Facts about this trade:
a) It gave the Leafs flexibility to go into LTIR before Mitch was signed. Hence it enabled them to make that bulk of signings official just after Clarkson was signed. Now that Clarkson is here, the Leafs could make those signings official AND sign Mitch without losing LTIR efficiency. Once a team knows they are going to go into LTIR before season starts, more LTIR contracts don’t hurt on the cap
b) It only cost Leafs $200k in real dollars due to final year being $1m salary and the contract being 80% insured
c) Leafs get a 4th
It’s only wins for Leafs in this, aside from absorbing some pocket change.
Sparks is not really a factor.