The Leafs are a much worse team at both sides on the ice without McCabe than they are with Edmundson. Start watching the games please

Canucks easily decline. Lekkerimaki is a top prospect and is untouchable, they aren't trading him for a late first and two fringe NHLers who can't stay healthy for more than 20 games in a season.

There are 20+ teams in the league who would kill to have the success Toronto has enjoyed for the past 10 years. Just look at all the teams recently who have tried/are trying to tank for a lottery pick to emulate us getting Matthews/Marner/Nylander in consecutive years. Think about all the franchises who have made the playoffs only a few times in a short span before flaming out. We have the longest active playoff streak in the NHL.

Not to mention that we have one of the best cores in the league and are very well set up to win it all soon. Only 1 team gets to win the Cup each year. Be patient

Sens decline. We already have to many LD.

Stat padders don't get you Cups. They get you regular season wins. That's what all the Leafs will ever get with this core.

Why would Sens give up a first for one year of McCabe?
Five years of 31 year old DeMelo at 5m is a disaster waiting to happen.

Leafs got Brodie at 5 million when he was a similar age and for the first three years that contract aged well. Giving DeMelo 5x5 is a reasonable deal imo, especially considering the Leafs are in win now window and need to upgrade their backend.

As for the McCabe deal, stranger deals have happened. A late 1st for a top 4 defenceman who is making 2 million is fair value. The Sens have young guys to pay, they're looking to trade Chychrun, so they'll a hole. Going out and spending big on a top 4 defenceman may not work out, but they also want to make the playoffs so they still have to get better somehow. Getting McCabe isn't a risk. He fills an immediate need and if it doesn't work out they move on next year. They will get picks back in a Chychrun trade, so they can afford to spend a late 1st.

Similar age?? Brodie will be 33 almost 34 when contract ends.
DeMelo will be 31 when his contract starts , 36 years of age when his contract ends. Brodie's value ended last season. If similar DeMeio takes the same route, he would have three years of non value

Brodie has been overused. With Tavares coming off the books next year the Leafs will be able to add a true top pair defenceman, allowing DeMelo to get easier assignments and aging more gracefully. Unfortunately for Brodie he was asked to do a lot and now his foot speed has gone. DeMelo won't be in the same situation in this scenario. Also, he's more physical and guys like that find ways to have an impact in the game even if their pace is gone. They can just stand in front of the net and make life hell for forwards. Brodie never does that.

Regardless, Leafs will have to spend money on the defense this year, and top 4 guys who are 27 or 28 will ask for more than 5 million. I think that should be the limit the Leafs should spend on one player this summer. So they'll have to sign a 29-30 year old to save money.

I figure the Leafs will Reilly, McCabe , Benoit on the left side. Liljegren, Timmins, and 8m to spend on two others. Might be about 5m for one guy (Tanev, DeMelo, Walker) and maybe one of Luby, Edmundson or someone similar. But really I can't see any team offering DeMelo five years. Who would?
Leafs need a fifth NHL centre, besides the four you have listed.