That D is hardly better. Niskanen is barely any better than Gardiner IMO. Miller is an upgrade on Zaitsev for sure. And there's absolutely no way you can call Justin Holl a top 6 defenseman, if he plays more than 5 games next year the Leafs have major problems.

100% agree with the Justin Holl comment. However, if we get a right-handed jake gardiner it'd would greatly improve our defense. I think that top-4 is a lot better than last year but please don't pencil in Holl as a starting dman. That proposed defense overall is worse than last year just because you'd have to play holl a regular shift.

My point exactly. Honestly bring back Hainsey for 1-2 mil on the third pair to play with Dermott and that D looks pretty good. Average NHL defense. Somewhere in the 10-15 range if you were to rank team D cores IMO.

I think 10-15 defense would be great with a top-5 offense. I'd take that team going into the playoffs.

Absolutely. Having two fourth line centers isn't exactly ideal. The above team is SCREWED if Matthews or Tavares were to get hurt. No center depth at all. That's the scary thing with all the Kadri trade talk. and Richardson is not a viable 3C replacement.

OK, you can resign Hansey for $1mil plus to deep six Hole. Leafs also have the option of playing Nylander as 3rd line center. Richardson is a great face-off man and penalty killer plus got 20 goals last season. Not your average 4th liner. The trades get a much better RD, resigns the young core of forwards and is cap compliant. You can't keep the entire forward group together and improve your RD's. Kadri is a distraction and is my pick to be moved for D.