yes

Since Lou said Hainsey will be playing in the top 4, no. Paying 4 mil for a defence man who will get 15 minutes a night is not a good call if we are hoping to keep JVR or Bozak, or have no cap troubles for the next 2 years.
We have 7 D-men who can potentially fit into that same spot. Carrick, Rosen, Borgmann, Dermott, Marchenko, Marincin, Nielsen, and they are all young and cheap. Leaving 1 roster spot open for 7 young players who all need looks in the NHL this season isn't feasible. We are so rich with bottom pairing defensemen that the last thing we need is another one. The only thing I would look into for the following season is a top pairing guy and Centre depth.

Markov said 6m for 2 seasons. Why would he sign for less to a division rival? He is being offered more in mtl. Also he would in no way, agree to a contract if you say ur gonna play him in the bottom pair

You're planning to give Rychel away for nothing on waivers?

Markov wants 2 years $12 million, No way is he signing with Toronto for less.

I don't see how the Leafs have the cap for Markov, since the Marleau signing. Markov should be getting about 6m. Leafs probably couldn't trade Marchenko or Fehr without taking money in return. Remember last year they were put on waivers without any takers. Why are folks are so worried about these silly positions Dmen play 1/2/3 etc. Reilly , Gardiner and Markov would probably all play LHD. All would play the PP along with Zaitsev. Plenty of ice team for everyone. All three guys could play 22 minutes, that would Hainsey with 20 minutes and Carrick 14. What's so difficult about allotting ice team? Only on CapFriendly do some folks think Dmen don't have flexibility in positions where Dmen play and when.
Why anyone would worry about losing AHLer Rychel ? Good for Rychel if he can get a NHL ready. Doesn't seem room on the Leafs.

You must be out of your mind if you think that d-men don't care about how many minutes, and on what line they are played on. Why do u think Trouba wants to leave the jets? He wants to be the number 1 right shot d man, but he can't because of Big Buf. Markov will never sign with a team, especially if during negotiations, the teams says they wont play him in the top 4. Also he knows his value, and he is a top 4 defender in the league even at the age of 38. If Markov played a full 82 games last season, he would have put up more points then any leafs defenseman. His point per game is still higher then any leafs defenseman, and him and Weber form a dangerous duo, which league wise, has allowed the fewest goals against when they are on the ice. Don't just look at age and say he is not a top 4. Thank god to be a top 4 defenseman u dont have to be fast, as Markov is not

Gee, GOAT you must be out of your mind. Of course Dmen care about how many minutes they play. Didn't I just illustrate how Markov could play 22 minutes a night? How many minutes more minutes could he expect to play a night and be effective? I think he would like being a Leaf playing 22 minutes a night many of them on the Power Play, which was the second highest PP in the league last year.
I'm not saying he isn't top four. I never wrote that. I did write that some people and I guess your one, get obsessed with these ratings. I don't how a guy who would play 22 minutes with lots of PP time wouldn't be in the top 4 of the Leafs or any team. Keep your silly little chart of rating players 1,2,3,4,5,6 and tell me how I had Markov as the non top 4 Dman, when I had him playing the most minutes of any Leaf Dman. Read and learn.

If Markov is so valuable, why has he not been signed to date?

I do not know where Goat gets his information but there is no way that Markov is going to put up more points that Gardner.

At 38 years old, it's going to come down to money and situation. If Markov feels he has a better chance to win with Toronto, I doubt he hesitates to sign there so long as the money is right. 4m is a little light, but I do believe his asking price is why he is still unsigned. 5 probably gets it done.

As for the minutes he will play, he's going to want to be involved in the success, which would be the entire reasoning behind singing him in the first place for Toronto. But if he had a little lighter workload in return for making a run at a cup, I doubt he says much. Players do it all the time in order to win before retirement. you think Ray Borque played 30 minutes a game with Colorado?

All that being said, signing him for two years puts Toronto in cap trouble. You may be OK this year, but you've got a lot of people coming up free. Throw in 3.5 a year for 100 years for Connor Brown...the math isn't looking so good. So unless your going to sell them at the deadline... you're letting JVR and Bozak walk for nothing?

Someone remind me again why you signed Patrick Marleau for so many years?