Once upon a time, Ranger was a pretty darned good NHL D-man. He was with us after the first lockout and regularly paired with Boyle. Tortorella always used to remark at how crisp, quick and smart his first-pass out of the zone always was.

He isn't overly physical, but certainly never shied away from the rough stuff. Always had good positioning, and was a far better passer than shooter.

I'm not sure where he's at, now, but he used to be a pretty solid #4, during our playoff years post-lockout.

All the best to him, hope he brings the game he's capable of to the Leafs.

Our best D, in otherwords, best at playing Defence.. He insulated Franson all season, and was incredibly good at getting the puck out of our zone. HE may not have the points of other D, but that should be 2nd priority for a defenceman.
- mfreedman

He was good last year... Maybe the best defensively.saying he was the best defenseman isn't accurate.

agreed.

and in all honesty, i don't remember a ton about ranger.
but if what i'm hearing is true and he is a good defensive defenseman that is something we really need.

now i'm not saying he can just jump up and slot into 2nd pairing, but if he could return to form

dion/gunnar
ranger/gardiner
fraser/franson

see ya liles, doesn't sound too bad

edit: and we may finally win the coveted masterton
- dragus84

Liles suffering an career threatening injury on his honeymoon should be at the forefront of all of our minds.

Just asking, are you forming this opinion by watching him play or are you going by stats? Did you know he was injured?

He was the best Marlie dman when he was in the lineup, played penalty kill and powerplay, first units.
- LeafMan

I have a gut feeling that Franson may be out the door..

Once upon a time, Ranger was a pretty darned good NHL D-man. He was with us after the first lockout and regularly paired with Boyle. Tortorella always used to remark at how crisp, quick and smart his first-pass out of the zone always was.

He isn't overly physical, but certainly never shied away from the rough stuff. Always had good positioning, and was a far better passer than shooter.

I'm not sure where he's at, now, but he used to be a pretty solid #4, during our playoff years post-lockout.

All the best to him, hope he brings the game he's capable of to the Leafs.
- OzBolts

good enough for me to Risk almost nothing to sign him as depth

Did you watch any Marlie games? He's dumb. Makes terrible decisions.
- djamon

This right here tells me you did not watch the Marlies,he was their best all round dman, no one was close to him in that regard.

First unit on specialty teams, Eakins had him out there in key situations late in the game. +16 for those who take stock in that stat.

Number 5 is the most frustrating at all. Seen that one time and time agian. However he doesn't seem to take as many penalties as you think, and he's not that bad a skater. Also when his shot does hit the net and I know it's not that often, he still scores quite a bit for a D man.

Also Who exactly do you think we are going to get for 6.5m who is better without gutting the team?
- TheLeafsInsider

He's a terrible backwards skater, not forwards.

He doesn't take a ton of penalties, but when he does they are stupid. It's not him diving after a guy on a breakaway, its a meaningless slash in the offensive zone. That is not captain material. As a captain you don't lose your cool like that if it hurts the team

How many times has Dion missed the net, only to ring the puck around the boards and give the opposition a perfect transition out of their zone? Its not only abot what happens when he hits the net, its what happens when he doesn't.

After looking at capgeek, here are people at comparable salary:

Karlsson, Boyle, Bouwmeester, Green, Chara, Doughty, Timonen, Campbell, Seabrook, Markov, Enstrom, KEith, Wisnewsky, Myers, Carle, Ekman-Larsson, Suter, Steit, Yandle


I'd rather 90% of those guys over Dion.

Ranger
Gardiner
Phanuef
Gunnarson
Franson
Fraser
Liles
Brennan
Holzer
Blacker
Rielly

I sense a trade... please be Phaneuf
- mfreedman

One of Liles or Phaneuf, for sure

I have a gut feeling that Franson may be out the door..
- UsernameUnknown

Same, posted it a few times.

Ranger was better then them AHL this year, so no.
- burn

Holzer is an abomination. Fraser out-played him by a mile.

Did you watch any Marlie games? He's dumb. Makes terrible decisions.
- djamon

Did you? He was their best dman.

Just asking, are you forming this opinion by watching him play or are you going by stats? Did you know he was injured?

He was the best Marlie dman when he was in the lineup, played penalty kill and powerplay, first units.
- LeafMan

I disagree with this.

I have a gut feeling that Franson may be out the door..
- UsernameUnknown

Asking for too much perhaps? Trade him while is value is high? I like him but it's tough if he's asking for 5 million after finishing top 8 in d-men scoring.

That would give the Leafs


Gunnarsson Phaneuf

Gardiner Ranger

Fraser Liles

Brennan Holzer


With an outside shot of Rielly making the team and knocking someone down to the Marlies.

Wow I just realized that's 6 left handed shots.

Karlsson, Boyle, Bouwmeester, Green, Chara, Doughty, Timonen, Campbell, Seabrook, Markov, Enstrom, KEith, Wisnewsky, Myers, Carle, Ekman-Larsson, Suter, Steit, Yandle


I'd rather 90% of those guys over Dion.
- mfreedman

There actually aren't too many on this list I'd take over Dion.

Karlsson, Chara, Doughty, Seabrook, Keith, OEL, Suter, Yandle

Same, posted it a few times.
- LeafMan

I know.. I was half mocking, half agreeing with you.

Karlsson, Boyle, Bouwmeester, Green, Chara, Doughty, Timonen, Campbell, Seabrook, Markov, Enstrom, KEith, Wisnewsky, Myers, Carle, Ekman-Larsson, Suter, Steit, Yandle


I'd rather 90% of those guys over Dion.
- mfreedman

Are Bouwmeester and Wisniewski the 10%?

I know.. I was half mocking, half agreeing with you.
- UsernameUnknown

That's a banning. haha

I didn't say he was special. But you don't need special to be better than Paul Ranger. Fraser is a nice, steady, physical d-man. He's cheap and fights too. Finished a very solid +18 last year.
- djamon

Well, I'm sold!


Anton Stralman was +14

Holzer is an abomination. Fraser out-played him by a mile.
- djamon

Ranger > Fraser this year when they were both with the Marlies. Ranger was their best dman.

Same, posted it a few times.
- LeafMan

Yeah, I get that sense too, it was love hate from the beginning.

He didn't get ice time, and when he did, he proved what he can do.

Now we may not be as accomodating because Dion just has has has to be on the Leafs.

Bugger. Just give Franson 3y/12m

I disagree with this.
- djamon

You're on an island here.

Cap space is an asset.
- djamon

and 1 million dollars is a low cap hit for a number 6 dman.
so what exactly is your point?

He was good last year... Maybe the best defensively.saying he was the best defenseman isn't accurate.
- burn

I play defence, and I always have these discussions with people. It's tough to argue online, but I'll give it a shot.

I believe that these are your tasks in order of importance as a D:

1. Defensive zone play
2. Transitioning out of you zone
3. Minimizing risk
4. Points

There are already 3 guys for your team on the ice meant to put pucks in the net. A Defenceman's first job is to prevent the other teams 3 guys from doing the same. This is why I find it hard to praise Franson, while Fraser constantly covered up for him all season.

Fraser does #1 extraordinarily well. He is always in the right position and always sees the play developing so he can act accordingly. While Fraser doesn't have a great first pass (i can admit that), he still manages to get the puck out of our zone quite easily.

He doesn't take big risks, he only pinches at the right times, and he is always chooses the safest play, which works the majority of the time in our end.

#4 is where he is at fault. He will not be a points guy, he doesnt have the hands for it. However, put him with a guy that does, and watch what happens, case and point, Franson. I would sell Franson now, before he changes his pairing and they realize that he needs to be insulated with a Defensive minded guy like FRaser.

That's my opinion at least, take what youw ill

That's a banning. haha
- LeafMan

Sensitive about your gut?

Well, I'm sold!


Anton Stralman was +14
- Pecafan Fan

He was actually pretty darn good this year.