Trading Zaitsev may be a necessary but not if that is to keep Gardiner, let him walk. I can't stand watching him slowly coast away from the front of the net while he watches the play only to leave someone wide open in the crease. He has done that more than once every single game.

Not to mention the 2-3 icings a game, and the complete inability to actually pass to someone on target. The stretch passes and the drop passes need to end. Leafs just need to be more well-rounded all around.

We can agree on some of Gardiner's shortcomings but his overall results easily make him a #2 LD. I'd prefer to keep him unless something better comes along because I'm assuming it's not easy to fill the top 4 with Gardiner gone, Zaitsev playing at 3rd pair level for 2 1/2 years, Hainsey not re-signed and aging, and teams unwilling to part with top 4 D as it is.

Gardiner isn't all bad, he does a tonne of good things each game that the vast majority of players just can't do, its just his lapse that bother me. If Rielly wasn't as good as he is offensively, Gardiner would be far more important than he is. At this stage of the Leafs development with the guys they have coming up on the blueline, they don't need him and I think Sandin and Liljegren will be better in the near future.

I have a lot of faith in Dermott, I think he's made a lot of good strides so far. He's shown a far better physicality level this season and his skating is next level. To be honest, whenever Zaitsev and Dermott have been together they've both looked significantly better. I agree that Gardiner is definitely a 2nd pair defenceman and on some teams, he'd be the number one offensive guy but he's also turning 28 and will soon be leaving his prime, I think Dermott and Sandin will be better than him within 3-4 years so spending that much on Gardiner is a mistake.

I think you're right about Sandin from what I've seen, the kid has poise and brains. Jury is out for me on Timothy Liljegren, he's still just 19 but so far his development looks like a 3 year process and right now I'm not sure I could say he would crack the top 4 with any confidence. He is having trouble handling the puck consistently, judging the risk of his plays, and his skating looks to have plateau'd below expectations. That could all change of course as he develops. It's certainly a 'Plan B' that I thought about with Dermott and Sandin but it may be premature to give up on a D of Gardiner's quality in hopes the pipeline can replenish. I hate the idea of moving Dermott to the RD side but it's the best I can come up with.

The other thing about Gardiner is I think you have to pick either him or Nylander and that is no brainer decision. Keep Nylander and let younger guys develop or find cheaper replacements elsewhere.

I built this on the assumption he can't be signed, would much rather see Nylander stay with the team.

He'll sign, no one else is going to give him 8+ million so he'll have to either accept a lower bridge deal or come down on his price.

Got to agree with Logan. There are a lot better ways to manage the LHD position that signing an expensive Gardiner long term. Getting this mystical RHD at 5m probably isn't happening, so you might to settle for Zaitsev at 4.5m

This scenario was predicated on Leafs not being able to sign Nylander and a trade taking place out of necessity, so the $5M is a plug most likely filled by the other side of the trade, eg Pesce as part of the return.
Zaitsev is not a top 4 defenseman, Gardiner definitely is. I could be persuaded to not sign Gardiner at that money but I'd need to see a realistic solid top 4 scenario to convince me. Rielly-Pesce and Gardiner-Dermott would give us that I think.