I actually liked the Klingberg signing, but he gives as much as he gets. With McCabe out, I fear there isn't a suitable option for his partner, so his 5v5 play is going to be an issue.
Added to that, Lilly is now out, which has created a chasm in the blue line which was already not the deepest to begin with. It shouldn't take an expert to see that was the issue that really addressing as well as decongesting the cap while getting forwards that can provide depth scoring.
Domi and Bertuzzi were brought in, but both look "meh" at best to this point.
So, he really hasn't changed or addressed any of the key issues making it the same team essentially, and can't be considered a better GM just by default.
I think Klingberg's play has relatively improved compared to the start of the season with McCabe not being his partner. McCabe was absolutely terrible to start the season. Last season besides Mo we had no offense from the backend (see pic below)
We can at least expect Klingberg to clock in at around 40+ points that is a positive as far as I am concerned and reduced offensive burden on Rielly. that is a serious position of concern that was addressed. Now could it have been better sure... but for better you have to "pay more" and Leafs had no cap space thanks to dubas.
Injuries, although they suck, are part and parcel of the game. This is when good teams/coach devise a strategy/systems to adopt to the new circumstances they find themselves in.
Boston had a bunch of injuries last season and they found a way to make it work. Same happened with Avs with Mack/Landeskog and even Makar misssing games last season but they found a way to make it work. Avs were decimated with even Nichushkin and Lehkonen missing a bunch of games.
Domi and Bert will find their games IMO or worst shipped out around Feb they are UFA free wallet contracts anyway; Leafs couldn't bid higher for others as there wasn't any cap left over due to dubas completely effing over the leafs
I think few of the biggest needs given how last season panned out were:;
1) needed more offense from D (added: Klingberg)
2) needed more "snot" in the top9 with players who don't get pushed over and can also produce a bit (added: Domi, Bertuzzi TBD how this pans out)
3) Matthews/Nylander contracts (Signed Matthews; Willy negotiations on-going)
4) Last and definitely not the least -> needed someone to take teammates to war with them (added: Reaves to hopefully change the softass mindset of this team-> would it happen? To be seen.... based on recent tweets posted in this thread apparently they had a discussion so TBD)
and more importantly, as was the case before, need more "belligerence, testosterone, pugnacity" from the core4 to begin with. Leaders need to lead with example and by that I don't mean fighting; but playing through checks; winning puck/board battles, winning races to 50-50 pucks; blocking shots; and heck even taking body when need be instead of poke-checking like morons.
I think Tre has done enough to address the needs given the time and cap space that was afforded to him and things that needed to be addressed in a very short time span.
You can't really judge a new GM when he is not even 6 months into a job.
Other teams aren't waiting to bendover and take all of Leafs' garbage and their own best to the leafs for free. It takes two to tango. Leafs had a GOLDEN opportunity during Matthews/Nylander/Marner RFA contracts when leafs had all the leverage which was absolutely squanered by dubas now we have to deal with the consequences and adapt given the circumstances. Which IMO Tre has done well so far with his very limited time with the club
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