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

[Anthrax442]

The Svehla year

 

[RoadWarrior]

Big, mobile, reliable with the puck and played very well as a top 4 dman against tough competitiin in his first opportunity.

He had stretches of good play but couldn't maintain it and was exposed against hard forechecking teams.

 

[zeke]

He had stretches of good play but couldn't maintain it and was exposed against hard forechecking teams.

Might be you're setting the bar high for #4D.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Might be you're setting the bar high for #4D.

Not on a contending team. As a #4 D you're matching up against the 2nd line of the opposition which could feature 30 goal scorers.

 

[zeke]

Not on a contending team. As a #4 D you're matching up against the 2nd line of the opposition which could feature 30 goal scorers.

Tampa's right side last year was Cernak, Shattenkirk, and Bogosian.

 

[Tak7]

Holl while mobile is not a legit top 4 d man. His transition game is rather limited and he's soft in his own end.

Bogo is like Holl but with more physical presence.

At the end of the day I think the leafs D core will end up as:

Rielly, Brodie
Muzzin, Bogosian
Lehtonen, Holl
Sandin, Dermott

The right side is still a weak spot but not nearly as bad as last year. They certainly have much better depth. Marincin is unlikely to play at all and that's addition by subtraction.

I dont think its an upgrade.

It still looks like a soft, slow blueline.

 

[Tak7]

to be fair Bogosian played tough competition for tampa in the playoffs and they won the cup...

He was their 6th or 7th Dman last year, playing behind a much deeper D-core than here.

I don't expect him to be a big contributor

 

[Goose]

Dubas looks like he’s feeling the pressure already.

 

[lebdafor norris]

The Offseason prior to the 2010-2011 season we had;
D. Phaneuf- recent Norris nominee
Mike Komisarek- recent NHL All Star D
F. Beauchemen- recent top 4 Dman for a cup winning team
T. Kaberle- proven consistent top pair, quality D for the Leafs
Luke Schenn- Recent 5th overall pick,promising rookie and sophomore year, human eraser, future team captain.

Hindsight is 20/20 but a lot of fans at the time though that the Leafs should be a playoff contender with that D and what looks to finally be a stable goaltending tandem of a cup winning vet in Giggy and a "upcoming" youngster in Jonas Gustavsson. The forward group on the other hand was not only lacking of top talent outside of Kessel but the depth was pretty abysmal as well, on paper likely in the top 3 worst forward groups in the league coming in to the season, possibly even the worst.

Although I'm not really that optimistic about the current D, is it even much of an upgrade over previous years? So long as the forwards continue to cheat I cant see the overall team defence improving much.

 

[Menzinger]

Brodie looks like the thing this team has been looking tonget for ages. Not just a guy who can munch minutes on the right side, but also dominate the puck there too

 

[34]

I am not overly excited about this D core. IMO it is still not great. Better than last season...but not fantastic.

 

[RoadWarrior]

Lots of rust in this game. Fairly sloppy overall.

The leafs D at even strength was very porous, especially in the neutral zone.

The big boys saved the day per usual.

 

[Man Bear Pig]

Brodie looks like the thing this team has been looking tonget for ages. Not just a guy who can munch minutes on the right side, but also dominate the puck there too

Brodie looked excellent. I thought he looked like our best dman tonight. I actually thought Dermott-Bogo was solid too, they weren't trying to do too much although, I think I mostly liked them because they weren't taking shit after the whistle so maybe I'm biased.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

I am not overly excited about this D core. IMO it is still not great. Better than last season...but not fantastic.

Ain't wrong.

Holl just isnt the answer as a 4.

I think Brodie would be a perfect fit for Muzzin. Though hes steady with Mo; we'd really hit another level though if we found another top4 right side guy

 

[34]

Ain't wrong.

Holl just isnt the answer as a 4.

I think Brodie would be a perfect fit for Muzzin. Though hes steady with Mo; we'd really hit another level though if we found another top4 right side guy

If Sandin could play the right side... we would be ok I think.

 

[Byron Bitz]

Anyone else wish they acquired a right hand D that could be a better option to play with Muzzin than Holl? The only times Holl has ever played well has been when Muzzin is carrying him.

 

[dubplatepressure]

Anyone else wish they acquired a right hand D that could be a better option to play with Muzzin than Holl? The only times Holl has ever played well has been when Muzzin is carrying him.

IMO Holl didn't look good tonight... But I'm ok giving him a 15-20 game sample. BOGO didn't look good either. We have lots of depth thankfully.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

I don't mid Holl. Actually think he could find a nice home as a 3rd pair right side guy.. he has 2nd pair confidence and could utilize that in a less pressure role.

I think trying Lehtonen / Sandin / Dermott on the right side should be priority...

 

[Buds17]

Anyone else wish they acquired a right hand D that could be a better option to play with Muzzin than Holl? The only times Holl has ever played well has been when Muzzin is carrying him.

The complement to Rielly was the bigger need IMO. We'll see which options emerge for adding to the blueline as the season goes on.

 

[Byron Bitz]

I don't mid Holl. Actually think he could find a nice home as a 3rd pair right side guy.. he has 2nd pair confidence and could utilize that in a less pressure role.

I think trying Lehtonen / Sandin / Dermott on the right side should be priority...

Did they use Sandin on the right side at all on the Marlins last year?

 

[93WrapAround]

Holl and Muzzin are brutal together - that one PK shift where they gave up 2 breakaways on one shift highlighted this. Holl was making stupid decisions and out of position a lot tonight.

Bogosian was possibly worse tho. Two dumb penalties and a brutal pinch costed us. Hoping he just had an awful first game.

 

[Stephen]

It's really early and the game tonight was akin to an exhibition game, but I'm not sold on the defensive renovations. I thought Bogosian had some snarly moments but his foot speed makes me think he needs to be used on selective occasions more than as an every day minute muncher. Obviously we don't have an all situation defenseman like Hedman to do the heavy lifting for him. I liked Brodie.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Brodie was much better than I expected. Bogo and Holl, not so much.