When Was The Last Time You Were This Optimistic About Toronto’s D Core?

[Goose]

Been a while since I’ve gone into a season without worrying about our D core, but I’m pleasantly optimistic this year, especially if Dermott makes a step forward and Lehtonen lives up to the hype.

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[ottomaddox]

I can't even remember. Perhaps the time that Robert Svehla joined the Leafs. I didn't know a lot about him, but he proved to be a solid pick-up. 2002-2003 I believe.

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Probably when we added Leetch to go with McCabe and Kaberle (would have loved to see it for a full year instead of a lockout) but in terms of depth it is deeper now than I can ever remember.

 

[nuck]

Last time was pre-internet era where I wasn't brainwashed by other fans that they couldn't win with guys like a prime McCabe and Kaberle leading the way. Those guys were getting dumped on because the team only managed 100 pts with Sundin their only forward with more than 60pts. I think its time to stop dumping on the D and find something else to pin the losses on. This year its the forwards who need to be 200 ft guys first and foremost. Everyone has their fat deals now except for the old guys so maybe they will concentrate more on winning and less on stats because this club used to be able to win with not that much flash ( except for Matthews and Marner who both need to score at a 100 point pace). Barely top 10 in scoring doesn't cut it unless you are barely top 10 in salary.

Brodie and Bogo make them better but neither are stars and Rielly has to do a lot more than he showed in the first 40 last year. They are better but are they good? Lets see what Keefe can do.

 

[xxOCZMSxx]

Under appreciated IMO was Liljegren in the blue vs white game.
Showed no panic, and made smart zone exits.

 

[Mickey Marner]

Not since Leetch or Svehla I suppose. This d corps is still very much a work in progress though.

 

[Green Snow Storm]

Probably since 2004.

 

[al secord]

The Jeff Finger era.

 

[Tairy Greene]

Honestly man, I thought they were going to be good last year bringing Barrie in lol. I'm optimistic but keeping my expectations realistic

 

[Stephen]

I'm cautiously optimistic with an open mind about the revamped defense, but I wouldn't say I'm pumped about it.

 

[pucksakes666]

When they brought Calle Jonasson out of retirement for the play offs.

 

[X66]

I’ll be the first to admit, it was the summer we got Beauchemin

Kaberle
Phaneuf
Gunnarson
Beauchemin
Schenn(20 years old)
White (who had some solid years)
Finger
Komisarek


Lol, although I do wonder how that team would have been had they had the goaltending.

 

[hamzarocks]

Schenn
Auli
Gardiner
Percy

going into 2011-2012 season

Thought those guys were the future with 2 skilled PMD and 2 shutdown tanks.

Sadly only Gardiner worked out (despite the warts)

Now
Sandin
Lilijgren
Dermott
Niemela

Are 4 I'm really hyped four along with some lower range guys like kokkonen, kral

I see from that list dermott possibly not seizing the opportunity and ending up being taken by Seattle, lilijgren ends up a decent 4D but we run out of patience and deal him (he should be playing games this year)

Sandin ends up a Jeff Petry level guy and Niemela a TJ brodie level player with around similar offense

 

[Marshy]

3 words

Benning
McGill
Boimistruck

 

[MattySnipes]

Tbh I don't know if I'm excited yet. Gotta see how they play, atleast the first 5-10 games.

I want to see how the forwards support defensively as well. I want to see good team defense. If they can take a page out of their D play in Columbus series, that would be encouraging.

I definitely like the balance of the D core over last season. Brodie, Lehtonen, and Bogo are good adds.

I figure Lehtonen will play a lot of games, even though he'll be taxi squad. All thanks to his friendly contract. I'm intrigued to see how he'll perform. I saw some nice glimpses from him in B&W game.

 

[Superstar]

When Brian Burke said he would pitch his d core against any in the league...

 

[Zybalto]

2007-2008 Team Defence Ranking: 28th in the NHL
2008-2009 Team Defence Ranking: 22nd in the NHL
2009-2010 Team Defence Ranking: 17th in the NHL
2010-2011 Team Defence Ranking: 16th in the NHL
2011-2012 Team Defence Ranking: 24th in the NHL
2012-2013 Team Defence Ranking: 23rd in the NHL (Short Season)
2013-2014 Team Defence Ranking: 30th in the NHL
2014-2015 Team Defence Ranking: 29th in the NHL
2015-2016 Team Defence Ranking: 14th in the NHL
2016-2017 Team Defence Ranking: 25th in the NHL
2017-2018 Team Defence Ranking: 24th in the NHL
2018-2019 Team Defence Ranking: 24th in the NHL
2019-2020 Team Defence Ranking (Under Babcock): 22nd in the NHL
2019-2020 Team Defence Ranking(Under Keefe): 10th in the NHL


Man, our D has been so bad, so long, it's hard to even think of a time when I was actually excited before Keefe took over. The fact the team posted that ranking despite the fact it had to deal with so many injuries on D is astonishing. I'm easily the most optimistic than I have been in literally decades.

 

[ToDavid]

I'm a bit concerned with Bogo, but need to keep in mind the last time we had a guy like him on our bottom pair it was Polak, who makes Bogo look like a Norris contender. I'm very interested in seeing what Dermott and him can do together.

 

[meefer]

2007-2008 Team Defence Ranking: 28th in the NHL
2008-2009 Team Defence Ranking: 22nd in the NHL
2009-2010 Team Defence Ranking: 17th in the NHL
2010-2011 Team Defence Ranking: 16th in the NHL
2011-2012 Team Defence Ranking: 24th in the NHL
2012-2013 Team Defence Ranking: 23rd in the NHL (Short Season)
2013-2014 Team Defence Ranking: 30th in the NHL
2014-2015 Team Defence Ranking: 29th in the NHL
2015-2016 Team Defence Ranking: 14th in the NHL
2016-2017 Team Defence Ranking: 25th in the NHL
2017-2018 Team Defence Ranking: 24th in the NHL
2018-2019 Team Defence Ranking: 24th in the NHL
2019-2020 Team Defence Ranking (Under Babcock): 22nd in the NHL
2019-2020 Team Defence Ranking(Under Keefe): 10th in the NHL


Man, our D has been so bad, so long, it's hard to even think of a time when I was actually excited before Keefe took over. The fact the team posted that ranking despite the fact it had to deal with so many injuries on D is astonishing. I'm easily the most optimistic than I have been in literally decades.

Preaching to the choir, well said.

 

[Shooter14]

The last time I was optimistic about the Maple Leafs defence was when they won the cup.

Tim Horton
Bob Baun
Larry Hillman
Red Kelly
Kent Douglas
Marcel Pronovost
Allan Stanley

 

[Confucius]

Last time I was this Optimistic was when we got Mike Komisarek. Oh wait.. No when we got Dion, Oh wait...

 

[Goose]

I’ll be the first to admit, it was the summer we got Beauchemin

Kaberle
Phaneuf
Gunnarson
Beauchemin
Schenn(20 years old)
White (who had some solid years)
Finger
Komisarek


Lol, although I do wonder how that team would have been had they had the goaltending.

this is the team I was thinking of too.

 

[BrannigansLaw]

I was too young for the early 90s teams but I remember being most excited when we acquired Leetch. He had a solid playoffs for us too. That JR goal and celebration still sticks out in my mind; it was such a dagger

 

[keonsbitterness]

Never, because the proper term is d-corps.

 

[tmlms13]

I was too young for the early 90s teams but I remember being most excited when we acquired Leetch. He had a solid playoffs for us too. That JR goal and celebration still sticks out in my mind; it was such a dagger

especially since about 15 seconds before that Tucker obliterated Sami Kapanen.