There is no way the Leafs give up their top defensive prospect for a rental, that's what the 1st and 3rd is for, teams don't typically give up their top prospects for rentals , unless they think they can't resign them or they need a change of scenery, or the player they are getting is elite, and weegar is very good but not elite. As a promising RHD prospect Niemela has a lot of value.

avs dont need Holl, he would probably be scratched and not even play or be sent to minors. No reason to trade him to avs

Fair enough. I've seen a few ACGMs from Avs fans with him going that way for a mid pick, so I assumed it was a need (as much as the Avs have any NEEDS).

Weegar is incredible. His analytics rank him among the best defenseman in the league at 5v5, and he's only 27, entering his prime. He plays LD and RD, and elite on the penalty kill, would be perfect next to Rielly, Sandin in the future, or anyone else. I would happily trade more than this for Weegar, especially a guy like Niemela who has loads of potential but nothing concrete in the league, and is still years away from the NHL. You wouldn't be making the trade for a rental - it would be to sign him long term.

Analytically, he might be a great defender in the past two years and the coming season. Analytics aside though, I don't think he would be considered a top 2 D-man, year in year out (at least not for long). There were many FLR fans who were ready to drive him out of town because of his playoff woes in consecutive seasons, so he might come in to Toronto and be Jake Gardiner 2.0 and get ran out of town.

I'm pretty sure he was an analytical monster, mostly playing on the left side even though he is right handed. So, perhaps he's like Brodie who can play good enough on his offside, but pretty sure Weegar's strong side is the left which is why they have him as LD/RD. Even so, perhaps he can come in and play on the right side but do his analytics on that side justify a return like that?

As for resigning him, he will at least cost 5-6m, perhaps 6.5+ if he is still playing at an elite level. The Leafs won't know if they can fit that in their cap structure until they resign Matthews or anticipate his departure. If he hits free agency then perhaps the Leafs can acquire him, but before that they would most likely consider him a rental.

Assuming they still have Sandin next season, I could see them pursuing him as a free agent and then moving on from Muzzin. I hope Sandin doesn't sit, since it will hurt his development more than it hurt Nylander, and it will likely really sour the relationship between Dubas and the agent who represents them both. Wouldn't be good for Nylander's extension negotiations.