Quoting: FiteMe
Is he worth all that cap space at the expense of depth pieces though?
Being top-heavy on superstar talent is detrimental, not beneficial, in the modern NHL, you need 4 lines and deep defensive depth for your team to succeed.
Hence why teams like Vegas, NYI, and St. Louis which have no big-name superstars but can roll 4 lines and have deep defensive depth are doing so well in the modern NHL, while top-heavy offensive juggernauts with average-to-poor defense like Toronto and Edmonton aren't getting over the hump.
If healthy all year - Leafs would have had a 3rd line of Johnsson/Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Kappy. So a top 5 league wide 3rd line on paper. Injuries made this impossible, but it's not like Leafs were forced to roll out Petan and Agostino as 3rd liners all year because of our top heavy big 4.
You have Johnsson on your 1st line, so you obviously like him and Kappy was just traded for a 1st and a decent prospect - so why bring up this "need" to improve the Leafs depth?
Spezza played well on the 4th line, Engvall will be a good 4th liner if he stays. Robertson and Barabanov are 2 players that are likely on the roster next year, and should be very capable bottom 6 players, and both seem to play a similar "puckhound" style.
You're way overreacting to a 5 game series with these 100 UFA signings/trades. If Marner is moved (99.9% chance it doesn't happen) it's for a youngish, cost controlled, legit Top 4 option.
Leafs may sign a Perry/Simmonds to add some 3rd line "heavy" play, and they are obviously on the hunt for a Top 4 upgrade. They may also make a change in nets - I really doubt it's a 8 to 10 player overhaul.
They are a young team. Young teams improve when their youth progresses, not through trades or signing 30 year olds.
TB is the example Toronto is following, no need to mention those other teams.