Why

Get Dermott out of there.

5 forwards on the ice with that top pair.

For the record I think that's a bad trade for Buffalo, but Toronto would be really fun to watch in their own zone. I mean Barrie and Risto on that right side would put up massive points but Anderson would be left hanging out to dry multiple times a night.

He's already left hanging, I believe Risto defensive numbers are so negative due to playing on a terrible team and being relied on to heavily in his early years of his career, he is only 24

Our leaf fan base has over valued Dermott extremely, he's a bottom pair Defenceman nothing more who will end up being overpaid cause he is on the squad with a weak Defence

He is 21 or 22 I dont remember and only getting better. His numbers are really really good, his performances are solid but he will only get better. Dermott is top-4 Dman by next year.

I actually have the same opinion, I mena the guy has been playing 20+minutes a night for a crappy buffalo team the past 4 years, all while being under 25, its pretty much unheard of in the NHL but people still **** on him.

Getting the Buffao first rounder is valuable then you give it up for Zucker. No thanks

You haven't watched the Leafs much have you?

But Dahlen is younger and played so much better. Rielly was playing a lot when he was 20 and was way better. Risto is a terrible defender, at a certain point, you can't keep relying on "he's young"

You do realize Zucker is a beast defensively and Matthews and Nylanders defensive game is non existent - kind of the perfect scenerio

I have watched every Leafs game for the past 20 seasons. Dermot is a good Dman,but has been sheltered and has not played 20 + minutes a night

Dahlin was sheltered so was Rielly untill Phaneuf moved

I agree Dahlen played better but once again he was more insulated then Risto ever was. I think you're exaggerating Reilly in his younger years, he produced lower then Risto and was still a bit more sheltered by Dion in those early years.

Phaneuf was sheltered the final year he was here which made him look better and then he was moved. Rielly was playing bigger minutes at that time. Dahlin isn't playing sheltered minutes, he was their number 1 by the end of the season.

Risto just can't defend. The whole his career was ruined by rushing him stuff is often not really a reality. More young players than ever are making impacts, its a young mans game. If you still haven't figured it out by the age of 24, you aren't likely ever going too. And when a guy does that, often is a short blip of perfect storm scenarios that almost always balance out. Look at Manson in Anahiem, went from a nobody, to apparently the best defensive defenceman in the game with offensive upside (at the age of 27) and then bottomed out when his team was a disaster. Whats the real story there, was he a product of his environment and then came back to earth? Is Risto bad because his team was bad or was his team bad because he was a major contributer and just isn't that good?

Basically trying to figure out if he was a product of environment or nurture. I would like to think Risto can still be taught but you're right the game is getting younger. That's what makes his trade value so interesting though, the question of, can you fix him?

Well if he is so intriguing, Buffalo wouldn't want to give him up. So if they want to move him, why would anyone pay a premium if they are effectively giving up on him?