Let's focus on this season before talking about another 1st round loss shall we? Is this too much to ask for?

I love how every Leafs rebuild I see, Holl gets traded.

Youre going to stick with the senior citizen bottom six? If they weren't all total slugs in terms of skating it would make sense but they are...

Yes, it is too much to ask for. This fan base loves to bash its own players for no reason.

Depends. If it's bashing them for not showing up (which they did all them time in 19-20) it's entirely justified.

You can make the "did not show up argument" for many teams/players aside from the Leafs last season.

At the end of the day, asking a bunch of kids to lead this team to the promise land without a lot of veteran playoff experience around them is an unrealistic thing to expect. Add a first time NHL coach into that mix. It's going to be a process, patience will be required.

wow, bringing back thornton, spezza and Simmonds? And you added Steen?

All of those trades really favour the Leafs, if those players were so good, wouldn't they have made the 2nd round? (also the leafs didn't make the playoffs this year, so making it to the first round would be an improvement)

Also, unless Sanheim has a pedestrian or poor year, you think he'll only resign for a 750k raise? (Oh yeah, cap issues again).

Hard NO! From Philly

It was hard to expect the leafs to contend last season with guys like Ceci, Barrie & Marincin as their top defenders. But the Leafs needed a better effort from Marner who would just float around without the puck. If he played at his top level, they would’ve at least made the playoffs.

LA isn't exchanging Matt Roy for Justin Holl at more than double the cost in return for a measly future fourth-round pick. And that's not even getting into the debate about whether Roy is better than Holl right now.

Leafs are going to need to eat a few million of Nylander's contract if you want Sanheim AND a 1st. This doesn't fit under the Philly cap as it stands and weakens the Flyers LD too much to add scoring.

thats a copout for the players

no they wouldnt

Can't see why the Blues would do that. They need young wingers, but have D-men falling out of their ears.

And Steen is probably toast as things stand right now, dude.

That trade isn't going down then. Philly literally can't afford it much less want to.

Leafs too.

So a bust and a 2nd for a guy who is almost a bust but not quite yet. Not so sure. Still have hopes for Kostin replacing Bozak spot.

How is Liljegren a bust? Or are you talking about someone else? I don’t see any deals involving a second.

Liljegren was supposed to be a Top Pairing Defenseman all of Toronto fans said that. They can admit that he's now 20, and he's at best a third pairing which we don't need LHD anymore because we have Scandella Krug Dunn Mikkola Walman Gunnarsson Tucker and Perunovich if need be. Only guy I would put over Liljegren over is maybe tucker and walman. he's not gonna make it past Mikkola Perunovich or Gunnarsson and he definitely won't make it past Krug Dunn or Scandella. Kostin still has a chance to play a center role for us therefore this deal does nothing for us except take away one year of a contract for a spare part in a 5th round pick. It doesn't neccessarily fit the bill. and I said 2nd as a typo I had previously thought it was a third but it was a fifth.

Well anyone saying they expect someone that went 17th overall to be top pairing should be a red flag. He’s also a RHD not LHD and 21 years old. He also just posted 30 pts in 40 games in the AHL while playing more of a two way game vs pure offensive game. Honestly out of the guys you mentioned I’m taking my chances on Liljegren over them (as a neutral fan).

You can take your chance. Lmao. Perunovich scored over 40 points. Mikkola is defensive, and notice how Tucker hasn't been mentioned but he has a cannon of a shot. Take your chance with Liljegren all you want, but the simple fact most of these prospects I named are close to the NHL roster, and that's on a very good defensive lineup, and when you look at Liljegren he's on a really weak defensive core roster and still couldn't make the team what does that tell you about your so called 21 year old 30 point AHLer?

I’m not of the minority here. Here is a link to a recent poll ranking prospects where Liljegren is @40 and none of the prospects you mentioned have even been mentioned, let alone a vote for.

https://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/hfboards-top-75-prospects-ranking-54.2793138/

You can chalk it up as group think all you want but the simple fact you’re saying Liljegren is a bust and point to his age but Mikkola or Walkman whom is 24 isn’t. Or how Gunnarsson @34 is blocking the path for a youngster. Shows a little bias on your part.

well there is your first mistake it's HFBoards. They can't possibly look at all the circumstances why it's bad or good for the Blues. We don't need him nor do we really want him. Yes Mikkola is 24 that's a given fact, but that also doesn't show that he is better DEFENSIVELY. Blues don't need more offensive players who are wasting time on defense. We need more defensive style defenseman we have enough offensive style. If we added Liljegren to the roster the combinations wouldn't work we have Parayko Scandella and Bortuzzo defensive, and Krug Dunn and Faulk offensive you would be replacing Bortuzzo in the lineup, and you don't put 2 offensive defenseman together Toronto showed us just why same with Dallas in 2016. Also 30 points in 40 games considering most of the 25 assists that he got were A2, not A1 it doesn't prove much. Perunovich is still above Liljegren, Idc what you say I'm taking Perunovich with 40 points in 34 games, over Liljegren, and I would take Mikkola over Liljegren because in the few games he played he proved he can shut down defensively regardless of if he is 24 or not. He might be a late bloomer same with Parayko. He's a huge body in 5 games had a +3 and 1 assist. Liljegren last year in 11 games had 1 assist same as Mikkola, and had a -5. So regardless. Walman I said Liljegren he would be put over, and Gunnarsson can play on NHL level without a doubt, Liljegren mmmm very very questionable. This isn't bias this is just facts. I would much rather take a defensive minded defenseman in Mikkola to replace one of the LHD and/or Perunovich who has really good 2-way game and is far superior on defense to Liljegren.

Like I said I’m not the minority and provided a source (for which has Blues fans) to support my claim that he’s a higher regarded prospect. There are also numerous sources such as Pronman, Wheeler, etc. that have Liljegren ranked top 50 league wide but you will just say that’s an appeal to authority or something. I never said it makes sense for the Blues to make the trade but rather questioned why you believe Liljegren is a bust and you really haven’t backed up that point. I’ve also mentioned he isn’t a pure offensive guy and had to point out he’s right handed so I’d wager you haven’t watched him recently or at all. This isn’t speculation on my part but pure facts while trying to understand your rationale.

Listen, I got mixed up between Sandin and Liljegren hand wise oh well. You think he's a Top 50 guy who's gonna be the next Victor Hedman. I get it. You can think that all you want, but what I find funny is you don't see the lack in play. He can't pinch the boards worth a sh*t. He can't play on the half wall, and he can't play in the corners. The only thing he can really do is drive. You act like I don't watch him at all, but you clearly have NEVER watched Perunovich. Yes I understand I'm a little bias toward Mikkola, but that's for a reason. Mikkola is built like the left handed version of Parayko. Parayko also took awhile to develop, but look what ended up happening. Blues love to provide the Big guys. 6"0+ Krug is the only shorter than 6"0 defenseman on this roster. Liljegren is 6"0 he has speed, but he's not very physical which is the Blues style, and ultimately what hockey should be when it comes to defenseman. For being a first round pick in the draft you would expect him to be a full time NHL player if not fringe NHL player right now. And with how lacking the right side really is in Toronto. Can you honestly say he is that good if he can't even make a really weak RHD in Toronto?