Just interested, who would you give after at the TDL and why keep Johnsoon to do that?

Best currency at the deadline is usually picks. The 2nd and 3rd that were acquired for Brown and Johnsson are likely enough for any rental D you may want. You need less cap space at that time as well, but you could always include middling roster player if necessary to make the money work (I'm also assuming a team trading an expiring contract and not in playoff contention would have no issue retaining salary).

In this post (and many others)....without Brown, Johnsson (traded) and of course no UFAs Gardiner and Hainsey don't you think the Leafs should be scouting the top 15 in the entry draft in 2020.

C’mon... I think we both know the leafs could ice a better 6D. Cut the guy some slack. I for one would be excited to give Lilly or Duszak a shot at pairing with miluzxin till Dermott gets back. I would however move kapanen over Johnsson provided we can get him on a fair bridge deal.

Honestly, not really. A full season of Nylander will help offset that, and I think the lineup will have more players that fill specific roles, rather then guys that are master of nones like Brown and to a lesser extent, Johnsson. Johnsson rode a high shooting percentage to 20 goals this year. Not hard to think Mikheyev can provide similar production and Mason Marchment can provide a bit of offence as well. Having more offensive wingers will help Kadri score more as well.

D is where you are likely weaker, Rosen does not equal Gardiner and Holl and Borgman if you're lucky give you what Hainsey did. This is why I think they do to upgrade the D, but they will wait until the deadline when the prices drop a bit. Freddie is still in net and you can always go shopping for another sub million dollar backup if you don't want him and bury him in the AHL. I don't think this lineup is perfect, but no 2019 lineup for the Leafs will be. I think if you want to add a big RHD, you wait for summer 2020 when it will be easier to move Zaitsev (he becomes less overpaid as the cap gets higher) and you can try to find someone available. Presumably Sandin and Liljegren are both ready to play in your top 6 at this point as well.

Hope I'm wrong but the the league is so tight. Didn't the Leafs clinch a playoff spot in the 79th game. To me next year looks iffy but optimistic some the youngsters on the current team get better in future years.

They did, but they were basically assured of one long before that point and played poorly down the stretch because of it. That 3rd RD spot is a tossup between a few guys, but I think everyone would like to see Liljegren win it. But if he doesn't there's no point in having him in the pressbox, so he goes to the AHL. I put Borgman and Kivilhame up because they would be in the competition and both are waivers exempt when Dermott is ready.

A lot of the improvement on this team will come from the players themselves. Matthews will stay healthy for 82 games and begin to use his big frame more. Nylander will start the season in game shape and put up some great numbers. I think the Muzzin/Zaitsev pair showed well in the playoffs and they should stay together. It would also allow Z to play a bit more offensive which has been his style before coming to the Leafs. I think Kapanen is a great fit on the left of the Tavares/Marner tandem as he is excellent at zone entries (an area where neither of those two excel) and has the speed to forecheck and create havoc even better then Hyman does. The AHL grads will be a year older and guys like Mikheyev, Moore and Marchment will be able to play a heavier style which apparently the Leafs need to do. The guy I think fits into this roster the poorest is Patrick Marleau. The Leafs should not be playing him just to keep his streak intact if he is not one of the best 12 forwards they have. If his streak is that important to him, he should waive his NMC and go somewhere he'll get the icetime he wants. That will be on him and may be a bit of drama as the season goes on (the rest of his bonus is paid in December so very little cash owing after that).

There are weaknesses, RD and 4C being the biggest. When Hyman comes back that helps LW and Dermott helps RD. Like I said, I think a deadline move is most likely when the currency is futures and draft picks. As much as I'd love to see a stud RD be added, it probably isn't worth the cost.

Even Leaf management must know they are gong to have trouble matching this years regular season with all the defections. Leafs like most teams want their "studs" come from within.
In 202-0/21, maybe it's the cost efficient Sandin, Liljegren and maybe another current Marlie or two (Rosen, Duszak, Hollawell, Borgman) adds to Reilly, Dermot, Zaitsev. So, long term, think the Leafs will just fine on defence.