But he's good, he's good with Andersson, he's young, and the core you're building around are all right handed, Tanev isn't young, I don't agree on Hanifin. Big Zs not a righty but I don't think hes a good top 4 answer, great top 6.

Seeing Looch go will suck, everybody loves him but I won't be too upset not seeing him in the lineup.

Leafs don't need a LHD, why do so many believe they do.

I don't see SEA retaining 50% on Eberle, they are a team looking to compete and they can probably get a 1st out of him elsewhere (outside of the division) retaining less.

The good news is that if they do decide to move Hanifin they could probably get a top 6 forward in a direct trade. Don't think CGY does this without getting someone of significance considering Tanev has a ton of miles on him, he's probably reduced to a smaller role beyond the two years if he's still healthy/good enough to play.

They could decide to just trade Sandin for a RD (maybe Boqvist? CBJ has plenty of RD or Durzi if LA doesn't go for Chychrun instead) but they have to go cheaper up front.

Your suggestion certainly is a possibility. Just my thought, that Leafs prefer to keep Sandin. He's in a big of funk now....partly due to miss training camp IM0. RHD isn't a big problem (though it could be better and deeper....but Brodie, Holl and Liljgren (even Benn). Next year is bigger problem at RHD with Holl likely not resigned and no one in the minors to move to the NHL.

Hanifin is the Flames most consistent defenseman, he should absolutely not be available

I agree with you that they probably prefer to keep Sandin, even if they acquire Hanifin, they might just play Sandin the off-wing but I think he would request a trade. So, they likely just go after a RHD that becomes available now even if they are an expiring ufa and try to resign them if they like the fit.

That being said if Hanifin becomes available, they probably do acquire him with him being 25 and already a very reliable, solid defender that can play big minutes, especially if the cost is a 1st+3rd (and probably even if it also requires adding Robertson). Acquiring him would allow them to replace Holl on the PK for the following year. Only draw back is that they would have 4 LHD on the PK if Liljegren doesn't replace Giordano on the PK in the following year.

We aren’t going through a whole season with Weegar playing less minutes than Hanafin.

Lol what? Weegar is averaging nearly 22 minutes a game. The only reason Hanifin averages more is because of powerplay time. Weegar averages about a minute more than him at 5v5

You bring a good point. I look at Reilly of Leafs. He's constantly gets the most minutes of any Dman. Maybe 25 minutes an night. But some of those are easy minutes on the PP. And for years he's been an almost last resort for PK. (not so much this year). So just because a player plays less minutes and his few points especially a Dman,(but is a PK minute eater) it shouldn't mean he isn't of at least the same value or more for a Dman who gets more points and more minutes

Have a look at who led the team in TOI against Florida and you’ll see it was actually Zadorov. We have 5 defenceman capable of playing over 20 minutes a night. That’s a nice luxury to have but not when we need at least one more forward that can play in the top 6.

We can easily afford to add a top 6 forward at the deadline without moving out Hanifin

Pahal I know Leafs don’t need LD but Hanafin isn’t a ordinary LD & that package isn’t big at all. Top 4 LD

Rielly-Lilly
Hanafin-Brodie
Gio-Benn

That’s really solid & Hanifin is only 25