Ok. Time will tell but we’ve seen and heard this all before. I worked with Dermotts dad for a few years so I’m anything but anti Dermott. I just need to see more out of him overall to be convinced.
Speculation: Could Zaitsev be pushed out sooner than we think?
- Thread starter LEAFANFORLIFE23
- Start date
Trapper
Registered User
- Nov 21, 2013
- 23,749
- 11,019
That's fair. We all do. I think at the very least we should see what he can do in the NHL for the 2nd half of the season. It's hard to know what you have when they are either scratched are bounced up and down for the AHL.
I would be interested in seeing what a Dermott/Zaitsev pair looks like.
Agreed! He still has to show consistency for a long stretch before we can anoint him anything.
That pairing has so much potential. They would get the puck out of our end in so many carried ways and be good if we are just defending.
Zaitsev is a very good second pairing defender that is a right shot and his pay reflects that.
He can kill penalties, help on a Powerplay if need be and is has good intangibles.
He will likely be a mainstay on that second pairing for quite some time.
I see our future Top 4 as:
Rielly - Liljegren
Dermott - Zaitsev
With Borgman being a solid bottom pairing guy that provides some mobility and sandpaper to that defensive core.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that!
He can kill penalties, help on a Powerplay if need be and is has good intangibles.
He will likely be a mainstay on that second pairing for quite some time.
I see our future Top 4 as:
Rielly - Liljegren
Dermott - Zaitsev
With Borgman being a solid bottom pairing guy that provides some mobility and sandpaper to that defensive core.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that!
Polak? He regularly misreads attack v. contain situations and is beat to the net because of it. He's overly aggressive, and often loses net out position because he's chasing.
He's a physical defenseman who doesn't defend well. This is why he's a 7th defenseman at this point in his career.
For Dermott vs. Percy - Dermott is a much better skater and much stronger physically. Percy had to play more on the perimeter because he wasn't winning board battles as often or outmuscling his man.
BertCorbeau
F*ck cancer - RIP Fugu and Buffaloed
Percy had the same defensive IQ as Dermott does, but Dermott has much superior mobility and physicality IMO.
Anyway can we get this thread back on track.
Anyway can we get this thread back on track.
TootooTrain
Sandpaper
- Jun 12, 2010
- 35,505
- 461
3/4 play the left side naturally. Hainsy, while being very productive, is old. Lily, while showing lots of potential, isn't a sure thing yet to be a minute muncher.
We need Zaits.
This year, Zaitsev will get in and bump Carrick out of the lineup (because Polak needs to stay in cause Babcock).
Rielly - Hainsey
Gardiner - Zaitsev
Dermott - Polak
Borgman - except I don't think the Leafs play with 7D
Next year,
Rielly - Zaitsev
Dermott - Hainsey
Borgman - Gardiner (hopefully Lilly gets some playing time here but isn't a full time Leaf yet) Gardiner gets traded
Year after,
Rielly - Zaitsev
Dermott - Lilly
Borgman - ???
I don't why Leaf fans are so worried about pairings this year. The Leafs aren't winning the Cup. I guess the Leafs would want to play Dermot and Borgman for their NHL development. If it means the sacrifice of Polak or Carrick, so be it. Thank goodness that Leafs got two freebies in Zaitsev and Borgman, don't know where the Leafs would be without them and there inexpensive cap.
HamiltonNHL
Parity era hockey is just puck luck + draft luck
- Jan 4, 2012
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I'd love for him to want to keep playing and for his age to not hamper him. Jagr 2. please.
You'd see Carrick and Dermott more. Dermott is much better than Borgman whole Carrick is a downgrade on Zaitsev.
Oh, I think Dermot is much stouter than Carrick. Once he develops a little more man strength he can be a very solid Dman, something the older Carrick will never be.
Spirit of 67
Registered User
Raging Bull
Present
What was your previous username on here when Percy was drafted?
hamzarocks
Registered User
For certain players they just seem yo have "it". Dermott where u watch him always is steady and smooth. He looks a lot like Rielly at times. He is being used as a number 6 dmen right now so he is being shetered. However in those minutes he looks the part of a NHL dmen. His skating and hockey IQ separate him from Carrick. Dermott can be Rielly lite imo. A guy like Nielsen puts up a lot of points(last year) but he has skating issues, And thinks the game at a lower level than Dermott. I would say Nielsen is more similar to Percy than Dermott.
IWD
...
I always thought that Percy would have been a nice steady second-pairing guy. He almost made it, but then that was that. He seemed like a pretty safe pick after the boom or bust Biggs.
I like Zaitsev as a second- or third-pairing guy. Hopefully by next year's playoffs, Babcock will platoon the right side with him and Liljegren between the second and third pairing.
I hope they can move Gardiner + winger and/or pick for a (potential) top four RHD by the draft, but ideally by the deadline.
Rielly-RHD
Dermott-Zaitsev
Hainsey-Liljegren
That top four RHD to support Rielly is arguably the only thing that we're really needing as a core piece. I hope they can package something like Gardiner, JVR, and a first for a young top 4 RHD. But if Nylander successfully transitions to center full time, the wing depth will take a pretty big hit by losing JVR and Komo, and with Marleau being a year older. So, a top six forward seems necessary as well.
In an ideal world, I'd be looking at Anaheim. They have older stars and need to decide between a rebuild and a run, and I'd be looking to acquire Ritchie and Manson. If you're going for a cup, Gardiner + JVR is an upgrade over Manson + Ritchie.
I like Zaitsev as a second- or third-pairing guy. Hopefully by next year's playoffs, Babcock will platoon the right side with him and Liljegren between the second and third pairing.
I hope they can move Gardiner + winger and/or pick for a (potential) top four RHD by the draft, but ideally by the deadline.
Rielly-RHD
Dermott-Zaitsev
Hainsey-Liljegren
That top four RHD to support Rielly is arguably the only thing that we're really needing as a core piece. I hope they can package something like Gardiner, JVR, and a first for a young top 4 RHD. But if Nylander successfully transitions to center full time, the wing depth will take a pretty big hit by losing JVR and Komo, and with Marleau being a year older. So, a top six forward seems necessary as well.
In an ideal world, I'd be looking at Anaheim. They have older stars and need to decide between a rebuild and a run, and I'd be looking to acquire Ritchie and Manson. If you're going for a cup, Gardiner + JVR is an upgrade over Manson + Ritchie.
Keep wondering the same thing, guy reeks of banned poster.
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