Leafs trade Cowan, Niemela, Robertson, 1st, conditional 1st 2026 (Leafs win the cup any year 2024-2026) to Pens for Erik Karlsson (50% retained).
Leafs trade Minten, Liljegren to Chicago to retain another half of Karlsson's salary.
Selling the future to win now. A concept as old as hockey itself. Trading a maybe for a known commodity.
Maybe Cowan goes on to be the next Marty St. Louis.
Or maybe he goes on to become the next Nikolai Borschevsky. Erik Karlsson is a three time Norris trophy winner having one of the best years of his career. I know who I'd rather have on the team.
Anyone not helping win a cup the next two years should be expendable.
But not for just any old rental to strengthen the fringes. That's worked so well every other year. They need to swing for the fences and get the best player available regardless of cost.
Go big or go home.