Line Combos: Poor Morgan Reilly. A great player without a partner

[OB34KNH]

What if Coach Q wants to have Kane 2.0 on his team is offering Ekblad and swapping 1st rounders 2020 for Marner? I don’t think I will say no to that.

Firstly, Aaron Ekblad is a TERRIBLE defensive d-man. Do you know why people call him a bust? Because he doesn't play like a d-man, he's very poor defensively.

Secondly, that 2020 first rounder of Florida's is going to be around 15-20. They barely missed the playoffs this year, especially with Marner, they'll probably make the playoffs, so why are we swapping picks with them?


Do you really think that Marner only nets us Ekblad? One of the top wingers in the game.... smh ... Marner + 2nd rounder or B prospect nets us a #1D IMO.

 

[Ziggdiezan]

This is a common trend for the leafs puck moving left defenders in recent times.

At this point I would probably move Kap with some adds for a top 4 RHD. With all the right wingers the leafs have including a very promising Bracco I figure you might as well trade from a position of strength. I also dont think the leafs will be able to have a 13.5+ million dollar 3rd line (Marleau, Kadri and Kap) with how much they will also be spending in the top 6.

 

[ICBM]

honestly, go through the list of cup winning teams and see if you can find one that has a Rielly/Kaberle level player as their 3rd or 4th best dman, maybe that's your misconception here but that does not exist.

Krug is perfect example. 53 points, 2nd pairing. On a winning team as well.
Last year's Washington. Champion. Carlson with 68 points, 2nd pairing.

And you do realize that they would literally kill Kaberle in the playoffs in 05-06? Game has changed, but how long will Reilly last in the playoffs is anybodies guess.

 

[Byron Bitz]

What about Josh Manson?

 

[ICBM]

we lost to a good team, one that was handicapped as being better than us, and the element of luck/chance/random outcome is heavy in absolutely every element of our lives. If that series is replayed 100 times, we probably win 45.

I didn't mention bashing, I said that your opinion was in line with a tiny contingent of posters that (very obviously) let their dislike for the Leafs influence their opinion of our players, and out of line with 97 and change people out of 100.

It seems maybe that you heard one outlier opinion from someone who happened to be in the league and based yours entirely on that.

I don't care about board fights. And 97% ran Larry Murphy out of town once. I just heard an opinion that fit my own thoughts.

 

[Nithoniniel]

Krug is perfect example. 53 points, 2nd pairing. On a winning team as well.
Last year's Washington. Champion. Carlson with 68 points, 2nd pairing.

And you do realize that they would literally kill Kaberle in the playoffs in 05-06? Game has changed, but how long will Reilly last in the playoffs is anybodies guess.

They weren't put on the second pairing because they are the teams #3-4 player though. They did it because it's easier to fully utilize an offensive talent if you put him behind a heavy duty pairing.

What if Coach Q wants to have Kane 2.0 on his team is offering Ekblad and swapping 1st rounders 2020 for Marner? I don’t think I will say no to that.

Ekblad had a strong season but I wouldn't even consider that for a second. Marner is a superstar, Ekblad is good.

 

[Nithoniniel]

He is absolutely atrocious defensively and Rielly would have to play a much more reserved game in order to compensate. In the extremely unlikely chance we ended up signing him, the right move would be to put them on different pairings.

Karlsson is much better defensively than people give him credit for. He's got one of the lowest turnover rates per play in the league, same with getting the puck in the defensive zone and moving it out. He's absolutely ridiculous in the neutral zone and defending the blue line, and he's one of the top d-men at intercepting passes in the slot. Basically, his flaw defensively is that he is a rushing d-man and that he, like a Gardiner, has too many bad moments. But those influence people's opinion on defense way too much.

Not saying that I would want him with Rielly. I'd put them on different pairings and just roll those two pairings for 45-50 minutes per game. I would have Rielly as the bigger problem defensively, that's all.

 

[Randy Randerson]

Krug is perfect example. 53 points, 2nd pairing. On a winning team as well.
Last year's Washington. Champion. Carlson with 68 points, 2nd pairing.

And you do realize that they would literally kill Kaberle in the playoffs in 05-06? Game has changed, but how long will Reilly last in the playoffs is anybodies guess.

Lol, Krug & Carlson are their teams' best defensemen, terrible examples. So I guess if we just move Rielly to the 2nd pairing he suddenly becomes good?

I don't care about board fights. And 97% ran Larry Murphy out of town once. I just heard an opinion that fit my own thoughts.

Confirmation bias - Wikipedia

 

[Dayjobdave]

Firstly, Aaron Ekblad is a TERRIBLE defensive d-man. Do you know why people call him a bust? Because he doesn't play like a d-man, he's very poor defensively.

Secondly, that 2020 first rounder of Florida's is going to be around 15-20. They barely missed the playoffs this year, especially with Marner, they'll probably make the playoffs, so why are we swapping picks with them?


Do you really think that Marner only nets us Ekblad? One of the top wingers in the game.... smh ... Marner + 2nd rounder or B prospect nets us a #1D IMO.

Do you feel Marner for Seth Jones would be intriguing?

(I think it’s 99% that Marner stays, but hey, it’s an early summer)

 

[Its not your fault]

There are lots of conversations about backup goalies and 4th line shuffles.

If the Leafs do not sign Hainsey who will play top RHD minutes with Reilly?
This is by far our biggest hole IMO and this needs to be filled either by trade

or

UFA signing and a series of moves to provide cap space.

Karlsson, Myers, Edler, Stralman all RHD UFAs but how would we squeeze them in?

A team without a solid 1st D pairing is in trouble.

Team that beat us is in the conference finals..... I don't believe where as big a bum as you let on

 

[I am Canadian]

Do you feel Marner for Seth Jones would be intriguing?

(I think it’s 99% that Marner stays, but hey, it’s an early summer)

Jones is considerbly more valuable than Marner. Columbus would never make the deal

 

[rumman]

What about Josh Manson?

you'd have to be seriously interested in him if he was available I'd be willing to move any of Nylander/Kappy/Kadri/Johnsson/Lili to obtain him. I don't think he is or will be on the trade market anytime soon though.

 

[Funk21]

There are lots of conversations about backup goalies and 4th line shuffles.

If the Leafs do not sign Hainsey who will play top RHD minutes with Reilly?
This is by far our biggest hole IMO and this needs to be filled either by trade

or

UFA signing and a series of moves to provide cap space.

Karlsson, Myers, Edler, Stralman all RHD UFAs but how would we squeeze them in?

A team without a solid 1st D pairing is in trouble.

The great thing about the TML is we have a ton of Forward assets and regardless of what other people say Nylander at 4.5 or 5 per is a huge deal in real dollars. We need to trade some of our forward depth to get that elusive first pairing RHD. Personally I would rather have both Kap and Johnsson at 6 then 6.9 tied up into Nylander.

I have faith the Liljegren is going to be top 4 but the question is how long before he is a staple and how good he will be. I would be of the mind to trade Muzzin this offseason and take on a another younger RHD with upside. Muzzin unless he signs a sweetheart deal is not in our long term plans. While he has size I think both a Dermott and Sandin are projecting to be our core LHD.

 

[Mess]

Jacob Trouba a pending RFA would look real nice paired with Rielly.

 

[Notsince67]

Jones is considerbly more valuable than Marner. Columbus would never make the deal

Say what?
I like Jones a lot but this kind of valuation would be team specific. There is no universe where Jones is considered considerably more valuable than Marner.
Jones has 2 more years on his contract. If anything, I would probably prefer Werenski who is younger, has better zone denial skills and controlled exits, while improving cap certainty. That being said, I still wouldn't do that trade.

 

[PemIceKing]

As people have stated, Rielly will likely be logging 24-26 minutes some games...We need his partner to be able to log big minutes, play good defense and move the puck steadily.

Dermott is very talented and is a solid two way d man. He is definitely ready for top 4 duty next season when he returns from injury. However i do not think that Dermott is ready to play top pair and log those kind of minutes...Muzzin could probably do it but i dont think Babcock wants to play Muzzin or Rielly on their off side...Dermott is ready to play off side on the 2nd pairing.

right now its:
Rielly-???
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Rosen-Dermott


Dermott can easily be pushed up into Zaitsevs spot but Zaitsev cannot easily be pushed up into the top pairng role with Rielly...He just isnt good enough. This leads me to believe that getting rid of Zaitsev is something we could afford to do. Clearing his cap space to give us room to add that top pairing D man its absolutely essential. AJ/KAP+Zaitsev+Brown will be going and we will need to be adding that top pairing D. The salary works out, we just need to find the right trading partner.

Dermott is also an RFA next year, which could pose a $$ problem. I expect the Leafs will move on without him going forward, especially if he is recovering from surgery for at least the 6 months.

 

[Rielly4]

Dermott is also an RFA next year, which could pose a $$ problem. I expect the Leafs will move on without him going forward, especially if he is recovering from surgery for at least the 6 months.

Our cap situation next season isnt bad at all. Muzzin and Marleau are both coming off the books, we could easily afford to resign Dermott. He isnt going anywhere...especially not this year given he is the only ELC d man who could play top 4 minutes.

 

[ICBM]

Lol, Krug & Carlson are their teams' best defensemen, terrible examples. So I guess if we just move Rielly to the 2nd pairing he suddenly becomes good?

I wouldn't trade Krug for McAvoy under any circumstances. Same for Chara. No way Krug is better.
Carlson is much better than Reilly, he is a real pp quarterback. His GF/60 = 9.7 on pp. That guy can really create penetration. Reilly is nowhere close. But Orlov is better at even strength (you have to consider also that he faces harder matchups at es) and pk. That is tough one, but finding pp specialist is easier than a good shutdown guy. I'd take Orlov, if I have to choose.

 

[PemIceKing]

Our cap situation next season isnt bad at all. Muzzin and Marleau are both coming off the books, we could easily afford to resign Dermott. He isnt going anywhere...especially not this year given he is the only ELC d man who could play top 4 minutes.

Muzzin isn’t going anywhere either and will get a raise. Did see Dermott in top 4 at one time, can’t see it now. Toronto will get the RD this spring/summer. Unless they move Zaitsev, which I can’t see happening, Dermott is tradable. I think Dermott, with the fan base pressure to get a top RD, will be an asset for trade. So 5,6,7 D on Leafs would be up for grabs. Just an opinion here. Dermott may not ask for a lot but I believe the market will dictate a hefty raise for him.

 

[Rielly4]

Muzzin isn’t going anywhere either and will get a raise. Did see Dermott in top 4 at one time, can’t see it now. Toronto will get the RD this spring/summer. Unless they move Zaitsev, which I can’t see happening, Dermott is tradable. I think Dermott I just think with the fan base pressure to get a top RD that will be the focus. So 5,6,7 D up for grabs. Just an opinion here. Dermott may not ask fir a lot but I believe the market will dictate a hefty raise for him.

Muzzin will be 31 and Dermott will be 23...Dermott will get the contract over Muzz. If we can afford to re sign both we will but Dermott will have first dibs. Zaitsev should absolutely be moved, and like i said Dermott is untradable this summer because of how cheap he is. Our goal of the summer will be to fit under the cap with the most skilled team possible. You dont trade your most skilled ELC when trying to fit under the cap.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

Jacob Trouba a pending RFA would look real nice paired with Rielly.

Have to agree. I wouldn't mind Trouba at all.

 

[PemIceKing]

Muzzin will be 31 and Dermott will be 23...Dermott will get the contract over Muzz. If we can afford to re sign both we will but Dermott will have first dibs. Zaitsev should absolutely be moved, and like i said Dermott is untradable this summer because of how cheap he is. Our goal of the summer will be to fit under the cap with the most skilled team possible. You dont trade your most skilled ELC when trying to fit under the cap.

I disagree. They need to sign Muzzin next year. Dermott was not impressive this playoff IMO.

 

[rumman]

Muzzin will be 31 and Dermott will be 23...Dermott will get the contract over Muzz. If we can afford to re sign both we will but Dermott will have first dibs. Zaitsev should absolutely be moved, and like i said Dermott is untradable this summer because of how cheap he is. Our goal of the summer will be to fit under the cap with the most skilled team possible. You dont trade your most skilled ELC when trying to fit under the cap.

if Muzzin isn't resigned to a acceptable contract then that trade is a all out fail.

 

[rumman]

I disagree. They need to sign Muzzin next year. Dermott was not impressive this playoff IMO.

maybe because he was playing with one good shoulder?????

 

[PemIceKing]

maybe because he was playing with one good shoulder?????

Ya okay whatever. That’s what I think, and thats what you think. We will see in time.