Leafs Continue Rebuild

Liljegren wont be ready this coming season he's playing in Sweden this fall, And besides Liljegren will be taken by Detroit at #9 if he's still on the board any ways.

It's been reported a couple of times today that the Leafs are in discussion directly with Vegas for a defenseman they will be acquiring through the expansion draft process. Since it has already been pretty much confirmed that Vegas has a deal with Anaheim so that they don't take either Josh Manson or Sami Vatanen, we can rule them both out. Rumors have the Leafs linked to both Matthew Dumba, Colin Miller and Marc Methot. This deal the Leafs have either worked out or are trying to work out could be for 1 defenseman or multiple defensemen; that's not clear. It seems Vegas really do want to go young and develop from within so I don't expect the deal to include JVR. It will likely be a combination of high draft pick, prospect and/or young winger that had already been left unprotected (could be both). Deal would be announced at some point after Vegas' roster is officially announced, maybe on lottery draft day?

Vatanen is going to miss half the season possibly and the Leafs wouldn't have JVR or Vat's replacement in Dermot. If you think Dermot is NHL ready (or very near) and is a possible replacement for UFA Gardiner in 2019, I just don't think the deal gets done. Dermot might be too good to trade, (but no one knows now)

I know that, for some reason no matter how many times I refreshed my page it wouldn't let me send him to the extra players section. I doubt he will be on the starting roster for at least 2, maybe 3 years after he's drafted.

Interesting. What I've heard is that Anaheim is paying to protect Manson, assuring VGK takes Vatanen as Manson is touted to be better, younger and cheaper. If they were to protect both I would expect Anaheim to have to give up a first and a prospect. But I know as much as you, and truly anything could be happening and we won't truly know until tomorrow. If your scenario does happen, I would expect it to be Dumba the leafs push for as he is the only true top 3 Dman out of the bunch.
Also with the acquisition of Shipachyov who's 30 y/o, and the likely signing of Fleury and James Neal, I see them building to compete now, but also assuring they have the deepest prospect pool in the league which is possible. Say they were to take JVR, they could trade him and Neal for a 1st+ each.
Either way, I see the leafs making a deal for someone to fit in the top 4 this week.