Way too much for St Louis to pay for r one year of Gardiner. Don't know if any team wants Zaitsev after the year he had, and if he's good maybe the Leafs keep him. Komarov again? Rather just keep Leivo. Bouemeester doesn't waive his NTC probably and certainly not just to be buried.

Somehow the backend is considerably worse than this past year. Could it be trading the best D for nothing?

^Reilly is better then Gardiner^
I think if Toronto gets a good offer Gardiner is gone. His whole career he has been a nightmare in his own end with exception of last year (2016-2017) in which he was just o.k. I also think Dermott is a natural replacement for him.

I'm not giving up on Zaitsev just yet. He was their best Dman the first 10 games. Concussion early on then some illness in which he dropped 20lbs. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, he can bounce back.

Martin and Leivo trades could work although I think Martin would be better with a western conf. team

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Agree with your assessment of the defence. Still might need Gardiner for one more year unless the right deal comes along. Zaitsev is really the only RHD they really have next year....yea you can't give up on him after last year.

No to signning Leo and Polak. STL isn't doing that trade.
Gonna have to find a better spot for Gardiner (Ottawa, Dallas, Edmonton, someone that needs him) just so you can decent value.
Like signing Thornton and Green to 1 year deals. Maybe add Hamhuis, Cole, or Enstrom on a 1 year deal for D depth.
Keep Leivo.

If Rielly was at any point currently better than Gardiner, wouldn't their ice time reflect that? Rielly is a disaster in his own end but is a hell of a skater. One day he will be better than Gardiner but that day may be years down the road.

The problem with the Leafs backend remains the same, guys playing above their depth. Gardiner is a solid #3, Zaitsev #4, Rielly #5, and Dermott has the makings of a solid #2-3. If Rielly can't figure out how to be consistent in his own end, he'll never be as good overall as Gardiner.