Quoting: TrueCanuck
I think that's exactly where you look at it the wrong way..
You mention "asset value perspective" well, taking out the players names, what's harder to replace in the league right now: a 3rd line winger/centre, or a top 4 right handed defenceman? If they lose Holl, that leaves a massive whole on defence and they have no one in the organization to fill that spot. If you wanna sign a top 4 defenceman in free agency, well they're highly overpriced - look what Oleksiak and Larsson just got - so now you're adding a cap inflation to a team that's already cap strapped. If anything, this is proper asset value management because Dubas isn't allowing himself to spend too much on a player to fill a spot from a player the lose for nothing.
I honestly have nothing bad to say about the deal and any Leafs fan shouldn't either. Too many people on here look for the negative and when a GM thinks outside the box he's ridiculed instead of acknowledged for his creativity. Dubas and management liked their roster enough from last season that they didn't wanna lose anyone off it for free, and didn't feel comfortable of paying the price of a top prospect plus more to protect it. They did exactly what they wanted to do, goal achieved. Dubas got creative. Props to him.
I also have nothing bad to say about the deal either. I am talking about this organizations and apparently your valuation of Justin Holl like he is some unicorn that can’t be easily replaced.
Since he came to Toronto, Jake Muzzin has only played 90 5v5 minutes with Travis Dermott. Goals when they're on the ice together: 7-0 Leafs. Yes, incredible small sample, but you can’t tell me Dermott can’t provide the same value as Holl.
Holl wasn't even a defenceman in the NHL until he was 27 years old. Dermott is 24 years old and has played 208 career NHL games.
Justin Holl plays in the top four but is carried by Jake Muzzin. The Maple Leafs defence improved because they signed T.J. Brodie and Zach Bogosian. Not because of Justin Holl.
And lastly I don’t even believe Seattle takes either Dermott or Holl if left exposed. There were better options. If the Leafs went 7-3-1 IMO they’d still have there D plus McCann and Kerfoot. I could see Joey Anderson being there pick.
My frustration lies with the thought process of keeping this unit together after such a terrible collapse against MTL.
Because if they end up trading Kerfoot for an upgrade it better be worth Hallander, the 7th, plus Kerfoot and whatever else is added to get Player X.