Holl is a 6/7 too ... basically we played CBJ's with a #2 defense on offensive side in Rielly and sweet f*** ... you can't win with such an abysmal defense group ... adding kids like Dermy Sandin and Lily was not going to help yet as they are nowhere near ready for top 4 utilization
Sportsnet: Maple Leafs must add proven defenders, move on from all-offence identity
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BrainyBomber
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- Apr 1, 2018
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Interesting I agree with you that you should play a premium for elite talent but you can only afford so many Pareto players.
Where do you draw the line? A team can only afford 6 Marner's and stuff the rest with sub 1m players.
I guess you're fine with 3 forwards. I probably would be too if the league-wide salary ranking of those 3 reasonably matched their skill/contribution ranking but I just don't see that with Marner and we'll be stuck with a flat cap for a couple years minimum.
I guess it is only a 4m drop from Marner to Nylander but I'd rather spend that on defence especially if Pietrangelo is willing to come home.
Notsince67
Papi and the Lamplighters
- Apr 27, 2018
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Cody Ceci+Barrie=6.75mm
Johnnson 3.4MM
Nylander 7mm
You attempt to move Nylander for a young rhd like an Evan Bouchard. Will have to sweeten the deal likely because Oilers still need a D and Bouchard is a stud. Throw in Liljegren.
Maybe an overpay but that is 1 RHD who will play next year at .9MM and for many years to come.
Move to get Pietrangelo. Have plenty of dough for that. That is 2 RHD that have been filled.
Dmen...rielly, Pietrangello, Muzzin, Bouchard, Sandin, Dermott, Lehtonen and someone else not named marincin
We have lots of wingers who can fill Willys spot
This org will never build a solid defensive system with proper defencemen because quite frankly it’s not marketable.
BrainyBomber
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I'd probably be down for that. Altho you do have to factor in our player raises for Muzz, Campbell, Holl and Engvall =4.3m. Plus Derm and Soupy but hopefully they don't get much more. We'd need to pay for 3 new forwards which is atleast 2m.
It would just about fit but means we can't spend anywhere else like getting in some better defensive 3rd-4th liners.
Freddie obvo walks next year but is pretty tight to give warranted raises for Hyman and Rielly then.
Means over half our cap is tied up in 4 players tho: AM, JT, MM, Pietr. For now I'd still rather move Marner which give us more flexibility.
This is a very interesting take ... it has been 60+ years since we had best defense in league ... i still hope we can build one but it requires a philosophy change and it takes forever ... Leaf fans can't handle da 5-7 year development path so maybe we have to always BUY guys which is costly in a CAP world ... it was much easier to do it in non CAP world .. today where you are looking for a vet D core at same time as your young forwards are in ELC/bridge deals
KuleminFan41
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It depends on who else they bring in to help out on the blue line, I genuinely do believe we'll see some big moves to help out the defence. We have Muzzin, Holl, Rielly and Dermott as the Leafs NHL ready defenseman for next season. I think Sandin can slot in fine if the Leafs bring in another defenseman more closer to Muzzin's style of play to help balance things. I'm not of the belief the Leafs need a 9+ million defencemen on the blue line to play with Rielly. I think its possible, the Leafs will revisit the idea of trading Kapanen to Carolina too
Muikea Bulju
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They don't need to move their top forwards, or "change their identity", they just need to pay the top guys less, so they have more for the rest of the roster
During the cap era, how many teams have won a cup with so many guys making so much dough? Zero.
Pittsburgh won in 2009 with Crosby making serious dough, but he was the only one, AND they had Malkin/Staal on ELC's.
After Malkin + Crosby both had their humangous deals, Pittsburgh didn't win a thing for many, many years. And still, they were only 2 guys.
Toronto has 3 very, very expensive guys.
During the cap era, how many teams have won a cup with so many guys making so much dough? Zero.
Pittsburgh won in 2009 with Crosby making serious dough, but he was the only one, AND they had Malkin/Staal on ELC's.
After Malkin + Crosby both had their humangous deals, Pittsburgh didn't win a thing for many, many years. And still, they were only 2 guys.
Toronto has 3 very, very expensive guys.
I think its this thing where after the game you don't feel like crying/drinking yourself to sleep
Phaneuf
It's sad, because the best D-men i've ever seen play for this team were probably Kaberle/McCabe
ULF_55
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We won't know until they are given a chance and have some miles under them.
Development doesn't end, especially for defenders, at 21.
Just Rude
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I’m not suggesting otherwise. We need some help while we see if they are good enough.
StevenB
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So they don’t need to build around defenders but need to move one of their offensive wingers and add 2-3 wingers like Hyman who provide more off the puck than on the puck? That’s a very conflicting statement
goleafsgo1990
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- Feb 7, 2012
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Dubas is bullish on this D though, maybe next year they go beast mode?..Not.
goleafsgo1990
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Sandin and Lilly will never be shutdown dmen.
They'll be middling offensive/two-way puck movers that get physically outmatched easily. Maybe safe on the bottom pairing but I wouldn't expect to win a cup with them in your top 4 unless you're Pitts with 2 x generational centers. We are the pits, there's a big difference.
We need to stop obtaining players who missed puberty or can't handle physical/mental pressure.
It's time to quit messing around, we need players who can play playoff hockey or else we'll continue spinning the tires.
We need a defense and a goalie who can go 5OT's deep to WIN and do what it takes ... offense even #1 offense in NHL can't get it done either when neutral zone gets trapped, centre ice taken away and defense blocks shots ... da formula has not changed much except game is faster
ACC1224
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Yep, there's a reason why the expression 'defense wins championships' is widely understood.
Trapper
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No but there is a difference developing with solid support above in a focused system rather than being asked to play a level above because you make 800K on a cap flat team.
I think da message will get delivered harshly to Shanny/Dubie at MLSE board mtg ... da guys who are funding this org are guys like you and me ... our kids may have a different voice but they are bystanders ... they don't buy tickets, they don't fork out a hundo per game on drinks/merch, they don't pay da sponsorships ... and even these young kids turn off NHL once our Leafs are done and they are players themselves ... talk about double speak
Leafs: give up 2.4 GAA (9th best of 24), but only only muster 2 goals a game (18th of 24)
Media: need to do less O and more D
Idiots.
Media: need to do less O and more D
Idiots.
Leafs dominated, Andersen did okay but did let some softies in, opposing goaltenders played out of their f***ing gourde.
Nothing else to learn here.
Nothing else to learn here.
"Defense win Championships"
"Good teams are built from the goalie out through strong defense ..."
It is very true. Good team structure starts with great defense. The leafs still seems to lack chemistry, structure, and of course confidence.
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