Recently Craig Custance of The Athletic asked some NHL executives to evaluate trades submitted by fans,

Red Wings send Anthony Mantha to the Carolina Hurricanes for Jake Bean, a 2021 first-round pick and a 2022 conditional third.

Exec: “It makes sense for both teams for me. I think you’re adding more offense in Carolina with an opportunity to score goals. And Detroit, they have this youth movement going with getting young players. Jake Bean would be a great addition to it. To me, that’s a potential hockey deal.”

Red Wings send Anthony Mantha to the Montreal Canadiens for forward Cole Caufield.

Exec No. 1: “I think Montreal says no. Cole is eventually going to do what Mantha is already paid to do. But Montreal is an interesting team. I have to imagine Cole might be in play for them to get better. I just don’t know how. I think the heat is real in Montreal.”

Exec No. 2: “Who says no? The NHL. Montreal doesn’t have the cap space to add Mantha. But Detroit should call them back in the summer, because Caufield might be the better player, but Mantha helps Montreal more right now.”

The Red Wings send Mantha to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Bowen Byram.

One more Mantha deal for the road.

Exec: “Unless Erik Johnson is out for the year, Colorado doesn’t have room for him either. But it doesn’t really matter. Byram is too valuable to entertain in a deal like this, and in future years, Colorado will need the cap space to retain the players they already have.”

many more (paid) proposals for other players...