Leafs aren't winning with this group. Rather keep the nine years of NHL control or more of Kapanen and Liljegeren than two years of Hamilton.

Plus, I feel like the Toronto media would crucify Hamilton for his style of play over time and then he'd just walk when he hits UFA status

Years ago when I had more inside contacts, apparently Hamilton's people let it known they would never sign as Leaf if they had drafted him. Now this was two years before his draft year. Don't know if the Leafs under Burke (I suspect it was) or being in LeafLand, though Hamilton is Toronto area guy.
IMO the Toronto media is OK, actually pretty soft on its team and players, now social media might be a different situation. But agree with you, Hamilton doesn't seem to be a fit for the Leafs ...or many teams.

Hamilton is kind of a placeholder in this one. It will be some sort of trade for a RHD. Also just showing that with removing Marleau/Zaitsev there's room to sign a UFA as well.

Like the Zaitsev and Marleau removal...,.Hope it's possible. But a two year placeholder shouldn't cost two big assets. Maybe a a couple of lower end UFAs....like Heed. Or Jets willing to offload Kulivov and his one year deal

You probably don't have to give up Lilj, but one of Kap or Johss will have to be apart of the deal for a difference maker RHD.
I think you placeholder argument is void. Who are you planning on filing that 1RHD space?
Doesn't really make sense to just fill it with a UFA and hope for the best in a year or two.

I just don't believe in just hope, but am optimistic that Liljegren is NHL ready in 2020. But if just traded in for a two year temporary fill in Hamilton, that long range plan is gone. If by chance Marleau and Zaitsev are gone. That's 4 m the Leaf have is cap space to get a Dman. Surely the Leaf can find a capable guy for 4m without trading Kapanen and Liljegren. Why sign Ferland? Leafs have wingers. Ferland was certainly flavour of the month in the first half of last year, but then reverted to plumber status in the second half.

- Lilj will play games next year but he won't fill the 1RD in 2020 or probably ever. So great you're still left with that postiion unfilled
- 4M for a capable D? sure. But thats not what we're looking for here...
- why deal kap? RW is a position of strength, RD is not
- ferland? again just showing a UFA could be signed with the cap space. go for dzingel, wilson, simmonds. Who ever you fancy.