Team: 2018-19 Toronto Maple Leafs

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 16, 2018

Published: Jul. 16, 2018

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Hanzal hasn't exactly worked out in Dallas. He has been injury prone and hasn't produced like he did in Arizona. I'm not sure if there is any appetite to move him, let alone retain salary for 2 years. If there is however, then a Hanzal/Honka swap with the Leafs could give Dallas a solid plan B for adding to their back-end, assuming they don't get Karlsson.

The Leafs could slot Hanzal in at 4C, use him on the PK and perhaps on the 2nd PP unit. If they need to hide him on LTIR next season they probably could, though I'm sure they would hope that their expert medical staff could help "fix him". They could also just ship him somewhere for the last year of his deal if he doesn't work out. They gamble on Honka panning out as a top-4 puck moving RHD.

I had the Leafs pickup Emelin as a bottom pair cheap, short term D add, but they could use an internal candidate like Borgman or a different UFA like Hamhuis, Enstrom, Sbisa or Orpik. Or they could alter the D pairings to:

Reilly/Zaitsev
Dermott/Carrick
Hainsey/Honka

Full disclosure, I'm in the move Gardiner for assets camp rather than use him as an own rental camp. I don't dislike Gardiner as a player, but Toronto won't be able to keep him and while the team is labelled as a "contender" now, I need to see them get out of the first round before I apply that label. And yes, I understand that removing Gardiner likely lessens that chance short term.

Dallas gets another puck moving D and one on the Left side where they could use an upgrade. Keeps them competitive on the backend with Nashville and Winnipeg. They also get Rosen who could slot in as their 7th D or hang out in the minors until an injury occurs since he doesn't require waivers. They also get Leivo who could fill out their top 9 nicely. Finally they get a conditional first round pick (likely late first round).