26 Apr 2026 00:04:21
The Trade
To Toronto: Cole Sillinger RFA, Mathieu Olivier
To Columbus: Max Domi + Nick Robertson RFA

And Toronto third line is
Joshua-Sillinger-Olivier. Sounds dangerous.
Toronto gives Cole Sillinger a 5-6 year deal at $5,5-6.2 million per year.

Toronto would acquire some puck skill in Jake Christiansen, and when physicality is needed, Benoit would play. When they don't need that much physical play, the more puck-moving Christiansen would play, meaning for example a 50/50 split on the 3rd defensive pair.

Toronto would give a 4th-round pick.
Jake hasn't put up many points in the NHL yet, but watching him play, you can definitely see he's an offensive and puck-moving defenseman. He just needs to reach his full potential. Maybe in Toronto.

1.) 26 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 00:28:40
I don’t get it? Why would you give Sillinger that kind of money?

2.) 26 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 00:37:40
Probably because he's going to get at least 6 million, so why not in Toronto? He's still a young player and his best years are ahead of him.

3.) 26 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 01:32:37
Well, he is from Columbus let them give him the $6 million. I'm not interested in him for that. His 5 seasons have been 31 points, 11 points, 32 points, 33 points and 33 points this year. I was following him earlier this year when he heated it up after the coaching change and they said he has found his groove and is going to have his career best year. They said that around the Olympic break. Then, he proceeded after the break to be pointless in 10 games, got 6 points in 3 games and then crapped the bed by ending off with 1 point in the last 13 games of the season.

To me that is not worth taking him on for $6 million. Sorry... my personal opinion. Heck if we are getting 33 points for that let's just keep Nick Robertson at his forecasted $2.3 million. He got 32 points not knowing from game to game what line he would be on.

4.) 26 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 04:23:56
I'm just trying to figure out why Columbus makes the trade. To me, Olivier more value than Domi. Sillinger more value than Robertson.

5.) 26 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 11:08:43
Cole Sillinger’s value isn’t really measured in points. He plays tough minutes, can handle the defensive side of the game, and that’s something teams do pay for nowadays. He does the “quiet work” and is a reliable player overall, a coach can trust him even late in games when protecting a lead. I’d still expect his salary to end up around $5.5M. The cap is going up, and Toronto doesn’t really have a 3C unless they use Tavares there.

And as for Domi and Robertson being “too little” for those guys… maybe it’s actually just the right kind of hockey trade... not an overpay for either side, but something that fits both teams.

6.) 26 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 14:52:21
It is a big overpay for Columbus. The Sillinger and Robertson to me is a saw off but a big overpay for the Leafs if they paid what you suggest. Olivier is a massive overpay for Domi. There is no-one in the League quite like him. Beyond a douby the Heavyweight champ of the league. But Scored 18 last year and 15 this year and had he not got hurt would have been 20 which would have put him 5 on the Leafs for goals.

Also led the league in how many times players on the other team Crapped their pants when even jokingly he would have lined up beside a guy and said "We are going to go as soon as that puck drops" lol lol lol.

7.) 26 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 15:27:21
Thisisit. So, Sillinger is better than suffering says, but then you say it's a good trade because it's not an overpay for either side. You don't see any contradiction here?
Let me ask this. Do you believe Columbus would trade Olivier for Domi straight up and Sillinger for Robertson straight up?

8.) 26 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 16:39:32
So here is question for Thisisit. Give me rating on a scale of 1-10 for Sillinger Stankoven and Byfield and which 2 of the 3 would you like to see on the Leafs if you could have 2 of them??

9.) 26 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 18:10:59
To me it seems Sillinger should easily have more value than Robertson. He's 2 years younger. Plays centre. Is given more defensive minutes but outpoints Robertson. He PK's. He will fight. Could be a solid 3C as he continues to grow.

Sillinger also has the size advantage.
Robertson is going on 25 and just hit his career high 32 points. He's not good defensively. He needs PP time to pad his point total. And he's small, but not overly elusive. How are they a wash?

10.) 27 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 23:11:54
Well for starters. Robertson gets bumped around a lot on the lines. I have no problem with him getting PP points. PP points aren't to pad anyone's stats; they are because you are good enough to be on the PP. Sillinger was last option on Columbus PK units. Yes he is two years younger and yes he outpointed him this year by one point. He fights, yes, but in the few fights he has had, he cheapshotted and had to answer the bell and did not fare well in the fights.

My point on vallue is this. Robertson is looking for $2M, maybe $2.2M, and Sillinger, the value being thrown around by Thisisit, is at least $6M, so for value.

As much as people hate on Robertson. If I can keep him at $2M and change and maybe he pans out more if given a specific line to stay with, great. If we have to package him he still has value. But I am not forking out $6M and maybe more for Sillinger. That is not good value. Compare him to Centres in the league earning in that range, even $5M, and tell me he is in the league of most of those guys as overall players.

11.) 27 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 23:38:38
RLF
Yeah, you’re right, Columbus Blue Jackets would never agree to that. Mathieu Olivier is definitely a heavyweight.

Bit of a rushed idea, my bad. I wouldn’t make that trade myself either.

12.) 27 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 23:43:16
Suffering19667

Sillinger and Byfield.

Sillinger 6,5, Stankoven 6 ja Byfield 7.

13.) 27 Apr 2026
26 Apr 2026 23:48:38
RLF
They’re not even close to being equal. One is clearly more well-rounded, while the other just has the better shot. I’ll take the more versatile and useful player for the team every time.

That’s why Cole Sillinger still has the potential to become a high-end 3C somewhere in the NHL, preferably in Toronto Maple Leafs. Welcome Cole to Leafs.

14.) 27 Apr 2026
27 Apr 2026 01:56:55
Ok I’m done. The fact you rate Stankoven as a 6 shows you for sure do not understand hockey players.

15.) 27 Apr 2026
27 Apr 2026 16:01:47
Suffering, those are weak arguments and you know it. You have argued against your own points in other debates. You know I meant Robertson needs PP time to even get 25-30 points. Sillinger's points were almost all even strength this year. He was injured last year, but on pace for 41 points. The same season Robertson had 22 points and played 3 more games.
Sillinger averaged about 45 seconds of PK time per game and only on for 4 goals against. Hardly the last option. Ironic to point out when comparing the two players since Robertson is actually the last option for PK in Toronto. Sillinger has more takeaways and less giveaways than Robertson. More hits, more blocked shots.
You say Robertson is on the PP because he is good enough. He averaged over a minute of PP time per game and had 4 PP points. McMann had way less PP time and equaled him. Domi had the same amount of PP time and double the points. Sillinger: 2 NHL hat tricks. The goal scorer Robertson: 0.
As for the fights, he has had 6 as a 22 year old. How many guys do you think have had more? Who did he sucker punch exactly? He faired well in most of his scraps.

At least he will fight and you make it sound like some kind of negative. How many has Robertson had? 0. He had one in junior and got smoked.
Who cares what Thisisit says his contact will be. My simple statement was that Sillinger more value than Robertson. You said it's a wash. I never said he is worth $6M, you brought it into the conversation. Nor do I hate Robertson. Just because I don't think he is a 25-30 goal scorer and would rather move on doesn't mean I hate him. I would rather give that money to a different player.
By 24 years old, most consistent 25-30 goals have at least scored 20 by that time. Every Robertson supporter claims he doesn't get a fair shake. Too many line mates. Not enough opportunity. He's had 2 coaches now. Neither thought he is a top 6 player. He got more opportunity in the last 20 games. Had 4 goals and 2 assists for a 16 goal 8 assist season pace. That was his time with the trades and injuries to prove he deserves more next season and he did nothing to show he does.

16.) 27 Apr 2026
27 Apr 2026 18:02:15
@RLF I was not saying I would not trade Robertson straight up for Sillinger for their existing salaries. I have stuck to my argument and opinion to the original post. He said $5.5 to 6.2 million for Sillinger and all along I have said that kind of money for him is not good value.

If you guys want to fork that king of money out for him, great. But I would rather trade for a multitude of other players who are much better in that same Salary range.

17.) 27 Apr 2026
27 Apr 2026 18:31:58
Suffering1967
Yeah, I definitely rate Sillinger as a more complete two-way player than Stankoven overall, which is why I gave Stankoven a lower rating than Cole.

18.) 27 Apr 2026
27 Apr 2026 18:42:08
*Great write-up, RLF*

I agree with what you said. Sillinger is honestly hard to project when it comes to his next contract, but he’s so versatile that you’re probably paying a premium of at least a million because of that.



I don’t hate Robertson either, it’s just that there doesn’t really seem to be a clear top-six role for him in Toronto, so I’d rather move on.

19.) 27 Apr 2026
27 Apr 2026 19:56:23
This comment about the Rantanen trade. According to Hurricanes GM Eric Tulsky, when Stankoven's name came up in trade discussions, several people in the Hurricanes' war room "practically jumped out of their chair" to make the deal, as he was the targeted player, not just a throw-in.

Rod Brind'Amour said at the time that while scouting Dallas, the coaching staff constantly noticed Stankoven.

"Who is that guy? Who is that guy? He's always around it," Brind'Amour said. "Obviously, we love that about him."

So I am pretty sure they don't share your assessment of Stankoven, as I am pretty sure Ottawa fans, of which my son-in-law is one, do not share your assessment either.