Lol the fact that you made this work under the cap with 5 forward lines 4 defence pairs and 3 goalies is impressive.

Is Kuzmenko someone the Canucks would trade? I'm not sure. I guess it is possible, but he has fit into their system very well. I mean they aren't really that far back of a playoff spot now so it might come down to where they are at the trade deadline. I could definitely see them knocking off a team like Seattle or Minnesota to get that last wild card position assuming Edmonton and Colorado put their foot on the gas at some point.

My point is, the Canucks have been trending upwards as of late and and might be a little hesitant to move guys at this point. It all comes down to where they are at the deadline.

I'd trade Kuzmenko and Pearson for 2023 1st unprotected & 2024 2nd for your package you aren't getting Horvat. Kuzmenko should fetch similar to Hagel deal last year because of his Cap hit alone.

???? Don't know how you co mpare deal at all. Kuzmenko is going to be a UFA. Hagel was on RFA 1.5m deal and even at the end of his contract he's still under Tampa's control as RFA.

It's an overpay by any team for those two players. Leafs certainly "need" Horvat as much other teams need a centre.

Hagel was 23 and under team control for the next 4 seasons at a minimum. Kuzmenko is a rental, a UFA after this season ends. These things are not comparable.

Kuzmenko is a point a game player who will get a 1st at trade deadline. I understand TO needing a center, but to retain salary on Horvat would cost 2 -1st rounders alone. you might be better off trying to get Toews?

I still don't think the Leafs can go into the playoffs needing Justin Holl to play top four minutes. He's just so much of a mixed bag and seems to be a major bonehead decision waiting to happen, especially in crunch time.

Kuzmenko is still getting a 1st if traded at the cap hit. With or without contract control

OK, then peddle Horvat to some team. Gee, 95% of Horvat trades are to the Leafs, can't he be traded to a team that needs a centre?

Fair. But he’s also shown he can play those minutes and then some. Sandin and Lily have taken big steps as well. So when Brodie and Rielly come back, the leafs have a group of 6 that can all play against top lines if necessary. As well are getting to a point of being familiar with each other regardless of pairing.

I don't understand folks obsession with "top 4". Even the so called bottom pairing guys, average 12 minutes a game, so all Dmen on the team better be NHL good. Leafs are pretty fine with depth and competency with their Dmen. Leafs have been riding Holl and Lilgegren very effectively with Brodie out. If all three were available, it's more 19 17, 14 minutes for the top three RHD, with a forward at the right point on the PP>

But what about superstar Timmins?

Might be the best three that could happened to the Leafs this season. Three top Dmen out, # 7 Benn out. Giordano, Liljegren, Sandin and Holl have shined. Then Mete, Hollowell, and Timmins have shown NHL capabilities. Aren't Leafs 3rd in GAA, but still so many hate the Leafs Dmen.

Ideally the team doesn't have injuries and therefore the need to use "spares" or Marlies. But great to know if the others besides the regular six Dmen can be NHL competent. First time in a long time it looks like the Leafs have options on defence.

I strongly believe more equal minutes between pairings of the below will result in some strong defensive play.

Rielly Brodie
Sandin Lily
Gio Holl
Benn

My thoughts on getting another strong centre is based on what happened in Montreal series a couple years back. When JT went down they had to put Kerfoot and Nylander in at 2C and it wasnt pretty, it both provides injury insurance in playoffs and lets Leafs roll out 3 scoring line with Kampf eating up d-zone draws.

Obviously every defenseman has to be good to win, but I see it being more matchup based then minutes based. When the Leafs play a team like Boston that has more than one line producing at a high rate, you can't just toss Brodie over the boards for both those matchups. Having a fully healthy Muzzin would probably alleviate most of my personal concern, but I'd be concerned about needing Holl to consistently shut down a high powered scoring line.

???? Road teams especially can't have the match up they always watch. No team can throw out their best defensive players, why is such as issue with the Leafs? Holl has been 24 minutes a night during the eight game unbeaten six wins) streak., and six of those were road games.

Honestly, i am not as worried about Holl as others. He has been a very capable Dman, especially right now playing with Gio. If Leafs can keep him with Gio, have Sandin and Liljgren continue to play well and grow as a pair, and have Brodie and Rielly as a more offensive pair i will be happy. If there is a good player at RD to replace Holl i am fine with that but im also fine with him playing come playoffs.

Sorry your logic doesn't fly. In that Montreal series, Kerfoot at centre an Nylander at RW were the Leafs two best players in the series. It was Matthew and Marner that didn't produce.
Trading away Minten, possibly the only legit prospect centre and Niemela a good RHD prospect who look like they secure jobs in two years when Matthews, Brodie are gone plus more for "just in case we might need Horvat"