Not sure why you would want to play Sandin and Liligren..... sure they have the potential. But with the expansion dreaft looming, I would be more inclined to leave them with the Marlies for another year - this way they are both exempt (note how well this worked for the Leafs for the Vegas expansion).

Not saying I don't like what you did with the forward units, just think beyond the Seattle draft, the Leafs blueline remains thin with this construct. Reilly, Liligren and Sandin are the obvious three choices if this is the direction; but on the other side still rather capped out and spots open to round it all out.

Notwithsatnding.... no way Ferland signs for $2 million. That there is wishful thinking.

You seem to think Holzer is NHL competent at 800,000. So why do the Ducks trade him for 4.5m Zaitsev? Sandin and Liljegren in the top six?

How long is Dermott out?? You can give Sandin training camp and the games, up to 9 , that Dermott is out to play with NHL players and let his contract slide.

So you’re saying the leafs should be asking for more than Holzer for a trade for Zaitsev? They won’t get anything better. It’s basically a cap dump and Sandin or Liljegren are place holders until Dermott comes back.

No, I'm saying Holzer is a silly trade. Why should the Ducks make the trade if he is NHL good? If Holzer isn't NHL good, why do the Leafs want him? I understand cap dump, but NO team is take a 4.5m X 5 cap dump. If Zaitsev is traded with little cap returned, Leafs have to find a team that likes his value as a player. IMO Zaitsev is OK value at 4.5m ...it's the term that still scares me. Sandin and Liljegren aren't NHL ready by all observations. To thrust in the lineup "waiting for Dermot", screams like the Leafs are prepared to lose a lot in the first few months. And then other injuries to other Dmen might happen.
If the Leafs need NHL Dmen this season, they better be prepared to keep Zaitsev and to create cap, trade a moderate to high priced forward.
Doubt if Engelland his leaving Vegas home of 10 years to be a Leaf.