Quoting: Bcarlo25
That said, let’s just say we’re dealing with player X. Player X is a defensemen that can play on the top pair for a Stanley cup contender, which is what the leafs are trying to become. Teams aren’t going to trade player X for guys like Kapanen and Johnsson. There’s no motivation for them to do so. Maybe in a perfect world there’s a rebuilding team that is okay with letting go of a top pair guy for a bevy of assets, including first round picks, prospects, and roster players like Kapanen, but I don’t see such an opportunity right now.
The issue we're going to have is I don't think the Leafs need a guy anyone has decided is a "top pairing guy for a cup contender". Those guys are not available, for one, they cost far too much to acquire, and the Leafs need more than one guy, anyway. They aren't one guy away. Not if that guy takes away a premium piece of your offense that you don't have anyone to step in for.
No, Kap can't get you a star. What Kap can get you is a Top-4 guy, and I have no problem with a deep group of T4 guys. Rielly, Muzzin, Barrie, Holl, and someone like Manson (most immediately example). See if Vegas will move McNabb. Take a look at Carolina's D core to see if something can be found. Larsson in EDM for cheap? Well, maybe he's just an improvement on Ceci... whatever. I'm not sure. Would they be big, noticeable names like Pietroangelo? Doughty? No. But they fill a role and function the Leafs need at far less of a cost.
Also, Dumba is a T4. Superstar potential but he's not healthy and if we trade Nylander for someone who turns out to be a shell of their former selves... that's a disaster.