Significant Summer

1 star for trading Marner away from toronto. The one guy (along with Marleau) who played greatly all the series.

My thought was that you have to give quality to get quality, and with signing Tavares the Leafs would likely need to spread their cap spending through their line-up. Nailing down an elite top pairing (young) defenceman would get them that balance. I don't think you could get a player of Hamilton's quality with Nylander, or anyone else on the roster.

Sorry to say, the whole summer is going to trades for any RHD to the Leafs, despite the fact it will make the Leafs worse probably now an certainly in the long term. Tanev, Hamilton, Doughty, Weber aren't going to make the Leafs any better for what it would cost to acquire them.
And Sammy you're too blame too. Trading a first rounder and Carrick for one year of Haljmarsson. Isn't that desperation?

ComixZone. Would not having Marner on the Leafs make the Leafs better?

This.
Everyone is overreacting about the state of the Leafs. I think they will push for Carlson in the summer and if that doesn't work out I think they may explore trade options, but they won't create another hole in the process.
Losing Marner, their best player this season won't help. They're losing JVR and Bozak. Losing 3 of your top 6 in 1 season would hurt the team way more than Dougie Hamilton will help.
The leafs aren't desperate. They have years, to win and young D that could pan out (Dermott, Nielson, Liljegren).

Well said Cameron. Let's face Carlson has better personal options than the Leafs, so Leafs fans can only trade of signing him. Of course I see Carlson signing posts with Edmonton and Montreal which is even bigger fantasy.
And by 2019/20 I would think Dermot, Liljegren and Borgman are Leafs (maybe not Neilsen) so as you say the Leafs aren't desperate and aren't going to blow a hole in their lineup.