Speculation: One top 2 or two top 4

[EK392000]

The Leafs are trying to shed cap space, which has many people thinking they are going to make an offer to Alex Pietrangelo if he hits free agency. Given that their cap is so limited and that there are a number of decent defence options this year, would the leafs be better off splurging on AP or acquiring two of those decent D men? If you are a fan of another, you can leave your opinion on the matter, and why you think whatever it is you think.

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[Boondock]

I think the Leafs would be better with AP then a combo of any 2 of the other free agent D - but given the Leafs cap structure I think they are better off going after 2 lesser D. There have been 6000 RHD to TO threads but a name I never see mentioned is Justin Braun. He's unrestricted and a RHD. Something like Gudas and Braun or Bogosian and DeMelo would be pretty helpful to the Leafs.

 

[A Loyal Dog]

A top-4 is way easier to find/acquire than a top-2. You can build around a top-2, not a top-4.

 

[A1LeafNation]

We saw how Barrie and Ceci worked out, and all the other mid tier d-men they brought in the last 10 years...Komisarek, Beauchemin, Hainsey, Zaitsev, Ozhiganov, Phaneuf, etc.

Time to go after a big fish.

Depth d-men play better when they aren't forced into a top 2 role.

 

[Djp]

Trade nylander for ADA

 

[Shanwhatplan]

The Leafs are trying to shed cap space, which has many people thinking they are going to make an offer to Alex Pietrangelo if he hits free agency. Given that their cap is so limited and that there are a number of decent defence options this year, would the leafs be better off splurging on AP or acquiring two of those decent D men? If you are a fan of another, you can leave your opinion on the matter, and why you think whatever it is you think.

I thought they would be better off going after 2 top 4 rhd, but someone pointed out to me that one of our top 4 dmen would have to be left exposed when the expansion draft takes place.

 

[TheScandal89]

If they want to sign him, I'm available for League minimum

I'm a rightie too

But tbh you need several good D to win, Riley, Pietro and Muzzin paired with Sandin,Liljegren and 1 more vet D might be balanced enough work. I just don't know how you make a bottom 6 thats not old and slow or a bunch of rookies.

 

[Stuzchuk]

in OTT, there's so many requirements at the momnet that I have to go with two top 4 defenders... 2 RHD please

 

[BB06]

Trade nylander for ADA

This is legit the worse thing they can do. Barrie 2.0 but worse.

 

[HOPE]

We saw how Barrie and Ceci worked out, and all the other mid tier d-men they brought in the last 10 years...Komisarek, Beauchemin, Hainsey, Zaitsev, Ozhiganov, Phaneuf, etc.

Time to go after a big fish.

Depth d-men play better when they aren't forced into a top 2 role.

Ceci was not a top 4 tho

 

[A1LeafNation]

Ceci was not a top 4 tho

They played him with Reilly all year.

 

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

I'd rather have 1 Seth Jones or 1 AP or 1 Hedman rather than 2 Chiarots.

Besides #1 are a rare commodity... #4's... Not so much.

 

[Kraken Jokes]

I voted 2 top4, but at least one of them would have to be a legit 3/borderline 2, shutdown RD.

AP would be a bad idea because they can't survive spending half their cap on 4 players no matter how good they are.

 

[the Chad Kilger]

a minute muncher #1RD like AP is way more valuable particularly to the leafs. the cap situation makes it difficult but I'd be all in to make this work. sacrificial lambs are johnnson and freddy for picks. try to acquire a goalie that wont break the bank (kuemper, Greiss, Khudobin,)

 

[ThreeLeftSkates]

Trade nylander for ADA

I think the discussion was about top 4 dmen.

 

[hmc1987]

Two top 4. Why? Because inuries and inconsistency

 

[hmc1987]

a minute muncher #1RD like AP is way more valuable particularly to the leafs. the cap situation makes it difficult but I'd be all in to make this work. sacrificial lambs are johnnson and freddy for picks. try to acquire a goalie that wont break the bank (kuemper, Greiss, Khudobin,)

This is why the Leafs dont win. They want to pay 5 playere $60 million and expect the other 16 players sharing a combined $25 million to be good contributors.

In fact TML are a great example of American economics. Blame and punish the poor (secondary scoring and 2nd/3rd pair D) when things go wrong but the ultra rich (Matthews, Marner, Tavares, Nylander, *potentially AP*) are definitely not the problem.

Their greed is the problem.