LongtimeLeafsufferer
Joined: Jul. 2015
Posts: 59,072
Likes: 22,466
Maybe you're right about the defence. But realistically, the Leafs aren't going to get a a top four Dman at this time of year.
Actually the Leafs top 5 is OK. Gardiner, Reilly and Hainsey all NHLers. Zaitsev and Carrick were NHL rookies...maybe they improve. So you (and most folks don't) like Marincin and Marcenko. Most teams don't like their 6th and 7th Dmen either. Go down the lineups of most teams, even contenders, there bottom few Dmen are interchangeable with every one elses.
It seems in LeafLand they think they need a stud dman to win the Cup. Well Pittsburg won the Cup last year with Hainsey logging the most minutes of any Pens Dman. LeafsFans and only Leaf fans get so worried about players on expiring contracts and "they will walk for nothing."
IMO if the Leafs make a trade before October for Dman, the trade will be for as you suggest trading some of excessive forwards for just for Dman. But the Dman won't be that good. Like Miller of Vegas, who have excess of Dmen but lacking forwards. Leivo, Rychel, for Miller.