'Hey, we've only scored 1 5on5 goal across 2 games. This could be a massive issue.'

Fans fix: 'Lets replace our 3rd pairing RHD and 4th line C.'

Its interesting you are picking out Dermott who has been part of the best d pairing the Leafs have had so far this season. Its Muzzin and Holl who have been struggling.

Pass.

Brodie has not been good either

Better plan:
(1) sign Jason Demers to min contract
(2) send Joey Anderson back to NJD for late pick

Why trade for a 4C? Kampf and Spezza can both fill that role

Or we just keep Anderson as trading him for a pick or just keeping him doesn't do much to us now, and I'd rather have Andersons upside than a late pick

Yeah, that's also without Matthews though.

Not saying that I disagree at all, but for the sake of conversation, I'm genuinely curious as to how you could go about improving this roster. To me, the whole "Trade Engvall, Dermott, and Mikheyev" thing is kind of a tired effort on here. They're depth players who I would be extremely surprised to see any sort of return on, let alone someone who would bite. Yes, they're all useful depth guys, but every team in the league has an Engvall, a Dermott, and a Mikheyev. This isn't meant to be a slight towards any of those guys, because they're all fine, it's just (Again, IMO) not realistic to think that there are teams out there that have interest in helping the Leafs out of their cap issues.

So, let's say the challenge is "How do we improve the team's even strength scoring without the classic "Engvall, Dermott and Mikheyev to wherever for whatever" trade, followed by a 1st and 3rd for a rental". How do you do it? Is it purely a lineup adjustment? Like, I don't know exactly where he is in his development, but I personally would have skipped the Nick Ritchie signing, and had Robertson up to fill that spot, followed by some depth signings to fill out the AHL roster. That gives you a bit more space to evaluate the team in over the first couple of months. Aside from that, I'm not exactly sure what the right way to improve it would be.

Thoughts?

IMO the biggest holes on this roster is a top 6 LW (or RW and play Nylander on the left) who can produce consistently. Hopefully Ritchie and or Bunting can do that and if they do then I’m going to sound stupid, but I would prefer a proven player, who can take some of the heat off the big four if something like last years playoffs happen. Beyond that I think ideally Holl is 3rd pair dman. The only problem is, as you said, the leafs are severely handicapped by the salary cap. I’m also not super up to date on Robertson’s development but I agree, in an ideal world I think you throw him into the top 6 and skip out on Ritchie and see if Robertson can handle that. When you have cap issues you need production from contracts <1m, Spezza looks like he will continue to do that and hopefully Bunting can too but if Robertson could as well that would be huge for the leafs and free up 2.5 mil that could be used to improve elsewhere, and if Robertson can’t handle top 6 yet then it’s easier to make a move for someone who can, with that 2.5 mil later in the season.

You make some really good points. It’s easy for everyone on this site to make a post and say this is what we need to do, but most of the time they forget to take the other teams interests into consideration and the deal makes no sense. The leafs have their hands tied and like you I’m not exactly sure on what they need to do, hopefully Dubas can figure it out.