Leafs can do better than that

This creates a massive hole upfront to TO. Pesce for Nylander has never been enough, is not enough and never will be enough.

It's about allocating cap space (and therefore premium talent) to defensive players instead of having it so concentrated at forward. Pesce would be extended in this scenario.

Respectfully - that trade doesn’t make sense for Toronto.

Premium RHD, in terms of on-ice value, are considerably stronger than at the wings. Canes have a weird situation where they are loaded on defense but need offense, and I think the inverse is true with Toronto.

I know, Pesce is a great player, but if Nylander is being traded a 1st round pick should be coming back, even a late one, plus a prospect. Otherwise let's just roll the dice and let him walk next year because it's not like Pesce will put them over the top.

I get your point. There is a risk in it becoming Hall for Larsson if the trade is done incorrectly. The difference, though, is that Larsson was an extremely late blooming defenseman who didn't take his final form until the year before he left. Pesce is already incredibly valuable and has been that way for years.

Look at the RHD here... Carolina cannot afford to move Pesce anymore. This is dead

Nylander > Pesce; no more analysis required

Leafs allowed 10 more goals against last season than Carolina. Why is this great illusion that the Leafs are so poorly defensively? And by your statement, the Canes are loaded?

The Canes had sub-average goaltending last year (in the regular season) mainly because of injuries. The Canes' defense was otherworldly and allowed the fewest shot attempts of any team in the league this year. And they only got better this year (Orlov).

Leafs had injuries to their Dmen....Muzzin virtually all season, as well as Brodie, Reilly and Liljegren. Marlie goalies played in 17 games Leafs last season. Gee, don't think their is that big a gap.