Keep him as your own rental.

That would be a really bad idea. No reason to get rid of defensive depth, you need 7-8 defensemen available during the playoffs.

Friedman reported something similar. Talking about teams calling about guys stuck in the pipeline like Walsh, Okhotyuk and Muk as well as what the plan is with Graves and Severson.

Wouldn't surprise me at all if our defence looks a bit different after the deadline.

Who are we getting that is so marginally cheaper to acquire to replace the gap in the lineup??

I would take him on the Sens would be kinda tough to re-sign him tho

I could see him moved, but only if the team has a legit 3rd pair guy now and can get a solid return for him. I see zero chance you guys resign him and this is year one of your playoff window and the future looks so bright why not add to it.

You could go either way with Severson. Personally, I agree with what Fitzgerald said, if it’s an offer you can’t refuse (whether that’s a 1st, impact winger, or a or A/B LW prospect) and finding another way to get a 3RHD. Do it.

I’m not going to lie I don’t hate moving Severson. I genuinely don’t think there are any better options on the rental market so if a team is willing to overpay I probably do it. The window is just opening for this team and frankly Severson isn’t part of that future. If a team is willing to throw us a 1st and a decent prospect I’m probably taking that.

If the offer comes in at a 1st and more, that'll get me to the table (and we better be getting Timo in that case), but keeping severson for a playoff run is just too valuable to be giving up cheap. I think he's the best RHD on the market rn easily.

I don’t want to trade him because Severson on your 3rd d pair is solid depth. I’m just saying what Chris Johnston said earlier.

I hope they keep Mukhamadullin, Vilen, Casey & Nemec (I won't even utter Luke, because he's obviously untouchable, unless your throwing in Jack for some insane reason) ... but you have to give to get. I'd really like another year to see how these guys develop. Mukhamadullin could be a third pair guy next year, under right circumstances, probably not out of camp, but mid year.

The rest of the D depth are long term third pair at best, they can go

100% if that's the offer, impossible to say no. You're spot on, but he probably stays because noone will offer enough to out strip Fitzgerald's desire to have a decent playoff push. It will be interesting, I guess the minutes would go to Hughes ... Smith/Hughes could be a messy playoff pair.

How reliable is Chris Johnston?

(and did his "big name star from non-playoff team in US" ever sign in Toronto?)

He’s usually 80% right. He’s not Mackenzie or Friedman, but he’s probably a notch below them. He’s better than Dreger.