This is super unrealistic. Nothing here is happening

I like that your solution to fixing a team that is awful at defending is getting a defenceman that is even worse at defending

I need to see a rielly-risto 1st pairing

With Rasmus Ristolainen playing top pair minutes, not sure. Might as well keep Cody Ceci then

You cannot convince me that Ristoleinen-Sandin-Demelo is worse than Barrie-Ceci-Holl. This right side is 100% an upgrade from last year. Barrie was nothing close to a good Defencemn and I would rather not talk about Ceci's short-lived career in Toronto. Risto is an unbelievably talented right-handed defenceman who does not have to play a lockdown role. Muzzin can play with Demelo and be a cheaper, just as an efficient defensive pairing as Muzzin-Holl was.

You could double that contract, and DeMelo wouldn't sign it. Not even remotely close.

Not saying this defence is worse than it was last year with Barrie I’m saying the problem with the defence isn’t the defence producing it’s the defence being able to defend and you got a guy that has unbelievable talent at producing but he cannot defend

Risto is one of the top RD in the Atlantic division. Whether Ristolainen plays top line with Reilly or second pairing with Muzz, he is a player on the ice that every team will have to worry about. The Leafs defence will upgrade. It seems everyone has a strange fear that if we go out and get a defencemen that have talent, he will all of a sudden turn to mush in Toronto and become one of the worst defensemen in the league. Sheldon Keefe has made it very clear that his style is to play possession and keep the puck moving all the time. Having big, talented defencemen who can move the puck well is pretty ideal in Keefe's system.

Dermott for Farabee OKAY BUD

Buffalo says yes. Philly says no. You’re not really that much better and you’re still missing a Maroon/Reaves in your bottom 6

No way. Holl is better defensively then Risto, and Kapanen is a great swiss army knife player and keeps the puck out of the net. If you're giving that much up for an overpaid OFD then it's not worth it. Risto is worth Johnsson to me, that's it.

"win a series"
because Leafs fans have been convinced that pushing great teams to 6 and 7 games means they couldnt win a series.
Also Risto is bad

DeMelo isn't signing for 1.2m. I actually wouldn't mind acquiring Risto if the cap could be worked out, but no way the Leafs are going to trade the good and cost efficient Holl.

Ristolainen is not one of top RD in Atl. I mean, top RD in playing minutes, indeed. But is he good? No? Quality > Quantity. Ristolainen plays a lot but he doesn't play like a top pair D. He's pretty good offensively but bad defensively (he'll indeed fit well with the Leafs). And even if it's Keefe's style or whatever, Leafs won't always have the puck, they'll need to defend especially against the best teams.

I think Buffalo would kill for that trade.
I would put Kap with Jack and drop Reinhart either to the #2 C or #2 RW. Kap would put pressure on the other teams to keep their D-men from pinching when Jack is in the defensive zone, as you know he would find Kap on a break if the D was unguarded.
Holl, would allow the Sabres to move either Miller or Montour for additional help up front.
Johnsson would be our fifth LW but adds depth to the club. As an alternative either he or Johansson could be moved for prospects or picks.
I cannot see TML giving up that much to get Ristolainen.

I agree, Holl is a 3rd pairing Dman tho. Can’t see him being on the 2nd pair and be a competitive teqm

I had him as either 3rd pairing or 7th D-man. I may be wrong but Miller played well, but could not break into the line up with Ristolainen, Montour and Jokiharju ahead of him.
I was musing and thought what it would take to sign Soderberg for one year as our #2 center and make this trade:
Olofsson Eichel Kapanan
Skinner Soderberg Reinhart
Johansson Kahun Okposo
Girgensons Larsson Thompson
Johnsson Lazar
Dahlin Montour
McCabe Jokiharju
Pilut Miller
Holl
Ullmark/Hutton
Kapanen, Soderberg and Kahun are an upgrade over Vesey, Rodrigues, Sobotka and Sheary.
Give Mittelstadt, Cozens, etc. another year in Rochester and build a winning attitude then bring them up to replace Johansson, Soderberg, etc. It would be interesting.
Let me close, I would trade Montour or Miller before I would trade Ristolainen. He improved tremendously last year, and many defensemen do not demonstrate all-star status until 26 yo.
I would not trade him unless the return was at least this.