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

[SeaOfBlue]

Second best...Gardiner has been better.

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

That's the only reason why he's playing so much. He can be Rielly's Bozak. He doesn't deserve to be a top 4 based on his defensive abilities (he's barely NHL in that area), but he does help Rielly and move the puck out. Better than putting Harrington or even Marincin up there I guess since Polak has played well in the role he's been given.

 

[dballislife2]

what a signing, this guy is a elite 3rd line D and great 2 line, and okay 1st pairing guy

 

[JackJ]

Steal @ 1.2m. We need another.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Dermott Rielly
Gardiner
Hunwick Granberg
Corrado

^The Shanaplan = Drafting and developing + finding hidden gems.

 

[Ovate]

Dermott Rielly
Gardiner
Hunwick Granberg
Corrado

^The Shanaplan = Drafting and developing + finding hidden gems.

Hunwick and Dermott will never be playing for the Leafs at the same time.

 

[Knies iT]

What a signing, he has been lights out. Tremendous skater who thinks the game well and does what it takes to win. Babcock seems to adore him.

 

[Macallan18]

That's the only reason why he's playing so much. He can be Rielly's Bozak. He doesn't deserve to be a top 4 based on his defensive abilities (he's barely NHL in that area), but he does help Rielly and move the puck out. Better than putting Harrington or even Marincin up there I guess since Polak has played well in the role he's been given.

Did you watch the Sabres game last night? He was our best D I thought.Mind you, not Rielly's strongest game.

 

[Funk21]

Do we get a first for him at the trade deadline then?

 

[SprDaVE]

Do we get a first for him at the trade deadline then?

He won't be traded anytime soon I would think but his value is definitely fairly high right now.

Let's see how he performs long-term though.

 

[ToneBone03]

If these are the signings we make I'm going to be one happy dude. I'll be the first to admit that initially I was iffy on this signing. Boy, has Hunwick been absolutely amazing. Guy is s(l)ick.

 

[Leafidelity]

I have been thoroughly impressed with Hunwick. Wither it be with Dion or Rielly, he just looks great out there.

Maybe it's the skating system playing to his strengths, whereas a guy like Polak looks next to useless right now.

 

[showtime8]

I have been thoroughly impressed with Hunwick. Wither it be with Dion or Rielly, he just looks great out there.

Maybe it's the skating system playing to his strengths, whereas a guy like Polak looks next to useless right now.

Yeah, I think that's the case.

Hunwick has really adapted to the system because he's such a smooth skater and you see him jumping in on plays almost every rush.

And I would agree that the system isn't favourable for Polak because his strengths are more get in the corners and battle instead of the 1 touch passes and you're out of the zone.

Hunwick has been one of the best defencemen on the team in the early season. Really smart signing.

 

[Mess]

I have been thoroughly impressed with Hunwick. Wither it be with Dion or Rielly, he just looks great out there.

Maybe it's the skating system playing to his strengths, whereas a guy like Polak looks next to useless right now.

No question Hunwick has been impressive so far in his Leafs tenure and seems to be a real favourite of Babcock based on his consistent and smart decision making.

 

[WTFMAN99]

Hunwick has pretty much exceeded my expectations and it's pretty early.

 

[Primary Assist]

I thought we had the next Ranger/Berg on our hands during pre-season but I am very pleasantly surprised with ol' numero dos. One of the biggest problems I often see with defensemen is that their brain will know where to go but their legs can't keep up (Robidas) or their brains will have no idea where to go but they'll skate circles everywhere (a young Gardiner.) Fortunately Hunwick is able to skate with pretty much all attacking forwards that we've seen and positionally he's done everything you can ask for.

 

[diceman934]

A great signing....I thought it was a good signing but I am surprised at just how good he has been.

 

[GLG12xx12]

So if Hunwick keeps up his play leading up to the trade deadline. Do you guys see management trading him for a high draft pick or keep him to help mentor/insulate the young guys who will be coming up through the ranks over the next year or 2? I see positives and negatives to both.

 

[The Missing Piece]

So if Hunwick keeps up his play leading up to the trade deadline. Do you guys see management trading him for a high draft pick or keep him to help mentor/insulate the young guys who will be coming up through the ranks over the next year or 2? I see positives and negatives to both.

No Hunwick was a Babcock request. We're not sending him away prematurely without Babcock's blessing.

 

[Ovate]

No Hunwick was a Babcock request. We're not sending him away prematurely without Babcock's blessing.

Complete speculation without a gram of evidence to back it up.

 

[Gallagbi]

Complete speculation without a gram of evidence to back it up.

Babcock said he pushed hard for him this afternoon on TSN radio.

 

[Sergei Berezin]

That's the only reason why he's playing so much. He can be Rielly's Bozak. He doesn't deserve to be a top 4 based on his defensive abilities (he's barely NHL in that area), but he does help Rielly and move the puck out. Better than putting Harrington or even Marincin up there I guess since Polak has played well in the role he's been given.

You've irrationally hated Hunwick since preseason and now that he's being universally praised you're resorting to unreasonable claims, like he doesn't play defence at an NHL level? Are you kidding me?

 

[Swayze*]

He's better than Phaneuf

 

[The Missing Piece]

Complete speculation without a gram of evidence to back it up.

LOL
http://www.tsn.ca/new-leaf-already-a-trusted-asset-for-babcock-1.375904

 

[Swayze*]

Complete speculation without a gram of evidence to back it up.

Babcock said he pushed hard for him this afternoon on TSN radio.

LOL
http://www.tsn.ca/new-leaf-already-a-trusted-asset-for-babcock-1.375904

 

[Lion15]

Watching Hunwick pivot and transition he actually reminds me of Rielly.