Fellow Leaf fan here. Pretty sure if Columbus was forced to sell him they would want a good young centre with higher upside than Minten unfortunately.

Jackets would want quality over quantity. Leafs don’t have the prospects that the jackets would want but they aren’t trading jiricek so it’s irrelevant

Do the Leafs need Jiricek?
I mean if the Leafs get Jiricek, they'll have to send him down to the AHL.

Would Liljegren be needed?

Why?

I'm just saying as an opinion.

For the sake of argument Fair value would be knies, Minten, and a first but the jackets still wouldn’t consider. They would want to do a swap like cutter and drysdale but there’s not many prospects on jiriceks level so it would be difficult. But once again they aren’t remotely considering trading him

I am very pessimistic about the current state of the team. The defence isn't good enough. I think our forwards are going to be great here but the defence is old and not good enough. Liljegren and Benoit are currently regulars under the age of 30. Timmins if he ever gets a shot from Keefe is also younger. But they need some guys that will be hitting their best years over the next 3-5 seasons. Tanev won't change much here. He's not who he used to be. Brodie is declining fast. Gio is 40, Rielly can only do so much. How do you turn this defence into an elite group? Or close enough to win. Something along these lines would be a very smart direction. Anyone 25 or younger with controllable years or good value is the way to go. It's more of a reset than anything.

I also would sell other assets as well that don't fit this timeframe. What if Hanifin can be convinced to sign in TO. Send McCabe to Calgary as part of the package to get him. If you could some how also add a 25 or under RD with potential to be a (prime Muzzin type) at whatever the non core cost would be, then you have a something that could grow into a cup winning group.

Wasting futures on Tanev, or Larsson or any other 30+ year old defenceman who has already played his best hockey does nothing for the team beyond this season and next with still no clear next step beyond that.

Yeah it's not likely TO would be willing to do that. Minten yes, hell I'd add Cowan too if I had to. And Niemela. I think you may be underestimating the leafs prospects here as well. Minten is going to be a terrific 3C at the very least. Selke quality defence is what I think he'll eventually become. Ceiling would be a 60-70 point shutdown 2C. That's the hope for him but I think a 40+ point shutdown 3C is him in 2-3 seasons. I wouldn't trade him unless it solves a bigger issue which is the age and quality of our defence.

Maybe you wait till the off season and try to fill a spot with an FA like Roy but that's a shorter window for him as he'll be 28

Minten is a solid prospect. Jiricek is a Norris caliber prospect that’s the difference. Nothing against him but his ceiling is nowhere near jiricek and neither is his floor.

Prospects are not an exact science it's hard to say for certain

No they are not but we know that as of now jiricek is one of the most valuable prospects in the league. Arguably the top defensive prospect in the entire league

Literally every fan base says this stuff