This is just my opinion, but I think you're hosing yourself to the next level here:

Kerfoot>Domi
Holl>Schenn
SDA+Hollowell+1st+3rd+6th >>>>>>> Lafferty+4th

agreed. lateral trades at best giving up useful assets needlessly

I *sort of* get the Lafferty love...he's been decent on a really bad team...but my assumption here is that the group of Leafs fans who don't like Holl/Kerfoot would be shocked at how there's relatively no imporvement by shipping them out for players that are, at best, lateral moves.

I don't know...I'd figure out a way to do a 2nd, or some equivalent since y'all don't have any of those, to get Lafferty and move on with my life. People still think Domi is "gritty", when he's actually not. Kerfoot has over twice as many hits as him this year, and is by far the safer player to put out there on the 3rd line when it comes to having someone play some semblence of 2 way hockey.

I'm gonna go ahead and agree with all of the above.

The off season is when a team might make a trade for the sake of shaking things up and trying a different look. The deadline is to add pieces to help enhance the team you've already put together.

I understand trying to "get grittier" for a playoff run...but you don't subtract two roster players from a top 5 team in what is, at best, lateral moves.

would disagree on the Holl Schenn front because Schenn has a stanley cup pedigree, is more physical, and is a bit better all round but it isnt enough to make that much of a difference

i get the argument for lafferty, but it still feels pointless. knies is coming up and will fill the role of physically imposing player next to kerf & acciari.
holmberg, ZAR, and anderson are all nhl-calibre players sitting on the sidelines.

he's a good player on a bad team but i just don't see a fit here

leafs need defense if anything - and GOOD defense, not a lateral "upgrade"

I'll politely disagree, and here's why:

-You say "Stanley Cup Pedigree", I say "He played in just 19 out of the 45 playoff games in those two cup runs, averaging just over 10 minutes per game". He's also played in 31 playoff games going into what will be his 15th NHL season this year.
-You say "More Physical", and I say "Schenn hits more because his team rarely has the puck when he's on the ice." Ever notice how the vast majority of players who lead the league in hits play on teams or lines that struggle to keep possession?
-You say "Is a bit better all around", and I say "Luke Schenn is 5th in ATOI for a team that desperately needs a RD, whereas Holl plays over 21 minutes a night on a team that is actually quite strong defensively".

I'm not a Leafs fan, but I take Holl over Schenn every day of the week.

I'd agree. I don't think they necessarily *have* to trade for a dman, and realistically I don't know that there's someone who's available that's a big enough upgrade to bother.

the only player that comes to mind right now is andrew peeke. good size, moves the puck well, strong enough top 4 defenseman. no idea what the price is (2nd + 3rd?) but i think dubas should be inquiring on that front

other than that, this leafs forward core looks to be the deepest it's been in years