Who would you pair Rielly with next year?

[Jer416]

So our prized defenceman, who should he be paired with next season? I'd try to find a UFA right-handed veteran dman for cheap (any suggestions?). Definitely don't want him paired with a rookie or someone from the Marlies. Keep in mind he naturally plays left, although it doesn't seem like he would be opposed to playing on the right side.

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[Teeder9]

Boyle, Dan

 

[Warden of the North]

Dion. Our best two dmen. Might as well supplant Dion whilst playing with him.

 

[sync95]

Stuart Percy

 

[Jer416]

Boyle, Dan

Just checked capgeek, will he cost $6M in FA? I think that'd only be possible if we find a taker for Gleason. I guess it could always be Gleason again...but for some reason I don't particularly like that pairing.

Dion. Our best two dmen. Might as well supplant Dion whilst playing with him.

True, I'm kinda under the slight impression he might be gone though. If not, I can see our three pairings as:

Rielly - Phaneuf
Gunnarsson - Gardiner
Gleason - xxx
Ranger


Side question: How big of a challenge is it to play the opposite side? Gardiner was apparently having trouble playing the right side a while ago.

 

[Swervin81]

Gunnarsson or a right handed shut down guy.

 

[Mitchy]

Duncan Keith.

 

[Drew311]

If Nonis can manage to pull off a trade for a top 4 defenseman this summer i'd like to see a Gunnarsson - Rielly pairing.

 

[Confucius]

I'd play him with Gardiner. Hopefully Phaneuf won't be here, besides he is much too slow to play with Rielly.

 

[Purity*]

Just checked capgeek, will he cost $6M in FA? I think that'd only be possible if we find a taker for Gleason. I guess it could always be Gleason again...but for some reason I don't particularly like that pairing.



True, I'm kinda under the slight impression he might be gone though. If not, I can see our three pairings as:

Rielly - Phaneuf
Gunnarsson - Gardiner
Gleason - xxx
Ranger


Side question: How big of a challenge is it to play the opposite side? Gardiner was apparently having trouble playing the right side a while ago.

Neither Gunnar or Gardiner can play the right side. FYI Phaneuf would probably play a lot better on his proper side.

I say play Rielly on the top pairing, but I also want the Leafs to be in the running for McDavid.

 

[GordieHoweHatTrick]

Dion. Our best two dmen. Might as well supplant Dion whilst playing with him.

Lets be patient, Rielly will be 20 y/o to start next season. He'll probably continue to be a #5 in terms of minutes (3rd paring ES + PP).

He'll have another rotation of partners next season most likely.

 

[ViCiieux]

Elisha Cuthbert

 

[Bowie]

Hopefully a UFA.

 

[Jer416]

Gunnarsson or a right handed shut down guy.

And who might this right handed shut down guy be?

Duncan Keith.

Only in our dreams

I'd play him with Gardiner. Hopefully Phaneuf won't be here, besides he is much too slow to play with Rielly.

That's pretty interesting too, but wouldn't that make our other pairings pretty slow? I'm the type that likes to spread out the speed so you have 2-3 even pairs compared to 1 great pair and 2 weaker ones.

 

[Jer416]

Elisha Cuthbert

Your 2014-2015 Toronto Maple Leafs 1st defence pairing, drumroll please:

Elisha Cuthbert - April Reimer

 

[93gilmour93]

Weber

 

[93gilmour93]

Elisha Cuthbert

zing

 

[sommervr]

Granberg. Put him on the third pairing/first PP, play him with young guys like Leivo against weak opposition and give him the green light all year.

He is still only 20 next year.

 

[Teeder9]

Elisha Cuthbert

I guess he gets the "C" afterall

 

[calcal798]

Someone other then Franson and Gleason

 

[Nithoniniel]

Pretty hard to say right now since I think we'll see a big shakeup this off-season.

Honestly, at this point I'm absolutely fine with a one year shakeup. Get rid of some of the core, get some guys who can fill in for the moment in the tough spots, make sure to put young players in a position to succeed regardless of team success and just suck through the year.

 

[TheLeastOfTheBunch]

Boyle, Dan

This (or Markov if he becomes a free agent)

 

[The Magic Man]

Shea Weber

 

[MajorLeaf]

Anyone but the pylon.

 

[Morning Dart]

Ekblad. /closethread #playbadforekblad