that’s way too much for kadri and WAY too much for santini

I mean, Kerfoot had a better year than Kadri. I think one for one is a bit of a stretch, forget the 1st pick.

Yeah every Tor fan casting NZ away for a 6th and we're giving you back a young cheap RHD man for a guy you could OS for a 2nd!

BTW you just lost Dermott for 6 mos to shoulder surgery, so good luck with no mid-to-lower level d men (Gard FA, Hainsey FA, Dermott IR)

Not a single person would trade kasperi kapanen for steve santini. yes he's only 24 but he couldn't even stick on New Jersey's blueline, why would we give up a 22 year old scoring top 6 winger for THAT? I'd rather dump Zaitsev for whatever and then trade Kapanen for a top 4 D

toronto has enough mid-to-lower level d men, the problem is the top pair. rosen will play full time, holl will get a shot, we have borgman who can fill in a number 6 role while dermott is out, and we also have Sandin and Liljegren who may get looks now that there's another open spot. Toronto's D depth has never been their issue

Lets go through this line by line:
No SS alone is not worth KK, but honestly no one has ever said that.
Eating NZ contract is the reason why KK is made available. Before you start telling me he's a great defender, realize your own fans think he sucks "Zaitsev for a 6th"

Here's whats left on NZ- Zaitsev, Nikita, 27
2019-20 $4,500,000
2020-21 $4,500,000
2021-22 $4,500,000
2022-23 $4,500,000
2023-24 $4,500,000

I honestly think he's just a little overpaid and 1 yr too long, but that's just me.
Your not getting a top 4 D man for KK. First, bc the league GMs know your somewhat in a bind and second bc he's not worth that currently.
How much success are you going to have with Rosen and Holl as your bottom pair? Sure they are fine players but your answer to being better after this year cannot be that. Gard/Hainsey/Dermott couldn't do it this year, your D will be worse.
Personally I would add another defender (yes bottom pairing if you want to call it that) to the KK trade. Muellers rights as a RFA. As a Tor fan I would try and move PM instead of NZ, Zait has value and Babcock seems to like him. PM seems to be done. Send him back to SJS. Shero eats half his contract so Sharks agree to take him back. Keep your prospect D men with the Marlies and let them grow, as you said you have depth there, don't exploit it bc of a cap crunch. Sure you will disagree but that's ok.

I'm in the complete opposite boat than what you've mentioned here about Zaitsev. I don't think as an asset he's good at all. He'd be a fine number 5 or 6 d-man for 1.5 or less, in a strictly defensive role. He can't make a breakout pass, but him and hainsey (while the structure was bad) were okay on the PK. he's signed for way too much for way too long but there's certainly some value there where a team would take him and that contract. I'd be ecstatic if we moved him for a 6th, that just means we didn't have to give up assets to dump his cap. As for Kapanen, I think he's certainly worth a top 4 D. I'm not sure what "super fast top 6 RW, 20 goals 40 points in his first full season, hasn't even turned 23 yet" screams not worth at least a number 4 defenceman but we're not going to agree on everything. As for Marleau, I think it's clear his contract needs to go but he has a full NMC so he decides his future. if he wants to be a Leaf next year, he'll be a Leaf. they can't even send him down to save the 1.1 or however much comes off for getting sent down. if he agrees to leave, he'll be gone, they'll give up assets to move him no doubt about it.

As for Rosen and Holl as the bottom pair, that would be fine. You don't need an allstar on the third pairing, you need capable defenceman who can play 15 minutes a night and not cost you. Rosen is good but didn't play much because Gardiner and Dermott wanted to play in the playoffs. As for your statement that Gardiner/Hainsey/Dermott couldn't do it this year, they almost did. Gardiner and Dermott were never at 100% in the playoffs, Babcock spoke openly about this. they played a sheltered 3rd pair role. If they were 100% and the Leafs could role 3 D pairs they probably win that series. While everyone is saying their D will be worse, I don't think it will. All they need is 1 top 4 RHD and they're set. Rielly - RHD, Muzzin - Dermott, Rosen - Holl/Liljegren/Russian guy they signed/maybe even Sandin. Dubas's whole plan has been natural progression through the organization, which is exactly how I see the Leafs filling out their D and staying under the cap on cheap/ELC contracts