The Leafs depth on D is not at a level to make a trade like this. If one of the D is moved, it will be D coming back.

We have the depth. Rubins, Menell, Biega and Dahlstrom are all depth and can play minutes.

Yes the Kings need a RD with Sean Walker on LTIR for the year. But he will be back next season so they will be looking for a player with one year on their contract. Unlikely the Kings go after Holl or Dermott for that reason.

I’m not sure why the leafs would put Dmen on the block if they felt they needed one in return. I’m tempted Ted to agree with you but it seems like maybe dubas is happy with the depth in the marlies. Maybe they are looking for a Dman closer to the league min to sit in the pressbox. But they do have Biega.

100% I agree but you have to remember RHD are rn a luxury in this league. If Tucker Poolman gets 2.5 million for 4yrs have a great bottom pairing RHD that can play top 4 mins in a pinch for 2 million for an extra year would get you a lot back in free agency. Especially with a weak defence class in UFA this year

You can "play minutes". So could I. It is the quality of those minutes that is really important.

Everyone you've listed there is a replacement level player. That isn't good enough.

Replacement level players are good depth now. Not in the playoffs where you can trade assets to get depth.

We don’t need the exact team to win the Stanley cup in November. We need the correct pieces there and we can add on to make it better later. More than likely we are packing one of Engvall or Mikheyev to get another top 4 RHD this deadline. How all of a sudden you have Dermott/Liljgren as 7th dman

Pfft. No way.

Dubas is far too enamoured with his own.

Until he actually realizes that his group is made up of four pieces of elite talent surrounded by overpaid and underachieving forwards that contribute very little, (Spezza and Bunting not included in there), I don't expect much will actually change with this team.

Proving it when it matters most is the only measuring stick. Until then, its all just an enjoyable mirage IMO.

Regular season success is just a conveyance to a time when real character and ability reveals itself. The Leafs are a big O-For when it truly counts. Nothing makes me believe that things will be any different this time around.

The blue koolaid rah-rah goggles only go so far.

You aren’t wrong, but it’s LD that the kings are weak at long term, if they make a trade it will be for someone great at LD but can play the other side while Walker is out. Below is the list of dmen, currently signed to the team past this year and are projected or currently playing 15+ minutes a night.

Kings RD depth: Doughty, Roy, Walker, Clarke, Faber, Grans

Kings LD depth: Bjornfot, Anderson, Clague