With Dermie for top-4 D either at TDL or in summer.

Johnsson can get a top 4 guy by himself. Right now he could easily get someone like a Adam Larsson or Chris Tanev or something similar. The team is under pressure to win now so a move at the deadline makes way more sense than in the summer. Dermott's value isn't really that high right now so packaging Hitmen together wouldn't bring a substantial upgrade over the options that Johnsson could get by himself

Way too much to pay Muzzin 6.2m, especially if it forces you to go with a 20 man roster. Leafs will probably have to find two 2.5m Dmen, not one Muzzin.

Dermott is staying in TOR. He's getting better and better as the season goes on. It's not always easy or not always elegant, but he does the job that needs to be done the majority of the time.

For sure somebody on that left side has to go if they resign Muzzin. Dermott feels like the obvious choice. Rielly is one of the best offensive dmen in the league and Sandin is your future. The right side is where you need to upgrade and if Dermott helps you do that, then you do it. Dermott has hot and cold stretches and sometimes appears ready to handle increased minutes and sometimes does not (I thought Monday was one of his better games). But if they swing the RHD trade that just feels so imminent right now, they will be left with 7 NHL-quality defenders (and MarMar) so somebody would be on the outs. Might even be Liljegren if they need him to grab that RHD they covet.

If they resign Muzzin I think a two year deal is the way to go (huge bonus in the first year to eliminate some risk). That way he can get another contract afterwards and the Leafs can realistically look at where their leftside is at. Rielly will be a UFA at that point as well and If Sandin takes the leap he is expected to maybe you explore letting Rielly go if he wants big money. You also don't want to be paying Dermott a ton for playing third pair minutes. 2.6 is a lot for a third pair guy.

Demott and Muzzin can play on the right...

Muzzin never has in his whole career. They tried it last year and it was a disaster. Dermott hasn't much at the NHL level, only in junior and a bit in the AHL. He did a bit in the playoffs last year and it was not great.

Do you feel like a) Dermott is good enough right now for a top pairing role? b) He would be better or at least the same on his offside (he will have to change some things about his game which is not a simple thing). I certainly do not feel that way. And your right side is also crowded with (right now) Holl, Ceci and Barrie. Next year you will have Holl and Liljegren in the NHL, so you have space for another guy on the right. I don't see Dermott being the answer to the slot beside Rielly, and I doubt very much that Dubas or Keefe do either.

Fair enough... Dermott better get a great return tho

He might. Not a ton of comparables for teams moving guys coming off their ELC's. There's a few teams that have a righty/lefty imbalance the other way (more righties) that might be willing to make a hockey deal that makes sense for both sides. I'm not really sure his value is that high to be honest. If you compare him to a pick, what level would he be worth? a 2nd? 3rd? Can't imagine they'd get a first for him.