Zaitsev with Rielly

[Bluelines]

Zaitsev is the worst of of the bunch. It looks like our GM notices he is one of the problems on the defence. Gardiner is our 2nd best d man. Defensively, he is also our best d man.
The people that say Zaitsev is better really need to get some knowledge on these players and hockey.

Gardiner makes some turnovers? He is terrible and needs to be replaced!

Watch videos of Z on the big ice, they guy is dynamic, a great skater, he is a dominant puck mover on the big ice. Maybe his game just does not translate to the NHL.

 

[Bluelines]

Focus should be on moving Dermott up the lineup.

If anything I would try Jake and Morgan together. Not sure who plays the right side though.

Let Hainsey work with Dermott to make him more responsible.

Drop Z down to third pair.

I think that is quietly happening... his TOI has been around 20 minutes in 3 of his last 4 games. His season TOI is 17:44

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Rosen just got a 2 year one way, makes me think he will be on the big team next year.

Yes you can take that one to the bank

 

[1specter]

I think that is quietly happening... his TOI has been around 20 minutes in 3 of his last 4 games. His season TOI is 17:44

IN terms of 5v5 TOI, Hainsey is actually 4th behind Rielly/Jake/Zaitsev, and Dermott is only about 20-30 seconds behind him. Babs is gradually reducing Hainsey's minutes a bit while increasing Dermott's.

 

[Menzinger]

lol. He meant it which is a big difference as he volunteered the info it was not an answers to a question. Dubas speaks in absolutes.

Or he was being strategic. Oldest thing in the book is to make your position seem stronger than it is.

 

[diceman934]

Rosen just got a 2 year one way, makes me think he will be on the big team next year.

He should be here now as he is better then half our D now.

 

[biotk]

They should be looking to play him less not more.

Let's pour gas on the fire and give Zaitsev more minutes.

I don't think it's a good idea to increase his minutes but maybe having a partner who's better defensively would help him.

Not that I think that putting Zaitsev with Rielly is a good idea, but it would not likely result in more minutes. At ES the Leafs play both of their top pairings roughly equally - actually they generally play the Gardiner pairing a bit more. The issue would be that Rielly's pair plays the toughest minutes - plays against the top line etc.​