A system and method for selectively replacing standard threshold voltage devices with low threshold voltage devices in a digital logic design. The system identifies at least one path having a first timing value, the path having a plurality of standard threshold devices. The path is reverse traversed, or otherwise analyzed or traversed, to identify at least one of the standard threshold devices to possibly replace with a corresponding low threshold device. The system also determines a timing value for the path associated with replacing the at least one standard threshold device with the corresponding low threshold device. Depending the analysis, the standard threshold device may be replaced with a low threshold device, such as when the path timing improves by replacement. Such replacement may be used in various paths, such as paths considered critical paths in a digital logic design.