If they miss the playoff the would probably accept if you swap sandin with liljegren

Leafs wouldn't do that

The minimal upgrade defensively to Tanev from Sandin isnt even worth the offensive down grade, let alone the increased cap, ages of the players involved and RFA vs UFA control at the end of next season let alone adding a 1st. And that's before you throw in the fact that the leafs are more than fine on defence

I would personally prefer more of a shutdown pairing available for playoffs. It's not mandatory to win but you frequently see it among teams that go deep.

Reilly-Brodie would but shouldn't be playing against top lines
Gio-Holl would be a really, really nice bottom pairing
Sandin-Liljegren are awesome but young and could definitely be game planned against

I'd love to add a veteran righty who can play big minutes beside any of our LHD

Adding to the blue line, especially for a defensive specialist, makes sense only if it doesn't cost anything "out of pocket." Exchanging the future (Sandin) for the now (Tanev) doesn't make much sense to me, particularly since I would have thought that Tanev is the perfect defense partner for Sandin.

I can see this year's first for Tanev, IF the Flames are out of it by March.

i mean, that'd be nice but you dont pay near that much to get one, especially a 33 year old.

I think RHD who can play 22+ minutes do cost that much but I could be wrong

cost is relative. To a team in desperate need of an RHD to fit a top 4 spot it might be worth equivelant value. To the Leafs, who have great results from their current D-core that includes the 22 year old going the other way for Tanev, it sure doesnt.

Curious who you think would be a good addition to the top 4 (even if you don't think it's necessary)

honestly dont see any out of the rumored available guys. It's a bunch of low end 2nd pairing guys and bottom pairing guys playing above their heads with middling at best results like Edmundson, Schenn and whatever and they wont be worth it because they arnt better than what the leafs have, or it's top 4 guys like Chychrun or Karlsson who would cost way way way too much.
If I had to pick an 'ideal' guy to add to the defense it would be someone like Durzi. Young, cheap, can play both sides and has RFA control. Not necessarily him, but someone with those attributes, they;d at least more than likely would be worth deadline costs.

I agree, anyone worth getting isn't available and anyone available isn't worth getting. Andrew Peeke could be an interesting addition

A point per game winger half half a million dollars is going to cost a lot more than a late first round pick

Leafs aren't trading the superior Sandin for the "hit the wall" Tanev. Plus Tanev still has a year on 4.5m contract