The problem is that the UFA market, while not necessitating the loss of another asset, usually drives up players' cap-hits, and with Toronto's precarious cap position, especially in lieu of the pandemic, an actually helpful UFA might just be out of our price range with the competition of thirty other potential teams.
Of the d-men listed...not many pique my interest, unless they can be acquired for a steal of a contract.
- Justin Schultz will probably be too expensive, and despite being a RHD, is a relatively one-dimensional offensive defenseman, who won't make a particularly complimentary partner for either Muzzin or Rielly.
- Mike Green is a replacement level defenseman at this point who is a different player than he was in his Washington days - he actively kills offense at this point in his career.
- Sami Vatanen is another player with a decent past-rep, who at this point is a bottom pairing defenseman with mediocre defensive results.
- TJ Brodie is a great player, especially dominant in zone exits, but he'll likely be out of Toronto's price range (barring some major roster moves), is yet another LHD (although he has played quite a bit of RD in his career I believe), and is 30 years old and likely looking for some term. He's the first name on this list that I think would actually be beneficial for Toronto to add if possible though.
- Chris Tanev has been a hypothetical good partner for Rielly for a long time, but his defensive game has been on the decline since 2017-18, and he hasn't played more than 70 games any season in his career, and is now 30 years old.
- Travis Hamonic has a reputation as a defensive d-man for some reason (I guess some mix of pedigree and physical attributes), but his defensive results are poor to say the least. His cap-hit far exceeds his actual value, somebody to avoid in my opinion.
- Justin Braun is another player I would avoid...he's a good defensive player, but poor enough offensively to mostly cancel that out. I mean, maybe for the right price, on a short contract he could be a good partner for somebody like Rielly (who is much the opposite), but at 33 and his likely cost, I would avoid him.
- Radko Gudas is somebody a lot of Leafs' fans will salivate over for his physicality, but I think that's a somewhat inconsequential attribute if it isn't in a package with other skills. Once again though, he's a formerly solid defensive player who has slowly declined as he hits 30 to become a bit of a weak link in Washington, despite his flashy style.
- Kevin Shattenkirk would've been a great pickup last off-season, but now that he got his chance to prove he still has it with Tampa Bay, will he be cheap? Doubtful. While he's still a good player, once again, he's more suited to a free-wheeling second pairing role with a stable partner, meaning (like Barrie this year), he's a bit of a redundant player with Rielly in the lineup.
- Jan Rutta is a player I could kind of get behind. I doubt he'd be too expensive, and his style would probably compliment Rielly's well...he's used to playing with Hedman, who is a much more well rounded player, but taking on secondary competition alongside Rielly should still probably work out well. A 29 year old RHD would be a solid addition at the right price.
- Dylan DeMelo could be another great addition for the right price. I like that he's a somewhat versatile player, and I think his game would compliment Rielly's pretty well, especially since he's great at defending the blue-line, one of Rielly's biggest struggles. He's not a standout defensively, but overall very solid, and is a good offensive play-driver. He also kills penalties, which Toronto needs. I wish we would've added him at the deadline, especially with the price being a 3rd round pick....but considering how the season ended, it might be a good thing we didn't pay for a rental.
Him plays real good hockey and is solid, can fight a bit too. We need fire fighters with hoses. Mayne we bout our hardness. 
