Ok, If Muzzin is injured he is a cap dump, If he is healthy & playing like he did against Tampa then he is an asset, also Topi is top 4 - Top Pairing potential ,stop asking for him, we need him

hell no niemela is good, but he's not worth giving up garland and taking muzzin

Vancouver would MUCH rather have Kerfoot and Holl than Muzzin. Your first idea was better.

Both the Leafs and Canucks need a top 4 RHD. The Leafs need a top 6 forward but that's a lesser need. Vancouver has a surplus of wingers, and doesn't really need a LD but could use an upgrade.

If Muzzin is healthy and on form, he's an asset that both teams can use, perhaps he's expendable for the Leafs who have Sandin. If he's bad then the Leafs would benefit from moving him to play Sandin, and perhaps he would be an overpriced 3rd pairing D for Vancouver but they would be better off with playing other guys. Although, a bad Muzzin is less of a handicap cap-wise to Vancouver if they move out Garland, than it is to Toronto, assuming Garland can be replaced by Kuzmenko or Mikheyev.

That being said whether or not Muzzin is good, this trade is probably worse for the Leafs than the Canucks beyond this season. If Niemela turns out to be a top 4 D at the least.

I disagree. Leafs need top 6 Lw more than rhd. Niemela is a great prospect but is years away from nhl. Although. I doubt they could afford garland past next season due to Matthews and nylander. Mixed review on this trade. I don't think garland is the player they should target.

If he's injured leafs keep him on ltir. If he's playing like ass he's a cap dump. If he's playing good leafs keep him and sit Sandin for the season.

Top 6 LW is a bigger need but like you said Garland isn't the ideal guy. Wingers can play on either side but both Garland and Nylander a RH wingers who mainly play the right side if I'm not mistaken. In regards to short term cap implications, it's more and more likely that Bunting prices himself out especially if he outplays Garland.

You probably like that the move gives Sandin a spot, but other than that the trade only provides a temporary solution for the top 6 need. So, to me it's not worth it with Knies around the corner, when the Leafs have been after a puck moving RHD for so long.

Nylander prefers LW. They have a LH centre so that doesn't bother me. Garland is tiny, his term is a bit longer than we would like (but maybe he is moved for an rhd when the time comes)

I certainly do like moving Muzzin to get Sandin in. Moving niemela for a "maybe" fit in garland is my issue.