Step Four: Zach Werenski
The Leafs aren't going to just automatically find a number-one defender.
In order to get one, they will have to take a risk on someone with that potential who maybe isn't living up to it.
Werenski makes over $9 million per year and hasn't had a full season without an injury since 2018-19.
While that sucks, it's also what might make him available. The Blue Jackets have no hope of contending over the four years until his contract runs out, aren't a particularly rich team, and probably could be persueded to get out of the deal fairly cheaply.
If the Leafs took on most of this contract, the player might be fairly cheap to acquire.
If that is the case, it's going to be hard to find a player with higher potential who is closer to being the Number-One Defender the Leafs need.
Werenski has had a rough go of it lately, but he's an elite talent with Hall of Fame level skill. He is the type of buy-low candidate teams should always be searching for.
He also has a no-trade clause, but I doubt it would be hard to talk him into waiving it to play with Auston Matthews.