No idea what games you are watching but Kulak is pretty good at skating the puck out of his own end.

Good list.

Not low cost (and I hate myself for saying this) but I think Manson is one of the few other options if they want to get a better player.

He'd cost more, I think he'd be closer to the deadline, and would only be an option if Muzzin continues to look a step slower then last few years.

Pair Manson with Rielly, then Muzzin - Brodie shutdown pair.

Then they'd have to consider moving Muzzin next season, re-sign Manson ($4.5M tops) if he looks OK, and let Sandin take a top 4 role.

But as of now, a Holl replacement is the much more likely scenario.

Pysyk would be excellent for toronto as either a 3rd pairing guy or a 7th defensemen.

He is Literally the exact opposite of what he described lol. Also he is a LD

Not sure what you define as low cost but Mayfield gonna run you a 2nd rounder plus

he can play RD though

on that note, can the habs offer a half retained ben chiarot

For a 1st round pick they can.

And kulak has barely played RD

Pysyk will cost way more than Miller. Buffalo will likely be doing everything in their power to keep him around. He's probably been our best dman this year.

Lol that Kulak description is exactly the opposite of what he is. He can skate the puck out of the zone easily

Sabres fans would rather keep Pysyk to be a stabilizing force on our blue line so he'd be far from cheap

Sabres fans dont make decisions, NHL GMs do. Miller is an offensive upside defenseman which has traditionally been what gets value in trades/contracts. Pysyk has none of that upside, has none of the history of value in the NHL, etc. He'd be cheap, a midround pick type of trade.

Sure Holl has looked bad at times this season. Partly because he has played mostly with a faltering Muzzin. Gee, Holl plays 20 minutes a game, often hard minutes against the top lines and lots of PK time But some of those players listed aren't any better than Holl. I'm sure after seeing those players for three games in a Leafs uniform, Leafs Nation will be critical of their play and want them out of the lineup too.

You are probably looking at 5th or 6th for Stecher it could go up depending how much ice time he gets and how well he plays upon his return to the NHL.

Kulak would be a pretty good & cheap pickup for the Leafs, but he doesn't play as well on the right side.

Do you think Muzzin would waive his NTC ? You are correct in how Muzzin is playing he actually looks lost sometimes.

Leafs fans are impatient, it's going to take time to have a real cup contender, their getting close with 3 great young forwards. Imo are supporting cast is to soft on the puck and it really shows in the playoffs. Marner was the scapegoat last year, he had 1 less goal then Matthews and 1 less point. Hyman in the last 19 playoff games had 5 points with just 1 goal last year. If the guys aren't finishing when you set them up it not your fault. Matthews had plenty of chances but could finish and Hyman was to small against the big habs d-men. Hopefully this year Bunting can over come that.

If Muzzin continues to look a step slower/worse then the last few years, that's a bigger factor than Holl playing poorly, because it's not like you can turn Muzzin into a 3rd pair guy. It just wouldn't work.

Muzzin's contract was front-loaded (makes $4m per in real $$ next 2 seasons). His full NTC also becomes a partial NTC in July 2023. So the possibility of him being moved before his contract expired has always been there.

I don't think Muzzin would waive his NTC this summer to be shipped out to any team, but I think a few would peak his interest. Particularly his former team. Which happens to have a big hole on the left side of the defence currently (and next year). They also have lots of capspace, and they have a glut of young cheap forwards 23 yo and under (too many to keep).

That would seem like a win/win trade possibility.