Meh
Joined: Jul. 2020
Posts: 848
Likes: 239
Doesn't make sense for Buffalo to trade two RHD, and Montour's style of play is just more of what Toronto has and doesn't improve their weaknesses. Risto is a big, physical D who goes up against the best, is difficult to play against, can break the cycle and clear the front of the net. He is what Toronto needs. I would prefer a D like Jones, or Ekblad but they are unlikely to be available. Advanced stats devotees will lose their minds, but publicly available advanced stats are trash, and teams have much better analytics. Knowing that Dubas has much, much better analytics he also engaged in trade talks about Risto with Buffalo before the trade deadline. If the Leafs ever hope to get Sandin and Liljegren into the lineup and succeeding, or if they ever hope to not get killed by a big, strong cycling team, they need heavier D.
I would trade Marner for Risto, a 1st (doesn't matter to me if it is 2020 or 2021) and a decent prospect.
Marner and Eichel would look great together. At the same time Skinner struggled badly on the second line after Olofsson became the first line LW. Marner feeding him the puck would likely return him to the kind of production they need from him to justify his contract.