Quoting: PleaseBanMeForMyOwnGood
Apart from Iafallo, and maybe Zadorov, I think these are either gross overpays lateral moves or downright backwards moves. Rielly is a 7th defenceman at best. Dermott is better as is Bogosian. Add a 7th d sure, but changing the 3rd pair and 2 forwards with a handful of games left isn't wise. The incoming guys have to quarantine and then need to learn a new system. No telling how they'd fit in. It took Gally a while to get comfortable and now he looks good, what if it takes a month for these guys to get comfortable as well?
So your saying Mike Rielly, who got 17 assists in 37 games for a last-place Senators squad, is a 7th defenseman at best? If I'm correct, I think he'd be tied with Muzzin for 2nd in scoring among defenseman. If any year that gives the leafs a better chance at going deep in the playoffs, you got to go all in. Never mind your prospect pool at this point unless its Robertson, Sandin or Amirov. The time is now to go all in and try to get the cup. Yeah, maybe all these players walk in the offseason, but A) your getting cap room, B) Robertson and Sandin are close to being ready to make the jump so you wont have to worry about filling multiple gaps in your lineup next year, and C) that extra cap can get you better depth pieces in the offseason, and much more flexibility.
Also, what happens if Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Rielly, or even Nylander goes down with an injury, who do you got to replace those guys in a mid-playoff run? You can't rely solely on your top players. You need players that can add depth to your lineup and take the heavyweight off of their shoulders. If the leafs stars end up staying healthy, then that's great, but you have to take into consideration who got as a backup replacement if one or more goes down.