Interesting idea

Trade is interesting, but the Leafs won't/can't run a 21 man roster and this roster is weaker as constructed. I think if Dubas gambles, he gambles once and not twice (either Milano or the Hayton deal, likely not both).

Hard to imagine Gio-Lilly on the second pairing - why tie up nearly $8M on the bottom pairing?

Why trade for a young guy just to bury him on the 4th line?

I'd ditch the Milano signing for that reason - move Hayton to 2LW and run Engvall, Kampf, Jarnkrok as 3rd line and Aube-Kubel, Steeves, and some combination of Anderson/Robertson/etc, to fill out the roster. A $1.8M Milano isn't what the Leafs need.

It's a mix of a Toronto roster make up and career.

The truth is the leafs third line when centred by Kampf is more of a bottom 6 defensive live than a third line with the other bottom 6 line being an offensive one. The Kampf line is in a lot of ways a fourth line as his offense is pretty limited. So I would more consider that 4th line a sheltered scoring line than checking or energy line which most expect out of their fourth line. As well I'd have him centering the second pp unit. Hopefully build some chemistry with Robertson.

The other thing he'll offer, ideally, is centre depth in the place of injury. As above Kampf is not a top 6 c. If Matthews or Tavares went down last year it was kerfoot who replaced them in the top 6. So if kerfoot is gone hopefully Hayton could do some injury fill in

Finally trading him for the future growth. While I don't think he'll ever be the franchise centre zona hoped for when drafting him, I'd be hopeful he will peak as a decent 2c or at least a good 3c. The leafs have minimal depth at c in their whole organization. They have one of the best 1-2 punches in Matthews and the overpaid, but still very good Tavares. A good defensive c in Kampf and then very little looking like they will be impact NHL C's. We have some good d prospects/youth in Sandin (traded here), lily, and hirvonen and similar and rielly is signed for term and in his prime.

We have good wing prospects. But we have no high end projecting c prospects (perhaps our second rounder this year, I don't know as much about him)

I look at Milano as a 1 year tryout for both him and us. If he gets that spot on the Tavares line and clicks he'll score well and score a big deal next year (whether with us or elsewhere). For us we can get a top 6 w if it works under 2 mil.

But I wouldn't want Hayton at w. I'd want him to develop him at c. I

So swap 'em. I'm not concerned about what they're making and what pair they're on. Holl is a pending Ufa and muzzin has to reprove himself. If he does he'll be great. If he doesn't he'll be easy to trade after July 1 next year.

Lily ideally is the future

If the Leafs can sign Sandin for Hayden money or less...they should keep Sandin. Kerfoott may. not even get a return at this point.

Because Dubass gave Kerfoot and Holl a MNC contracts, which is just pure foolishness. I don't see either guy going to Arizona, Chicago or Seattle. Tavares, Rielly, Brodie, Muzzin, Kerfoot, Holl, Jarnkrok, Murray and Simmonds all have a NTC or NMC contract, just crazy. Rumor has it the equipment manager and Zamboni drive also have an NTC. 9 players you have to get permission to move and Matthews and Marner you won't move.

An MNC is not a thing in hockey and neither player have an NMC which I presume is what you mean. So cool story bro