The injured guys are there to show cap work for when the playoffs are back (as Rielly must fit in the cap structure “currently” for the playoffs). 2 mil can be worked out.

With Muzzin only being out another 1-2 weeks I think we should just stand pat with the left side D. Once Muzzin returns Muzzin Dermott Sandin is adequate until Rielly returns.

you want to burn a year of Sandin ELC?

the only real way i see the leafs getting a defenseman is moving ceci and getting a cheaper dman back (would either be a lesser quality dman which accomplishes nothing, or overpaying to move ceci to bring back a decent defenseman. OR mango/kappy are gone.

Either starts with a 2nd + another pick/prospect or add something to Dillon to get Kapanen.

Im fine with it over the alternative of giving up picks and prospects for a stopgap player for a couple of weeks.

The play of both Sandin and Lilly this week will determine a lot of what the Leafs do before the trade deadline. Muzzin should be back after the break. Burning year 1 of Sandin's ELC seems inevitable at this point. Left side of Muzzin, Dermott, Sandin, right side of Holl, Barrie, Ceci/Lilly. All reports from the Marlies is that Lilly has been excellent, especially lately, so let's see what he's got. Don't make a move without given the next guy up internally a shot to fill the role.

Then we add a hopefully healthy and rested Reilly for the last 10 games and playoffs.

I wouldn't be giving up much in any move before the deadline. The way this season has gone (bad start, coaching change, injury after injury, inconsistent play, terrible backup goalie, awful defensive play) I don't really see how this season ends with a Stanley Cup in TO. Keep your assets, keep building towards the future, don't force moves.

This sums up my thoughts perfectly.

No, but the alternative is to trade away assets that we can't afford to give up for a rental D.....which would you rather do?

as a bruins fan either scenario hurts the leafs. the real move they should do is to just use sandin for 3 games, send him back down. use lilly for whatever his limit is and send him down and hope muzzin comes back quicker than normal instead of filling a stopgap. or move ceci for 2 lower cost dmen that might not be as good. dont was early years on a contract for a good player. I also think you can afford to trade for a real defenseman but thats just me.

Lilly has no limit, he can't slide another year. He's not in the lineup tonight, hopefully we seen him before the end of the week. Sounds like Muzzin will start skating in the next couple days and should be back after the all star break. I just don't think it's worth it to move an asset to acquire a rental D, and then move another asset to have someone take on Ceci's contract to make the cap work when Reilly is back. Is whatever rental D they get going to be much of an upgrade over Ceci anyways?

IMO, the Leafs should use this time (until Muzz comes back) and see what we have in Dermott. I'm more leaning to selling off assets and resetting in the off-season when we can address our D in FA or look to make a trade then for a partner for Rielly. It sounds like Muzzin will be ready after the all star break so hopefully we can send Sandin down without burning a year of his ELC....but that's in a perfect world.

Agree. I'd rather sell off expiring assets at the deadline than pay to add to a team that won't win a cup this year anyways. We could always use some of those assets in future trades to bolster our roster down the stretch when our team shows they're ready.