Great offseason and what I think lines will be.

The Leafs defense are below average in everything except offensive output, and even with Reilly and Gardiner's career offensive years, as a total unit, they are still only average in that category. If you look to a couple teams, most notably St. Louis, they do not have enough money to resign a young right handed defender named Jordan Schmaltz. There is no way he'd clear waivers, so it wouldn't be interesting to see a deal like Leivo for Schmaltz straight up. It may not be Colton Parayko-level excitement, but Jordan Schmaltz has been a capable defender in the AHL who deserves a shot in the NHL. Other teams that the Leafs might be able to make a deal with is cap-strapped Pittsburgh, think like Dumoulin and Hagelin for Zaitsev and a prospect. There's still plenty of work the Leafs need to make. It's a shame there hasn't been a blockbuster-type move for the Leafs D yet this summer considering the amazing work the Leafs have done with their forward group.

If Hainsey is paired with Gardiner we are alright. I think from start of the season Ozhiganov and Carrick would rotate besides Dermott on 3rd pairing and I would go even as far as to state that Ozhiganov if playing like I expect him to play would be given opportunity to show his abilities with Rielly, Babs loves Ozhiganov kind of defenders. Igor is mobile two way defender with surprisingly huge range of skillset. He can go coast to coast and score a goal but that was KHL. We shall see how he does in NHL. But we might have a surprise in him. But we will see. I also think that there would be more than 7 defenders playing games, Holl and Borgman would get opportunities when someone is injured or Hainsey would rest because he would not manage to get full 82 games schedule. He should not get that. Rather than that 60 games would be fine to rest his body for playoffs. Ron is still capable of being good defensively and with Gardiner they were great pairing last season. I think that in that stretch with Hainsey Gardiner got ppg stats and improved a lot. Im not concerned about defence. Also Grundstrom would get Johnsson treatment this season. play greatly in AHL and then move up and get 4LW opportunity with Lindholm and Brown. That would be great playoffs line and after Marleau leaves I see Grundstrom being slotted with Nylander and Matthews. He would be that kind of beast in every zone hitting guys from every angle and getting past them like freight train.

the defense is bad

Leafs defence is average. But they dont have to shine to be effective. The thing is that we dont have to have big name defenders coming in. We need to have cheaper guys who are solid. Gardiner with stay at home defender is 60+point defender, especially in contract year. He got 50 with guy in sophomore slump. And Zaitsev if paired with proper two-way guy does miracles with him. Zaitsev-Dermott pairing would be great both ways. On trade with STL I would do is to exchange LHD like Rosen or Borgman for Bortuzzo which would be great for both sides.

Dubas has already earned himself a statue.

Hainsey is not good, neither was Polak. One down at least.
Carrick is the key this year, he needs to surprise everyone like Dermott did.

The Leafs will dominate teams but still give up a lot of shots in the process.