Quoting: TheRealisticGuy
They already have Reilly Brodie Muzzin Gio Sandin LHD, why should they acquire Skjei, another LHD ? When Muzzin is gone, Sandin will play in the top 4 on the 2LHD spot. When Holl is gone, the top 4 will be Reilly Brodie Sandin Liljegren
Leafs aren’t losing playoffs series because they are bad, they are losing because they are cursed. Against MTL, outside Galchenyuk Dermott turnovers, no one played bad for the Leafs. Against Tampa, outside Kerfoot one turnover, everyone played good. Toronto are just cursed.
Anyway, yes Skjei is better, but CAR shouldn’t be trading him in the circonstances and TOR aren’t in a position to trade two young cheap NHLer for 2 years at 5.25M of Skjei
So they're going to run a guy that is completely unproven at the NHL level in the top 4? That's very brave. Sandin can't even make the THIRD pair full time. He's suddenly playing in the top 4?
Toronto aren't going to separate Gio and Lilly, that makes Lilly completely useless. He was dynamic with Giordano. Splitting them up hurts that already shakey blueline.
As for the curse, no. They lay an egg in deciding games. That's a mental issue. So the best way around that is to win in 6 or fewer. Imagine Toronto do not get blown out in game 4, do you think Tampa's offense has the confidence it does for the rest of the series? Imagine Toronto's defense doesn't make dump spinorama turnovers, they beat Montreal. If they could have gotten out of their own zone against Columbus. or even held the 3 goal lead.
There's a world Carolina trade Skjei. Pesce can play both sides, and Bear proved he can play top 4 minutes last year before he had Covid. That's not the point here.