So, interesting thought exercise.
Buffalo likely doesn't want to buyout Skinner due to the structure of his buyout, a poison pill in 2026-27 that causes the buyout cost to be 6.44M in dead cap.
Toronto doesn't want to buyout Tavares because they get no savings, essentially.
A thought:
Buffalo retains 20% on Skinner, trades him to Toronto for Tavares and both teams buy the players out.
Buffalo will be eating, most of their dead cap this year with 20% of Skinners buyout being on their books.
Toronto will be a ton of immediate relief this year, but have to take 80% of Skinners buyout hit over 6 years.
They money mostly evens out, with Buffalo paying 8M to Tavares next year and 3M of the 15M Skinner buyout.
Toronto is paying 12M of the 15M Skinner buyout.
There are no NMC concerns because both players are just getting bought out.
Buffalo likely doesn't want to buyout Skinner due to the structure of his buyout, a poison pill in 2026-27 that causes the buyout cost to be 6.44M in dead cap.
Toronto doesn't want to buyout Tavares because they get no savings, essentially.
A thought:
Buffalo retains 20% on Skinner, trades him to Toronto for Tavares and both teams buy the players out.
Buffalo will be eating, most of their dead cap this year with 20% of Skinners buyout being on their books.
Toronto will be a ton of immediate relief this year, but have to take 80% of Skinners buyout hit over 6 years.
They money mostly evens out, with Buffalo paying 8M to Tavares next year and 3M of the 15M Skinner buyout.
Toronto is paying 12M of the 15M Skinner buyout.
There are no NMC concerns because both players are just getting bought out.