1. Lindholm
2. Leddy
3. Ekholm
4. DeKeyser

I would have Ekholm over Leddy and Lindholm but yeah those 4 would probs be the options unless Dubas makes a trade

Dubas will make a trade...probably for some fancy advance stats corsi darling player, who in reality just stinks.

Well, those were the four listed.
But if you are going to pony up $ for LHD, why not just re-sign Rielly?

I guess I should add some RHD to the list, since it is easy to say that with Muzzin/Sandin/Dermott signed up, maybe Reilly gets replaced by a top4 RD instead. Have to get Holl out of the Top4 spot, the guy is a mistake waiting to happen on the ice (he makes Ceci look good).

If Reilly has one the those "play great for the contract season" year than he'll get offered more than the Leafs will offer, like Hyman got $1 (maybe $2) million more out of the Oilers than what Dubas would been offering.

Dekyser isnt even a ceci replacement, leddy isnt much better

Just adding the best UFA's from an obviously weak summer next year. Reilly will bank an easy $8 on the open market with this kind of competition.

Sure, but signing those guys hurts more than helps

Than to find a Top 4 dman replacement that isn't UFA, Dubas would have to trade away more assets, which he has already burned 6 Draft picks from last TDL, with nothing to show for. Holl needs to be bump down, he isn't a Top4 quality on a Cup contending team.

If Subban has a bounce back season, having Dougie Hamilton helping, I can see Subban taking a hometown discount and Dubas trying to be "woke" signing P.K.

If the options are sign a bad defender or no one, then i play Sandin there. If hes not better than leddy and dek3yser now he will be in a year.
And if dubas signs subban it will be that he sees potential value. Not for a "woke "reason

Make or break season for Sandin. With how much Leaf fans talk of him you'd think he has done more in his career so far. By the same age Reilly was already a proven Top4 guy and yet we are still waiting on Sandin.

I'd look at someone like Dumba from the Wild via trade. He might be available next offseason when the Parise/Suter buyout money gets real expensive and they also have Calen Addison who looks like a solid prospect that can slot in on their 2nd pair next year. He is obviously a downgrade on Rielly, but he is still a really good top 4 defenseman that is right handed as well. He has an absolute bomb from the point which could be a threat on the PP.

Morgan rielly waa drafted 5th over all, sandin was taken 29th. Do you have any idea how rare it is for a 21 year old defender drafted that late to be established top 4 guy? Its super rare.

I don't see Dumba aging well. I think his prime years are past and now he is starting the twilight years.

Not knocking Sandin, just a fact we know this is a make or break season. Just like next season will be Nick Robertson's make or break season.
You can't stay as prospect forever....Right Lilypad ???

Pulock won't be available and both Lindholm and Ekholm (who I think are your two best choices) will cost more. I'd love to see Hampus playing with you guys.

Most defenders dont even make the nhl full time until they are 22-24. It's not a make or break season for either of them, especially when you throw in a pandemic to mess up development

That's fair. He would still have 1 year left on his deal so we wouldnt have to commit long-term to him.

The Leafs were more fun of a team to watch when they started this journey, having 4 of the top 10 rookies; 5 years ago (Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Brown) and 4 D who were all under 26 yrs old (Reilly, Gardiner, Zaitsev and Carrick) and a 26 yr old 30+ winning games goalie (Freddie).

Why can't Dubas let the youngsters break thru all over again. Let's see Robertson, Brooks, Gogo, SDA, Sandin, Lily, Rubins, Kallgren.

Dubas will trade or find an unsigned college player or Euro/Russian player instead of buying a big ticket dman in free agency. This is what happens Dubas when you sign J.T. to 11 million knowing you already own 3 potential superstars with MNM, you have to play the cheap stake game on the Dcorps and goalie (which ironically is the most important things on a Cup winner).

That J.T. signing was both the best and worse think Dubas has ever done.

Ekholm nah, he will be 32 and based on what we have seen old guys dont make much. 5-6mill is reasonable for him as his deal will probs be 4 years.

Lindholm had a bad year so my guess is what Pelech got is what he most likely will get if hes traded then signs an extension. Open market probs looking at a Krug deal

Now is that cheaper than Rielly probably. Just got to wait and see

As like Muzzin I got a feeling Rielly will be extended at the deadline.