Edited Mar. 3, 2019 at 11:45 a.m.
Quoting: palhal
I feel there are is way too much emphasize. on "top four". Fact is your 5th and 6th Dmen still play important minutes often 5 on 5. When you have those guys on the ice for 12 minute a game each, they better be NHL competent. Then in case of injury, the 7th and maybe your 8th guys better be NHL competent good.
The fact that Muzzin was acquired indicates to me that Leafs think they need some heaviness.
Agree with you that Leaf will work to move Zaitsev, I just think it's not likely , too much money/term for other teams to accept and still the uncertainty who can Zaitsev minutes next year.
Next year, the Leafs defence should be OK. Reilly, Dermot, Muzzin, Rosen IMO Zaitsev and Ozhignov. that's 6, Holl makes 7. Depending on the cap, maybe they get a short term veteran help . Even if Sandin and Liljgren and aren't Leafs till 2020/21, it's not like the Leafs are "desperate"
I would be perfectly fine with Zaitsev being our 6th dman, playing with Rosen for awhile, then maybe Sandin once he's ready, he just makes too much $$ to fill that role.
I think the Muzzin acquisition is a definite sign the Leafs want to be a heavier team. The rumoured interest in Kreider & Simmonds also supports this theory. I think Dubas will be targeting heavier players that also consistently move the puck in the right direction, but he can only do so much with the upcoming cap difficulties, so it may be a slow process.
The real reason I think Zaitsev will be moved this off-season is I'm hoping Dubas proves to be an "outside the box" thinker, and moves guys that don't truly fit the plan going forward (especially guys making $4.5m and playing 20 min), and in Kadri's case moves guys before their value begins to diminish.
Maybe we can pull off a Subban for Weber trade, with us getting the "Subban".