Deadline Grit

Not a fan of Simmonds, he doesn't have the foot speed to keep up with any of the Leafs expect for their 4th line.

I don't disagree with that, but in the past he has fit well Giroux and Voracek (I understand he's older and slower now). I think you could flip him and Marleau until you find a combo that works. That being said I think the price of Ferland is too high and without adding a power forward the Buds will struggle in the playoffs

I like it for the leafs. Adding some grit for a playoff run is going to be necessary I think, need some gritty guys to battle through a best of 7 series.

It actually makes very little sense for Toronto. They're not gonna wanna give up Brown for a rental, and Simmonds doesn't fit with their forward group. Where's he gonna play? He'd be right down in the same spot Brown is, on the 4th line. He doesn't have the foot speed to keep up with the rest of the group. Johnsson plays with Matthews and Kapanen (Simmonds isn't faster than any of them), Marleau isn't gonna play 4th line minutes either. So basically the Leafs give up assets they shouldn't be giving up to slightly improve their 4th line? & how much better really is Simmonds than Brown? Hard to argue he's much better. & Simmonds cap hit eats more into the cap which leaves less for bonus payouts this year.

Seems like a pretty easy decline from Toronto actually.

Don't get your obsession with simmonds speed? He is a top 6 winger. He can play and score. He is a lot more physical than brown - without a doubt he is an upgrade.

They probably could get him for less than the leafs are giving up in this trade (since Brown is an RFA and simmonds is a rental).

I don't care where he plays in the leafs lineup, but it's a fact that he is an upgrade over brown and his physical play would be very valuable to the leafs in the playoffs. Since the leafs are basically screwed next year with the cap it makes sense to go for it this year.