We have plenty on the left side, hardy enough on the right. Swap KK for AJ, he's never going to be higher than #3 RW in Tor bc of Marner and Willy.

Not to mention Horton and Clarkson.

if you put in kappy then remove the picks.

No way, not if the Devs are retaining and taking on Ceci's contract. Keep the 3rd in there

both of the contracts end this season, retention is done the end of the season and so is ceci,,,,, i might leave the 4th

Correct, but i do not believe the Leafs would be under the cap if the Devils don't retain salary, so the Leafs would need to sweeten the pot if they wanted both Simmonds and Vatanen.

I guess we get to the question, for this year. Are Simmons and Vatanen better than the two guys they would replace in the lineup, Johnson and Ceci. Leafs are doing just fine right now. Would these two new guys fit in, adjust to the Leafs as well as the current players.
I don't know, for all the silly ranting against Ceci, he's playing OK, and plays the PK...something Barrie doesn't do. Can Vatanen play the PK?

Greene has been our stellar PKer so he is top guy there on the left side, but Sami is kinda the swiss army knife on this team. Plays both sides, PP-PK. If he wants to resign and its not too crazy a term I'd hope Shero does it, unless there is some plan Ray has that is not obvious. Sami has more talent than Ceci for sure. From what I saw Ceci is not a bad bottom defender IMO, he has the size Sami does not

Actually the best "allocation of assets" for a team that isn't making the playoffs, is to trade their upcoming UFAs....get some assets in return and then sign a that traded UFA in the summer, if they truly want him.
It's not like Vatanen is going to be offered an eight year contract by any team.....the only real advantage of "owning" an upcoming UFA.
Between now and TDL teams will decide if they are true contenders. And injuries to these contending teams will determine if they are real buyers which might be up the trade price for "premium" rentals.

Well in this scenario Vatanen to Tor makes sense but, if Leafs make noise then you have to worry that Vats does not return. He's not a disposable UFA IMO. Without him this D is far worse (if thats possible). So while I see and agree with your point, with him, its iffy. Now Simmonds is the perfect example to your point. I like what hes done for NJ and apparently he wants to stay. But assume he goes to Tor, they win he somehow finds a way to stay after the summer its less of an issue. Andy Greene is another one. Do him a favor and send him where he might have a chance to win. If in the off seaosn Shero F's up and has to then beg AG to come back as a bottom pair guy for nothing. Each scenario with NJ has points in the moving of player. Zajac for instance, if you could get him to waive, you move him

Simmonds is dead weight to be totally honest. This trade is all about Vatanen. Can you think of any comparable? He's on a career pace of 44 points in just 74 games played. He's probably been the Devils' best player this season. My only concern is whether the Leafs would be better off pursuing a more stay-at-home D as a rental. I can't see them doing nothing. They're the hottest team in the league, but they need to solidify their team D, either at Forward, D, or both.