Your mainframe is malfunctioning again definitely not a troll bot.

Ceci is good now? So the Leafs didn't know what they had right in front of them?.. Lol

He’s been very good the last 2 seasons. Leafs just didn’t know how to use him, they should’ve tried him with Muzzin. Then sign Brodie the next season, all their d problems are fixed!

Wow, one of the most funny trade scenarios I have seen. Thinking that Leafs defencemen are so bad.....Sandin, Holl and Dermot who make 4.4m and then the Leafs should be trade for Theodore...yes he's good but then to think a bottom ender from the 32nd place Coyotes who is a 25 year career AHLer Mayo, and an emergency call up from the out of the playoff Pens Rikola.
Really does this improve the Leafs defence are 11th in GAA? Plus to give up Amirov and first rounder too? So bad for the Leafs/
What an illusion, that the Leafs passed on DeMelo, Weegar, Larsson and Ceci. DeMelo, Larsson and Ceci were UFAs....they could have signed with any team. Gee those three by themselves 10.3....how could the Leafs afford those additions in a cap league? Weegar....again no proof that the Leafs could ever obtain him.

And to make a post with 22 man roster with no cap....and then having 3.8m Mrazrek on LTIR and will return.....certainly not cap compliant

Alright fine maybe the Leafs don’t need to trade for a Theodore level defencemen, but they need someone better than Holl/Dermott. Maybe someone like Oleksiak.

I certainly didn't think Ceci was poor as what so many CapFriendly posts made him out to be. He played many of the heavy minutes for the Leafs. I don't blame Ceci for signing elsewhere as a UFA (don't know if the Leafs offered a contract). Believe Keefe had some confidence in Ceci.
For Ceci's sake (and the Oilers)....hope you plays well for the Oilers.
My opinion Barrie was poor for the Leafs. But the Leafs had over 10m tied up in Muzzin and Reilly, then they added 5m in Brodie. IMO the Leafs have very good value with 5.3m spent on Holl, Dermot, Sandin and Liljegren.

I think you fail the grasp the concept of UFA and players right to choose and cap restrictions.

I'm not a Leafs fan so wouldn't of watched many games when Ceci was there but I have no doubt you're right, many of these guys that get **** on constantly aren't as bad as they're made out to be and if a player is put in a position that he's really not qualified for I can't fault him if he fails.

Here's a scenario that I could see working for the Leafs IF they felt they wanted to upgrade the backend and IF there was a deal to be made, trade a big futures package to Arizona for Chycrun and Lybushkin which would allow the Leafs to trade Holl if they wanted to. Obviously a lot would have to fall into place for that to work AND they'd need one of Chycrun or Muzzin to play on their offhand but a top 4 of Rielly/Brodie/Chycrun/Muzzin would be really solid.

Anyways I really doubt Chycrun is available but if he was and the Leafs could get him(and make the cap work long term) he'd obviously solidify their top 4 and make Holl and/or Dermott expendable.

Most teams, even the best teams want to upgrade their top four, or even their top six. As you suggest, how to do it being cap compliant,. and without taking away from the your current roster is the issue.
Gee, the Leafs are 11th in GAA, actually their scoring is down this year. So despite the CF rumours (mostly from Leaf fans), Dermot, Holl, Liljegren and Sandin are doing fine and for their 5.3m cap hit. Plus Liljegren and Sandin are now playing regular minutes, getting better, a big need now and in the future.
I still maintain the Leafs dug kinda a hole for themselves by overpaying (at the time) for the contracts of Matthews, Marner and even Nylander. Fair market prices would have netted the Leafs 4.5m more in cap, and then definitely more cap flexibility to make a a good addition.

Just a note on last night's game...Leafs and Sabres. I was quite impressed with the Sabres. Good energy, and the team looked organized. Good for them, maybe there is hope.

Won't get any argument from me, haven't seen much of the Leafs this year yet but their defense looks fine imo, if anything I think they could probably use some help in the top 6 with a winger to compliment one of the top two lines, now if they needed to move one of Dermott or Holl to make a bit of space to get a top 6 winger then I get it but the swapping of Holl or Dermott for some other teams Holl or Dermott makes little sense to me.. Lol