Confirmed with Link: Leafs Sign Matt Hunwick (2 years, $1.2M AAV)

[Bluelines]

SCOUTING REPORT
Assets: Has above-average puck-moving skills. Displays some two-way ability and some offensive upside. Doesn't make many mistakes when he has the puck on his blade.

Flaws: Size and strength are a concern for his long-range NHL potential, since he can struggle when he's forechecked heavily. Isn't great at defending or when without the puck.

Career Potential: Puck-moving defenseman.

http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/hockeynews/hockey/player.php?4622

 

[Machinehead]

You got a really good player here. He's been shunned because he's small but he's a top 4 defenseman IMO. Never makes a mistake. I hope the Leafs are the team that finally gives him a chance to succeed.

 

[MapleLife*]

Dubas signing

Thats pretty impressive

Kinda wish it was a 1-year so we could flip him at this deadline

 

[Gardner McKay]

Thats pretty impressive

Kinda wish it was a 1-year so we could flip him at this deadline

Hunwick is a very underrated defenseman. I think you guys will be really happy with him.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

Okay. Can he play the right side?

 

[Guy Boucher]

Okay. Can he play the right side?

He did when Klein was injured last year.

 

[GrizzLeaf]

Kaberle potential.

Puck mover but lost without the puck and is easily pushed off the puck.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

Kaberle potential.

Potential? He's 30.

 

[Menzinger]

Nice stats, seems like he will flourish under Babcock

 

[Hotlanta]

Based on advanced stats it looks like management may think he can handle a bigger role then bottom pairing. Worse case, we have another Liles but at less than a third of the cost, and best case we have a hard working veteran who we can flip at the deadline this year or next.

 

[Duffman955]

30 year old weakling on defense.

Will be fighting with marancin Percy etc to make the team

 

[Hotlanta]

Phaneuf
Reilly
Gardiner
Polak
Marincin
Hunwick
Robidas
Erixon

Percy/ Brennan/Loov

So 11 NHL or NHL ready d-men, more moves to come?

Lots of flexibility there.

- Robidas will miss half the season
- Erixon is now gone
- Granberg (not on list) is injured
- Percy will be the first call up
- Brennan will be a Marlies vet like always
- Loov/Nilsson (not on list) will need another year
- Maybe Phaneuf is gone
- Polak will be gone by the deadline

So only full-timers next season are Rielly, Gardiner, Hunwick, Marincin, and maybe Phaneuf. Think Percy and Robidas split time with Percy getting a spot when Polak gets traded or Robidas gets hurt.

Rielly - Gardiner
Phaneuf - Polak
Marincin - Hunwick
Robidas

 

[MJ65]

Another good signing by the risk with only $1.2 M at stake for 1 year, the guy can play and should be slotted as a 3rd pairing D with some upside and could be a trade bait at the deadline

 

[Ovate]

On a weak Leafs squad, I think he could play 2nd pairing. Like Polak, he'd be bottom pair on a contender but we're not a contender.

Gardiner-Rielly
Hunwick-Polak
Marincin-Robidas
Percy (When someone gets hurt)

 

[ACC1224]

SCOUTING REPORT
Assets: Has above-average puck-moving skills. Displays some two-way ability and some offensive upside. Doesn't make many mistakes when he has the puck on his blade.

Flaws: Size and strength are a concern for his long-range NHL potential, since he can struggle when he's forechecked heavily. Isn't great at defending or when without the puck.

Career Potential: Puck-moving defenseman.

http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/hockeynews/hockey/player.php?4622

He'll fit right in.

 

[pucky]

- Robidas will miss half the season
- Erixon is now gone
- Granberg (not on list) is injured
- Percy will be the first call up
- Brennan will be a Marlies vet like always
- Loov/Nilsson (not on list) will need another year
- Maybe Phaneuf is gone
- Polak will be gone by the deadline

So only full-timers next season are Rielly, Gardiner, Hunwick, Marincin, and maybe Phaneuf. Think Percy and Robidas split time with Percy getting a spot when Polak gets traded or Robidas gets hurt.

Rielly - Gardiner
Phaneuf - Polak
Marincin - Hunwick
Robidas

Most fans (here) don't know what's going on? Erixon is gone in the Kessel trade.

P.S. that core looks awful.

 

[darrylsittler27]

The Leafs are picking up TD bait.

All these guys are on short contracts and we have a weak D. Some of them may pan out and fetch a 2nd at TD. We as usual have too much of one thing Reilly,Gardiner, Marincin,Hunwick and not enough of the other, doubt Franson gets signed now.

 

[crump]

Had spleen removed around 2009. Was on track to be a 30+ point defensemen until the injury. Never was the same after. Still has decent numbers defensively, Will be a good stop gap until a young guy claims a spot.

 

[Orfieus]

I'm loving Toronto's defence for next year. Anything to get us a top 3 draft pick and I'm ok with it.

 

[deletethis]

Let's be realistic here. There's obviously some good team bias there. Pretty much every defender on the Rangers had a very high "impact on linemates" number (excepting Girardi - does anyone think he's a bad defenseman btw?) because that team was +59 at even strength.

Not saying he's terrible but let's wait and not hype up the guy unfairly. He's for the bottom pairing in all likelihood.

 

[Swervin81]

Yes, Dan Girardi is awful. Don't know what the Rangers were doing keeping him over Stralman, but whatever.

Hunwick's just a real solid bottom pairing mainstay. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[TheProspector]

Let's be realistic here. There's obviously some good team bias there. Pretty much every defender on the Rangers had a very high "impact on linemates" number (excepting Girardi - does anyone think he's a bad defenseman btw?) because that team was +59 at even strength.

Not saying he's terrible but let's wait and not hype up the guy unfairly. He's for the bottom pairing in all likelihood.

Not trying to say Hunwick is anything more, but "the good team effect" is actually punitive in this case.

 

[Pyrophorus]

When Percy comes up, he should play, not be in the PB as #7.

He should play himself into the PB, in the worst case.

Yes, Robidas will miss 1/2 the season...maybe even healthy.

 

[LeafsNation149]

Who would have thought that this depth signing would result in the best Leaf defender so far this season

 

[Pi]

Who would have thought that this depth signing would result in the best Leaf defender so far this season

Second best...Gardiner has been better.

Love the Hunwick-Rielly pairing though...Rielly finally has a stable skating defenseman on his pairing.