Toronto Maple Leafs

After reading the first line of your description its clear you really don't know much about hockey. Toronto's has some issues but not what you mentioned. They aren't a small team, (well Ennis is too small and gets knocked off the puck all the time), they aren't overly tough but who cares. They don't need a #1 shutdown defenceman, need someone other than Hainsey to partner with Rielly who is our best defenceman. What Toronto needs more than anything is a great commitment to team defence and they could really use certain players to stop turning the puck over way too much. (Looking at you Gardiner and Dermott)

I think TO can fix everything they have wrong with them with a simple depth move at the deadline. Grab a guy like Tanev if he is available, don't overpay, pay a fair price or walk away.

For your list of untouchables, it should be this.

Matthews
Tavares
Marner
Nylander
Rielly
Dermott
Liljegren
Sandin

Unless someone comes in with a deal you can't possibly say no too.

The point is, the Leafs have made some mistakes but they aren't close to operating at mid season form. Even offensively, where they are scoring with ease, they aren't playing crisp yet. Just settle down and let them iron out some bugs. Once they really know what they have to work with. Holl, Orzhiganov etc may figure things out and settle in, but panicking and trading away 8 assets including Nylander who should not be traded unless its a slam dunk win of a deal for TO (your proposal is not at all a slam dunk) is just silly.

@LoganOllivier
I Think Your points are correct. Although I dont think that some size would hurt, im currently looking at what i think.
Thank You.

Size never hurts, unless it comes at the cost of speed and skill. Just look at Edmonton, their very wise GM said the Oilers needed to get bigger and now they have no depth outside of their top 5 forwards. Trading speed and skill for size doesn't work. Guys like Hyman and Kapanen will be the "size" we need moving forward. Guys who can out skate defenders and cycle the puck down low.

Hainsey needs to be moved to the bottom pair, that is clear as day. He has zero wheels left and spends all his time pointing at stuff and being out of position. Zaitsev has been the most consistent defender on the team so far. Dermott makes mistakes but he's also the best skater other than Kapanen on the team and can make up for mistakes by getting back faster than anyone else. Gardiner I think should get a fresh start somewhere else, he's gripping the stick tight and has made several really bad turnovers. One right handed guy who can play with Rielly is needed, but you definitely don't want to overpay for that. Nylander for a right handed defenceman is a massive over payment. He's way too good.

It seems insane to me that so many people think that the solution for the Leafs trading partner (in this case the Ducks) will sign Nylander to a bloated contract. Nylander 7.5m would put him as the 5th highest paid RWer in the league. Is 20 goal scorer worth that? The Ducks next year have really cap issues...worse than the Leafs.