Sharks still add a pick. Also they wouldnt trade Mikheyev.

What Sammy said, Johnsson quite a bit better then Sorensen

toronto gets a player that should be able to put up 30 points with half the cost and no long term commitment. no one going to do dubas any favors if money and term are hard to move.

Johnsson is much better than Sorensen and also signed for longer term with very good contract which is important.

Ok, and? That doesn't mean they wont get a better offer from the other 29 teams. AJ wont be moved for penny's to the dollar, he may not get full value in a return but he definitely wont get sold for 75% off

That defense is in big trouble

Money and term is hard to move only when the player can't live up to the contract. The Leafs don't have any of those contracts. Johnsson is every bit worth 3.4 million. Kap and Kerfoot as well are easy to move for a fair return. It's not like they are 40 point players making 5+ for the next 6 years. All those guys play for the Islanders.

If they stay healthy I think they could be very good and exactly the type of players who will Excell under Keefe. Cement heads will say it won't work even after it does. "The Leafs defense sucks" will be shouted by trolls all season long even if TO turns into a top 10 defensive team. You guys will say, "until they get a stud RHD you won't go anywhere." Until they do and then you'll have some other excuse as to why it sucks. This above blueline has 2 studs in Muzzin and Rielly, good players in Dermott and Holl, the reigning KHL defenceman of the year, the reigning world Juniors defenceman of the tournament and an AHL Allstar in Liljegren. That sounds like a huge pile of potential.

If I am SJS I decline. Dubas is horrible with contracts and Johnsson's is a perfect example. He's a bottom 6 forward who just suffered a season ending injury that required knee surgery, he's making $3.4M per season WITH bonuses every year and a MNTC in his final season. Kudos to Johnsson's agent, but SJS is better off extending Sorensen on a two year $2M deal with no bonuses or conditions. The extra 3 to 5 goals that Johnsson might score aren't worth it.

I can't really see a situation where Mikheyev doesn't re-sign with the Leafs.

I do expect that a regular will be traded for cap flexibility though.

I would have to agree on that. I do expect that there will be movement there. That right side needs attention. Not necessarily RHD either. Just better D in general.