This is a downgrade across the board. None of this improves the Leafs

Don't need Crouse, would rather just keep Mikheyev.

Just my thoughts, but:
-Maybe change Anderson for a slightly better prospect?

-I feel like there's been a lot of discussion around Crouse that he could potentially nab a 1st for the Yotes, given his cheap contract. I don't see how taking a cap dump (Ritchie), and a fringy prospect makes any sense at all?

-I feel like trading Mikheyev is a poor idea. He's a free rental right now, and one of the best penalty killers on the team...you need guys like that in the playoffs.

what is mikeyev's issue he cant stay healthy?

Hagg (25GP, 1G, 4A, 5PTS) puts up 150-200 hits per year, the most being 253 with the Flyers 3 years ago, while having 100 in only 20-30 games last year and currently has 49 hits this year, AND matches this with blocked shots as well... don't need him?

Hinostroza (33GP, 7G, 9A, 16PTS) is only behind Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander, Kerfoot, and Bunting in scoring... don't need him?

Crouse (32GP, 9G, 8A, 17PTS) is a middle six physical presence and is only behind Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander, and Bunting in scoring. OH! and I almost forgot, another player who puts up 150-200 hits a year, his most being 288 hits 3 year ago, while this year in 32 games, has already registered 89... don't need him?

Russell (14GP, 0G, 2A, 2PTS) holds an NHL record for the most blocked shots in NHL history, who is consistently and reliably sound in his own end... don't need him?

The guys I got here are all known to be on the penalty kill, especially Hagg and Russell. Hinostroza is more of a power play guy so I understand your point there but Crouse is known for being a good penalty killer also. We already got some good PK guys in Kampf, Kase, Kerfoot, Marner, and somewhat in Nylander. The way I see things is that if we trade Mikey and retain salary, and with his good start to the year, we can get more value from other playoff contenders, while still keeping the lineup the same and somewhat better

Do you know why these guys get so many hits and block so many shots? Because they never have the puck. You can't hit people when your team has the puck. You can't block shots when your team has the puck and the Leafs have the puck more than pretty much any other team, which is why their players never lead the league in hits or blocked shots. The other thing you seem to not get is middle 6 wingers on bad teams get a lot more opportunity on their teams than they would in TO. Is Crouse or Hinostroza better than Kase, Kampf, Mikheyev, Spezza or Simmonds? It's debatable. Crouse is certainly not good defensively while Kase, Mikheyev and Kampf form a terrific shutdown line. Is it worth paying decent assets to get Crouse for the 4th line? I don't see why. He doesn't offer much more in that role than Simmonds does.

Russell and Hagg are 7th defenceman who wouldn't make the Leafs.

Crouse is not known for anything defensive. He was a highly touted prospect because he's big and mean and didn't amount to much and now that he's a main option on the worst team in the league he's getting some points. He's nothing special. Just a name people throw around because they listen to what dummies on the internet say.b

Also why would you retain salary to help a contender when we are also a contender?

Pretty sure the Oilers 2022 2nd round pick is tied up by conditions of the Duncan Keith deal, at the moment they can't move it. Aside from that, a deal that swaps Kris Russell for Ilya Mikheyev is probably not in the best interests of Toronto.

Only four Leafs forwards have more 5v5 goals than Hinostroza. Just FYI - he's not just a PP guy.

Exactly.

What I was trying to get my point across on. Thank you.

Hagg - wouldn't get the hits he's used to because he'd be the 7th defenceman. He's another lefty and he's not taking the place of any of Rielly, Muzzin, or Sandin. And he doesn't play the right side regularly and Dermott does it better anyways.

Crouse - you're kidding yourself if you think he's a "middle 6 forward". He's a bottom 6 guy. Basically the younger version of Ritchie with a bit more foot speed (not much). He wouldn't last any longer in Toronto than what Ritchie has.

Russell - so he block shots? I'm pretty sure a few years ago when Karlsson was still with Ottawa that he was near the top of the league in blocked shots. Does that mean that he's reliable in his own end? Russell isn't good in his own end and again would be a 7th defenceman.

The team needs upgrades, not lateral moves just because people don't like the players.

Buffalo probably accept, Hinostroza is a good bottom 6 player and almost all of his points at ES.

I am completely bemused by how many Leaf fans hate these trades.
In other posts nearly all of them hate Ritchie and Holl yet here they do not think Crouse and Hinostroza would add.
No sense in arguing, Karmanos did really well adding Pysyk and Hinostroza while getting Hagg in a trade for Ristolainen.
I actually hope both Hagg and Hinostroza sign with Buffalo next year.
Hagg for depth and Hinostroza as the fourth RW behind Tuch, Quinn and Okposo.