WTFMAN99
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2009
- 33,032
- 11,031
The Leafs have depth to address their weaknesses
Something to think about for this upcoming off-season.
Cheers.
News Article: The Leafs have depth to address their weaknesses
- Thread starter WTFMAN99
- Start date
The Leafs have depth to address their weaknesses
Something to think about for this upcoming off-season.
Cheers.
Apotheosis
Registered User
Another good article. If you are ever looking for someone to pitch in with writing, I am usually free to write. This website is my second most frequented website besides Youtube, so I'm constantly watching or reading about hockey.
WTFMAN99
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2009
- 33,032
- 11,031
It is picking up and with my crazy schedule, I have considered taking on an additional writer or 2. Feel free to PM me about what you'd be interested in writing about.
Agreed with all the main points in this article - we definitely have extra assets at LD and RW. Although if we trade for an RD, then we’ve got a bit of a log jam there, ultimately I think we can trade an RD or an LD.
On D, I see Rielly and Dermott as our main long term pieces, maybe Liljegren can get there too over time. I think our best, somewhat expendable trade assets on D are Gards and Zaitsev, though I’d only move one, not both.
At RD, I see Brown as expendable. Nylander and Marner are obviously going nowhere, and I personally prefer to Kapanen to Brown. This assumes we keep Nylander at RW, vs. moving him to C.
My dream off-season is signing Tavares, trading Zaitsev and Brown for Tanev, letting most of our UFAs walk, dumping Martin, and filling the roster with our top prospects.
Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Marleau - Tavares - Marner
Johnsson - Kadri - Kapanen
Grundstrom - Aaltonen - Komarov
Rielly - Tanev
Gardiner - Hainsey
Dermott - Carrick
Borgman
Andersen
McElhinney or Pickard
On D, I see Rielly and Dermott as our main long term pieces, maybe Liljegren can get there too over time. I think our best, somewhat expendable trade assets on D are Gards and Zaitsev, though I’d only move one, not both.
At RD, I see Brown as expendable. Nylander and Marner are obviously going nowhere, and I personally prefer to Kapanen to Brown. This assumes we keep Nylander at RW, vs. moving him to C.
My dream off-season is signing Tavares, trading Zaitsev and Brown for Tanev, letting most of our UFAs walk, dumping Martin, and filling the roster with our top prospects.
Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Marleau - Tavares - Marner
Johnsson - Kadri - Kapanen
Grundstrom - Aaltonen - Komarov
Rielly - Tanev
Gardiner - Hainsey
Dermott - Carrick
Borgman
Andersen
McElhinney or Pickard
WTFMAN99
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2009
- 33,032
- 11,031
I am with you on some points, others I am not really there on.
I think the easiest thing to do would be to buy in on Rielly and Dermott, and trading Gardiner in the off-season or he walks at the end of that season.
on RD, Liljegren seems like he will be a good bet to make it. I think next year they will keep Hainsey and let him move on. Zaitsev is likely sticking around unless someone like Dubas comes in and decides he doesn't want to keep him around. Polak is likely missing and wouldn't be surprised at all if Carrick was gone too. So there are some openings there. Ideally a top pairing guy to bump everyone down.
I'll be interested to see where the fan base is between Brown vs Kapanen as a trade-off candidate. I would like to see Nylander get an extended look at 3C but he has undeniable chemistry with Matthews and Babcock doesn't seem to like him there.
Tanev is a very polarizing player on here. It's acknowledged that he can play top pairing but the injury issues coupled with the high cost of obtaining him makes it a rough conversation on here. I would be interested at the right price.
I don't think Aaltonen would be a good idea for 4C, I'd look for a centre that could play the PK a bit more because none of those centres can which is weird. Beagle or Brodziak would be real nice. Tavares would be an awesome signing and I think Martin is tradeable after July 1st.
I liked the article. If the title suggests however that we have the assets to acquire a right shot D, I'd have to disagree. The price one for one is staggeringly high (as you mentioned), and the reason the Leafs haven't gone out and got one that would really have an impact is it would cost one of the big three. Failing that, several of our young players we as fans wouldn't want to part with. (And even that I think is a stretch.) Draft and develop and/or free agency is the only way to go IMO. And via the latter the team will overpay - either way it's going to take a while.
WTFMAN99
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2009
- 33,032
- 11,031
I mean if we remove JT Miller from the Ryan McDonagh trade I think we'd see it's possible.
1st+Brown+?
Or Brown+Gardiner+2nd
Those aren't insignificant assets. Now when we're talking about a top 4 RHD, we're talking more in the Tanev/Pysyk tier, not a Doughty/Karlsson/Pietrangelo tier......they cost a lot more for sure.
both jvr and bozak are not gone next year. one still here for sure, possibly both. watch.
This is true - another part that I didn't really think of at the time of my post was, who is outbidding you. Lots of teams willing to overpay, glad the Leafs didn't, at least for Ryan McDonagh.
WTFMAN99
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2009
- 33,032
- 11,031
I think it would be a massive failure if the Leafs don't figure out the defense this summer.
I hope they can sign someone of some significance, and not overpay too much, although it'll happen if it's someone good.
SeaOfBlue
The Passion That Unites Us All
- Aug 1, 2013
- 35,591
- 16,773
Well John Carlson fits the bill for that perfectly.
I wonder if the Leafs still sign Ozhiganov and how he would fit into the lineup? Would only be a bottom pairing guy but perhaps someone who could be a more skilled Polak?
There's a lot of good options the Leafs could explore. Just through pure internal movement, Hainsey will probably get cut down to 20 minutes a night next year with Dermott going up closer to 18-19 to make up for it. Rielly, Zaitsev and Gardiner (assuming he sticks around) will probably still get 22-23 minutes a night. Then really you just need one guy who can handle PK and like 16 minutes a night. That's not that hard to find most likely.
Alternatively, the Leafs could look at trading Gardiner and getting an equivalent or better RD in return. Just depends upon how the Leafs want to structure their lineup (stacked top 4 vs. balanced top 6).
LD: Rielly (1), Gardiner (2/3), Dermott (5) | Borgman, Rosen, Nielsen, Marincin (RFA), Middleton (if signed)
RD: Zaitsev (2/3), Hainsey (4), Carrick (6/7), UFA (Ozhiganov?) (6/7) | Holl, LoVerde, Liljegren, Mattinen (if signed)
OR
LD: Rielly (1), Dermott (5), Borgman (6/7) | Rosen, Nielsen, Marincin (RFA), Middleton (if signed)
RD: Zaitsev (3), Hainsey (4), Trade/UFA (2), Carrick/Ozhiganov (6/7, if Hainsey swaps over to LD to get them in over Borgman) | Holl, LoVerde, Liljegren, Mattinen (if signed).
I think it's far more likely we just see the first option next year, with the most drastic changes being that Dermott gets more minutes in favour of Hainsey and Ozhiganov (or a different UFA) replaces Polak in the rotation with Carrick. Do not know how many fans are going to like it, and it would have been a lot easier if the Leafs decided to sell off their UFA's. Could have easily had the assets to pick up a good guy to supplement the defense.
HamiltonNHL
Parity era hockey is just puck luck + draft luck
- Jan 4, 2012
- 20,831
- 11,337
HamiltonNHL
Parity era hockey is just puck luck + draft luck
- Jan 4, 2012
- 20,831
- 11,337
Right D has been weak for years.
Wouldn't they have been trying to get a Right D for some time now ?
A1LeafNation
Obsession beats talent everytime!!
- Oct 17, 2010
- 27,391
- 17,335
HamiltonNHL
Parity era hockey is just puck luck + draft luck
- Jan 4, 2012
- 20,831
- 11,337
Spirit of 67
Registered User
HamiltonNHL
Parity era hockey is just puck luck + draft luck
- Jan 4, 2012
- 20,831
- 11,337
Dont forget
Rasanen
Mattinen
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/right-defense-a-position-of-need.2454177/
Rasanen
Mattinen
http://hfboards.mandatory.com/threads/right-defense-a-position-of-need.2454177/
WTFMAN99
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2009
- 33,032
- 11,031
You forgot Holl
Not that inspiring to be honest.
Spirit of 67
Registered User
We've made (making) the playoffs in the 2 seasons post last place/tank season. We're way ahead of schedule.
That's very inspiring to be honest.
WTFMAN99
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2009
- 33,032
- 11,031
The team is doing great. I was referring to our right handed defense depth though, it is poor.
Spirit of 67
Registered User
It takes time.
I feel like they're gonna start getting a bit more aggressive beginning in the summer.
WTFMAN99
Registered User
- Jun 17, 2009
- 33,032
- 11,031
They need to. Rielly has been a bit underwhelming since returning. Gardiner and Dermott have played well. I haven't minded Carrick, certainly better then Polak. Hainsey and Zaitsev have been pretty bad though. Can't go into next season with the same defense.
HamiltonNHL
Parity era hockey is just puck luck + draft luck
- Jan 4, 2012
- 20,831
- 11,337
What would the Leafs need to give up to get EK ?
Erik Karlsson Stats and News
Too risky ?
Gardiner +
Erik Karlsson Stats and News
Too risky ?
Gardiner +
