It's better than nothing... but I'm not sure if Bracco is a long term solution as a prospect. Maybe sub in someone with a little higher ceiling (I personally like Johnsson but I'm not sure if Leaf fans will crucify me for saying that). Also - the trade contingency doesn't really make sense. TML shouldn't have the option to delay the 1st for a year if they make the cup. If anything that should be NYI's call

I don't think it will take that much to get Lee. He's only had two good seasons, and let's see how he does without JT. My guess is he's at a 25 goal pace and could be had for a first and Bracco.

I do think that Lee is a pretty good guy for the leafs to target, if it seems impossible to do anything with their brutal blue line.

I mean, that's not how it works with the picks. Look at the Duchene trade, the team trading the pick had the choice. It really shouldn't matter though. It's not like Toronto will be a lottery team anyway.

As for the trade, dude, this should be a dream for Isles fans. You're not getting more than that ever.

I can just see this making so much sense for the Leafs. Getting Lee back with Tavares would probably create magic again

at the same time it won't really matter if they're in their own zone the entire game.

Of all the upgrades TO could use at the deadline, I don't think scoring is going to be something they need to upgrade. Why would they spend a 1st round pick to get a player that they won't resign to increase scoring that will already be near the top of the league? Send that first and a prospect to Vancouver for Tanev and have them retain half his salary for next season. That would be far better of a move than this.

Because Tavares has a history of run around his own zone. You do get a kick out of just chirping Leaf fans don't you.

More making the point that the blue line is going to get hemmed in. They're a good team, but the big hole definitely isn't a top six winger.

Oh I agree on a top six winger not being needed. When a team has 6-8 wingers that would be in the top 6 on several teams, I think getting another is a tad excessive. Saying the team will be hemmed in their own zone all the time though is just an ignorant statement made by a guy who is holding onto the past. Is Toronto's defence elite? No. Is it the worst in the league? If so then Andersen is by far the best goalie in the league.

But I'm sure there is some other explaination as to why TO allowed the 12th least amount of goals last year. Better than teams like Tampa for example. But that's probably because their defence is so bad that other teams felt sorry for them and let them win.

Salty bruins fan, Boston is gonna be fighting for a wildcard this year watch

Salty? Didn’t the bruins win game 7? Why would I be salty?

Their d is built very well for playing against mid tier, and low tier teams. Their d is also built to get roasted by good teams.

Toronto's team is designed to steamroll other teams offensively, the addition of Tavares makes the team defence better. Yes some of the players have faults (Hainsey makes Rielly much worse, Gardiner is as soft as they come infront of the net and along the boards etc), however, they are a fast unit and will be beyond good enough to get the puck to the forwards you will overwhelm even good defences.

If you are being honest with yourself, Boston's depth upfront isn't even close to TO's now, so if your top line plays great, you still need them to outscore the rest of the TO lineup because your 2nd, 3rd and 4th lines are going to get destroyed more often than not.

I'll admit last year bruins were the better team but this year is another story

Well see. The bruins back end is so much better though.

Ask Dallas how it works out to build a team to steamroll offensively

Dallas had 2 lines that could score and a bottom 6 that had holes. TO's 3C is far and above better than the 2C (Spezza) in Dallas, the Leafs 4th line this season will be hard for many teams to handle with their bottom 6. I think a better comparison would be the depth Pittsburgh had upfront when they won back to back cups. Their 3rd line destroyed people the first year. Bonino, Kessel and Hagelin made other 3rd lines look silly and TO will do the same to teams this year. Dallas isn't a good example. Also Andersen is better than the goalies Dallas has had to work with as well.

Haven’t won a playoff round in a century and were comparing them to the penguins. Wow. Stay hot leafs fans

I am not saying they will win the cup and who knows how well they play, but if you are going to be throwing stones dude, at least be correct with them. Dallas is a poor example.

You’re the one that said Toronto was built to steamroll teams offensively. When Dallas acquired spezza they were trying to do the same thing. It failed miserably.

Teams win with a strong back end

Would anyone call Washington's defence last year deep and strong? Karlsson is their best player and he doesn't even play against the best the opposition has to offer, that is Niskanen's job. They were okay on the blue line at best. I don't see Toronto being as far away from that as most do and really, there is 1 stat that people cling to to smash TOs defence and that is they allow a lot of shots.

If you did any more digging into that, they allow a lot of shots form the outside, so its not as bad as the media makes it out to be.

As for the Dallas comparison again, Dallas had 1 line, and added Spezza who was already past his prime. TO added a 27 year old Tavares who is way better than a 30+ year old Spezza and already had Matthews and Kadri. TO has 3 lines that can be reasonably counted on to play against any other line in the league. (Not saying they are better than all the other lines in the league, just saying this. Matthews can play against anyone and we can expect to be successful, same with Tavares and Kadri has built a reputation as being a very effective shutdown guy. No he's not a Selke winner nor will he likely ever be, Matthews is the guy who is more likely to win that in TO and that is a stretch at this point).

Dallas could not say the same, they had an awesome 1st line with Seguin and Benn and a decent 2nd line with Spezza and then a weak bottom 6. TO has a sick top 6, what could be one of the best 3rd lines in the game and a 4th line that will have speed to burn and can score. The last team that had that kind of stacked power through all 4 lines was Pittsburgh. That's the point.