson (5.0)
Sparks (1.0)
Phil Kessel (1.5)
Total: $82,646,000
IMO, that's a better, more balanced team than Toronto puts on the ice right now, with a couple more million to play with if the cap winds up being higher than $83,000,000. Also, you add another 1st round pick to keep your prospect pool rich, or to ship in season if you want to upgrade closer to the deadline. As well, you land a couple of Carolina's best prospects in Kuokannen and Saarela. Kuokannen is a 6'1, 190lb C, LW who is close to a point per game in the OHL and has been really impressive. Saarela is a 23 year old 5'11, 185lb left wing who can really skate. He's leading Charlotte in scoring at a near point per game clip and will be NHL ready heading into next season. Both prospects easily project into the top 9 heading forward and I think Carolina would be willing to ship them for a upper tier talent to play with Aho and it leaves them with their top center prospect in their system in Julian Gauthier (former 1st rounder).