Gunnar was there out of default, not because he's better. He already reached his ceiling. Gardiner is going to continue to get better, he will be in that #2 spot by the end of the season. Franson should be the #3, and if Rielly makes the team, he should be #4 playing top 4 minutes. Ranger and Fraser as the bottom pairing. Gunnarsson is an alright player, but not at the expense of Gardiner and Rielly's development, and resigning Franson.
- ThePresident

You're still missing it dude.
Gunnar is a stay at home defensemen. Our best one. Which is why he's on the frst pairing. Having Phaneuf with another PMD, such as Gardiner, is not good.

Dion and Jake as top pairing YIKES that should work well
- poohcrumbs

Why so they can both get caught up ice? I'm sure guys like Krejci will love that.

You're still missing it dude.
Gunnar is a stay at home defensemen. Our best one. Which is why he's on the frst pairing. Having Phaneuf with another PMD, such as Gardiner, is not good.
- UsernameUnknown

Why is that not good? McCabe and Kaberle didn't work well together?

Why so they can both get caught up ice? I'm sure guys like Krejci will love that.
- GCHonda

No its going to be Reily and Jake on top pairing

Why is that not good? McCabe and Kaberle didn't work well together?
- ThePresident

They have the cups to prove it,

and no they sucked, and the game is different now

Why is that not good? McCabe and Kaberle didn't work well together?
- ThePresident

They worked well cause they seemed to know when to pinch & when not too. Phanuef hasn't learned that yet as proven in game 4 OT vs the B's. And we trust him to teach that to Gardner or Rielly?

I didn't know two way defenseman weren't able to play together.....you guys act as if the players we possess are Andy Delmore.

Why is that not good? McCabe and Kaberle didn't work well together?
- ThePresident

Kaberle isn't a typcal stay at home D because he was great at moving the puck and in the offensive zone, but we was very defensively sound. McCabe in his prime wasn't that bad in his own end either.
I love Gardiner, he's great. But right now, he's a defensive liability. Thatll improve this year but he is not ready to play with Phaneuf.

They have the cups to prove it,

and no they sucked, and the game is different now
- poohcrumbs

McCabe got a cup? Where? Was he just a floater who made no difference to his cup winning team like Kabby in Boston or Leeman in Montreal?

Kaberle isn't a typcal stay at home D because he was great at moving the puck and in the offensive zone, but we was very defensively sound. McCabe in his prime wasn't that bad in his own end either.
I love Gardiner, he's great. But right now, he's a defensive liability. Thatll improve this year but he is not ready to play with Phaneuf.
- UsernameUnknown

I disagree. Would open up our offensive game to the point that the benefits would outweigh the risks.

Kaberle isn't a typcal stay at home D because he was great at moving the puck and in the offensive zone, but we was very defensively sound. McCabe in his prime wasn't that bad in his own end either.
I love Gardiner, he's great. But right now, he's a defensive liability. Thatll improve this year but he is not ready to play with Phaneuf.
- UsernameUnknown

According to you guys, Cory Cross should have been the pairing partner with McCabe. You guys are nuts.

Back in the day, you guys would have chosen either Aki Berg or Cory Cross to be McCabe's partner over Kaberle. Nuts.

I disagree. Would open up our offensive game to the point that the benefits would outweigh the risks.
- ThePresident

Yeah, Carlyle would love you.

You can't do that. You need balance on your back end.

I didn't know two way defenseman weren't able to play together.....you guys act as if the players we possess are Andy Delmore.
- ThePresident

In Gardner & Reiily's case they still have to learn to play both ends. Just read that Dion lead the NHL in give aways last year with 53. No more bigger than the game 4 OT. Dion has to get better at that. Especially if he'sonna pith the yung kids

Back in the day, you guys would have chosen either Aki Berg or Cory Cross to be McCabe's partner over Kaberle. Nuts.
- ThePresident

We can tell you're losing this one because you're putting words in our mouths.

In Gardner & Reiily's case they still have to learn to play both ends. Just read that Dion lead the NHL in give aways last year with 53. No more bigger than the game 4 OT. Dion has to get better at that. Especially if he'sonna pith the yung kids
- GCHonda

Because he's being paired with a guy that makes him do more than he has to, Gunnarsson. On no other team in the league would this guy be a #2 defenseman, only the Leafs.....

According to you guys, Cory Cross should have been the pairing partner with McCabe. You guys are nuts.
- ThePresident

I agree with u. I liked McCabe back than with Kabby. They never got caught up ice that often. McCabe laid out good checks. Kabby was very smooth with the puck so he rarely gave it away. They worked well together.

Honestly man, learn how to comprehend what I'm writing, and then reply with something of value.
- ThePresident

Dude, I comprehend just fine. That's the point.

You don't throw away a solid price of your team, one of which you're weak in to put a rookie into the lineup, especially when they are different types and the one you want to remove we are lacking in and the rookie is one we have lots of.

What you are saying makes no sense.

Gunner is a good dman (obviously underrated by you) and i. A very good deal. He should not be moved to make room for a rookie. You don't take from the top to make room for rookies.

Because he's being paired with a guy that makes him do more than he has to, Gunnarsson. On no other team in the league would this guy be a #2 defenseman, only the Leafs.....
- ThePresident

Yeah, and Bozak is our 1C. Welcome to Leafland.

Because he's being paired with a guy that makes him do more than he has to, Gunnarsson. On no other team in the league would this guy be a #2 defenseman, only the Leafs.....
- ThePresident

He's the best Leaf D man when it's comes to covering up Dion's mistakes.

Dude, I comprehend just fine. That's the point.

You don't throw away a solid price of your team, one of which you're weak in to put a rookie into the lineup, especially when they are different types and the one you want to remove we are lacking in and the rookie is one we have lots of.

What you are saying makes no sense.

Gunner is a good dman (obviously underrated by you) and i. A very good deal. He should not be moved to make room for a rookie. You don't take from the top to make room for rookies.
- burn

Ok, well I was saying the same thing about the Grabovski signing when it happened, only to receive backlash from everyone, only to have everybody change their tune in the end. We'll see where Gunnarsson fits into the team once Gardiner improves into a top pairing defenseman and Rielly works his way into the top 4.

Yeah, and Bozak is our 1C. Welcome to Leafland.
- UsernameUnknown

YUP Dion is our default #1 d man. Gunner is our default #2 man. Bozak is our default #1 center. But that's what is great. EVeryone underestimates the Leafs & that works in our favour.

He's the best Leaf D man when it's comes to covering up Dion's mistakes.
- GCHonda

That is not what Dion needs, Dion is a two way defender, he needs a puck moving defenseman to play with. He's not getting paid 6 million for his defense, he's getting paid 6 million for his offensive capabilities which are being hindered by Gunnarsson. Phaneuf is not a puck moving defenseman, nor is Gunnarsson, so what is Phaneuf being forced to do? Be both, which he isn't. Which leads to mistakes when he is carrying the puck. He needs to play with another defender that can carry the puck fluidly, make crisp passes, put the puck right on his tape so he can tee it off, accurately.

Ok, well I was saying the same thing about the Grabovski signing when it happened, only to receive backlash from everyone, only to have everybody change their tune in the end. We'll see where Gunnarsson fits into the team once Gardiner improves into a top pairing defenseman and Rielly works his way into the top 4.
- ThePresident

I don't get what you're trying to say about grabo? Who changed their minds? I don't see how you're correlating this to gunner and rielly?

YUP Dion is our default #1 d man. Gunner is our default #2 man. Bozak is our default #1 center. But that's what is great. EVeryone underestimates the Leafs & that works in our favour.
- GCHonda

Phaneuf is a #1 defenseman. Gunnar is a borderline #4, and Bozak is realistically a borderline #2 centerman.