Is Connor Murphy really a top RHD for a team heading to the playoffs?

It would cost quite a bit more to get Murphy as well as Crawford with that much retention. Would be a very smart deal for TO though

add a second and hawks accept

Can Chicago take all that cap, they have 1 million in cap space?

Agree, this is a 2nd round pick short

Yes, De Haan is going on LITR.

Murphy is solid. He is definitely a #3 on a lot of playoff teams but on Toronto, no question that upgrades their top line on the right side.

SAD is having a nice season and looks to be a long-term but promising project. He’d be a good pickup for the rebuilding hawks. I’d be willing to add a third round pick to Toronto’s side but not a second

Well you really don't need a top Dman. How many are there in the league? The trade would be based on Murphy is better than Ceci, and the Leafs have Murphy for another two years.

Maybe I’m the one not seeing this situation correctly, but I’d rather have Ceci for one year and let him walk, than Murphy tied up at almost 4 mill for multiple season. Feel like if I’m the Leafs, I could use the 4 million much better over the next 2.

You're right that the situation as you described. The other problem fans don't seem to appreciate often, and I'll use Ceci as an example. Sure you can rid of player, but does the player that takes his place...Murphy or TVR for example, can fit into the new system, and be as good as Ceci. There isn't that much time till April, and the Leafs can't afford to give away points to make the playoffs. Inserting a new player and expecting him to play up to 100% of his capabilities, often doesn't happen.

Fair enough, I’m quite sure that the posted trade is way too expensive to basically rid the Leafs if Ceci and bring in a backup Goalie and decent RHD. I see this as trading Kapanen and a prospect to do this.

Clearly you aren't very familiar with Murphy. He's easily a big upgrade to Ceci, a bit cheaper and signed until he's 30 years old in otherwords for the prime of his career.

You clearly didn’t read what I said. I didn’t say either Ceci or Murphy are a top defenseman, also I didn’t say Ceci was better. My point was I don’t think either is the true solution so why spend resources on them unnecessarily.

I clearly read what you said suggesting that being tied up with Murphy’s contract is a negative. At $3.8M his contract is one of the better contracts for a very solid underrated 1st or 2nd line player. I think at least half the teams in the league would be okay with that contract.

Sounds like we clearly are at an impasse regarding Murphy.

Every Leafs trade on here must dump Ceci, it's a rule. At least it's not "Anaheim or anywhere for a 5th." Ceci is looking playable and Holl has looked good. If Barrie improves his play they probably don't need to panic to add a guy RIGHT NOW and therefore give away an asset like Kapanen for a 2nd pairing (at best) guy in Murphy. But he's Toronto flavour of the month trade bait.