If required, a Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs salary cap-centered trade makes sense for both teams

Ever the competitive squad, Toronto finds itself in a bit of a cap crunch against the cap ceiling, while Columbus may need to reach the cap floor. Let's discuss a few trade candidates that might make sense for both sides.

Dec 29, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit (2) fight during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
Dec 29, 2023; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson (44) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit (2) fight during the second period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images | Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images
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Calle Järnkrok

Calle Jarnkrok
Mar 2, 2024; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Calle Jarnkrok (19) skates with the puck against the New York Rangers in overtime at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images | Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

After being drafted by Seattle in the 2021 Expansion Draft, Jarnkrok has been a bit of a journeyman forward. He's played for Nashville, Seattle, Calgary, and Toronto in the past four seasons. Since signing a four-year, $2.1m AAV deal in 2022 to head to Toronto, he has posted a 30-30-60 line in 125 games during the regular season and a 1-2-3 line in 19 playoff games while remaining scoreless during this past postseason.

Calle has a decent-value contract for a player who's been near a 0.50 PPG pace in his past two seasons in Toronto. Given the remaining two years on a contract at a good team value, I wouldn't be surprised if Toronto attempts to hold onto him rather than offer him up as salary cap trade bait. If they do, however, Calle would fit right into Columbus' lineup, likely as the third-line right winger next to Cole Sillinger and perhaps Dmitri Voronkov.

Jarnkrok is mainly known for his high hockey IQ for a player of his experience and decent skating ability. He can be played in most situations, both on the PP and PK and is effective in 5v5 situations on both ends of the ice. He would definitely gel well with Dean Evason's high-pressure forechecking system, which he is expected to introduce here in Columbus.

All in all, however, I seriously doubt that Toronto would be looking to move Jarnkrok at this point unless they see his less-than-stellar postseason performance from last season as the beginning of a trend. So, with that in mind, let's move on.

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