You were as accurate about this as your argument is about the Leafs defense.

These teams are already known for working out deals.
While both teams need a 3RD, I would argue TOR needs a whole lot more than a 3RD. That defense is what continues to knee cap this team. And it will later this year when games count.

I can’t really see the pens and leafs being good trading partners. They both need the same thing. A 3rd pair RHD upgrade. I mean Toronto also needs LW upgrade too but I doubt the pens would be willing to help unless they get a RHD upgrade with term.

analytics doesn't mean anything. Dominik Simon is a analytics wet dream. It doesn't make him an impact hockey player. Anyone can hold onto the puck. That is never the issue. Playing keep away doesn't put points on the board and that's where those numbers don't mean jack. You got a guy who has 18 games, 4 assists and is a =/- of 0. You want to brag that is "two way dominance" with your, guess who that leaf is on your little chart, are you F ing kidding me?
This is why no one respects leafs fans. Sandin is a "dominate" defender. Those words are things that should never be spoken or even implied. No one believes that to be true. No one. Except leafs fans.



1st I have admitted off the bat the cost is high. But as I said. No one is giving you a young capable defenseman for nothing. Defense is expensive, it always has been. Getting a guy who is cheap and controlled is even more expensive. People give up a 1st on a rental, you are getting a guy you can get for 3 years at basically league minimum. You think that is coming cheap? It's clearly a 1st and prospect, and you don't have any other prospects that are frankly worth anything.

2nd Amirov while he is your 2nd best forward prospect, is only your 2nd best forward prospect because there is not much else there. He hasn't done anything. There are no eye popping numbers there at all. He's only got 3 games this year. 1 assist. He's 20, and still in the KHL. That right there is frankly stunting his growth. He should be playing with his peers in the AHL where he can actually develop.
Sitting in the KHL is why so many Russian players end up hit or miss even if they had the talent. His trajectory at this point is not all that high.

3rd, another forward isn't going to change the future of this team. Period. If you can't fix your defense, you won't win. Especially one that probably won't even skate for 3 years if ever.
You can mark that. I don't care what you do in the regular season. I don't care what a pack of TOR fans say. We all know where this is going, and we all know why. Being big enough to admit it is what it boils down to. You can recognize the problem or you can run from it. But you got 3-4 year window here and then you are reconstructing this team. If you want to win with this core, you are going to have to fix the defense. Period.

Your not finding teams handing you what you need for nothing. You got defensemen getting signed to outrageous contracts due to need. Teams with young Dmen aren't just forking them over cheap. If at all.
If you can get one, you pay the price. Because on the open market, with the current prices, you'll be stuck with garbage due to your cap.

I disagree. Toronto has 3 options (Dermott, Holl and Liljgren) who are all high end 3rd pairing guys, or even in Holl's case low end second pairing guys. Toronto needs a top 4 right hand defenseman.

Dermott at best is a 3rd pair d and he is a lefty. Liljegren is a 3rd pairing d hoping to eventually be an average 2nd pair d. But likely a 3rd pair D. Holl is a 3rd pair d. He can playing 2nd pair in spurts but I wouldn’t consider him a low grade 2nd pair. I’d say Liljegren is the best of that bunch. And they’d probably like to upgrade Holl/Dermott with a cheaper option.