If you don’t trade away Connor brown then you also don’t trade away Zaitsev which means you can’t sign Brodie. You can’t unwind only part of the trade

I think the offense is better lol! But still FIRST ROUND EXITS

lol, you can't keep brown but not zaitsev. Also, if the leafs don't sign JT they 100% are keeping JVR for their powerplay and winger depth (he led the team in scoring). Willy was never gonna be centre, meaning this team would need a proper 3C who was likely gonna be derek ryan at 3M. Is that really a better team?

if you don't trade moore you don't get campbell

Moore was traded for Campbell. Can't have both.

No JT means they likely don't improve as quickly in 18/19, which would mean no deadline add of Muzzin.

Campbell doesn't exist if you don't trade Moore. Brodie doesn't exist if you don't trade Zaitsev and Brown. Can't have it both ways

It was a mistake to sign JT period. You Leafs fans just don't seem to get that.

you can argue that the JT contract is inconvenient, but would we really be better off with a declining kadri (who keeps getting suspended, and is also due for a raise this offseason), JVR at $7M and likely some overpaid UFA bottom 6 centreman?

Not saying JT was the answer, but it was the most preferable option among a bunch of unsavoury options.

Unless the leafs retooled after 2017-18 and let all those guys walk in UFA and grew from within, which would likely mean the team misses the playoffs in 18-19, doesn't get muzzin etc. etc. It's a deep and unpredictable rabbit hole lol

Yeah, front office should have also predicted the Pandemic and a multi year cap freeze.

Touche. But JTwas definitely not the answer: Here is some of the leafs past standings: 81 pts in 70 gms first round exit With JT
100pts first round exit With JT
105pts first round exit without JT