I support em all. To be honest I think this is all on Randy. He needs to find the combos that work. I realize he can't play the game for them but he needs to put them in positions and systems that are successful.
- iTOLDu

Honestly Phaneuf ranger might be the best option as it makes the other pairs much stronger. I know it's really out there idea but it might just be crazy enough to work.

I thought Gardiner paired with Rielly looked amazing last night, and disproved your theory that they would be a nightmare defensively....especially how quickly they got the puck out of the zone and used their speed, sticks and posiitoning (especially Gardiner) to break up plays. I have no issue with Ranger at all, but I don't think Gardiner or Rielly are the issue with Ranger.

But right now I prefer Ranger over Fraser and Gunnarson.
- mykokes

this.. this is what i am trying to say.

i dont equate rangers game style to gardiner or rielly.. but in comparison to gunnar and fraser? anyday of the week.

another minus game for rielly tho.. and the only point gardiner got was when he was paired with franson on the PP

also.. playing a team on the second half of a back to back.. not quite so impressive when the full picture is considered

Honestly Phaneuf ranger might be the best option as it makes the other pairs much stronger. I know it's really out there idea but it might just be crazy enough to work.
- Yeti1181

He wouldnt even be on a top pairing in the AHL.

He'd get eaten alive by top lines.

Yeah loved the Rielly/Gards combo. Maybe...

Phaneuf-Ranger
Franson-Gunner
Rielly-Gards
- iTOLDu

wow.

even i think ranger in that spot is a bad idea lol

actually i dont agree... rielly is brutal defensively.. gardiner barely capable.

franson has given the puck away as many times as ranger and nobody mentions this.

gunnarsson has been the worst d-man outside of fraser easily this year.
- Dozzer

Rielly is not that bad defensively.

Gardiner I agree

Franson is brutal in his own end. Much like Ranger.

Gunnar has only looked decent cause of his pairing with Phaneuf.

Franser needs to go.

Point is, not having Phaneuf in the line up doesn't make the Leafs better.
- Pecafan Fan

Not having Phaneuf in the lineup forced Carlyle to try something different and unheard of. It made them better by accident. THat's all it did. Hopefully he learned something new and when Phaneuf returns we'll be even better.

I thought Gardiner paired with Rielly looked amazing last night, and disproved your theory that they would be a nightmare defensively....especially how quickly they got the puck out of the zone and used their speed, sticks and posiitoning (especially Gardiner) to break up plays. I have no issue with Ranger at all, but I don't think Gardiner or Rielly are the issue with Ranger.

But right now I prefer Ranger over Fraser and Gunnarson.
- mykokes

rielly, gardiner and franson all played well.
fraser, gunnarsson were turnstiles.
and of course Ranger with his costly mistake, as per usual....maybe it's just a coincidence, because he played a solid game, but every time he blows a play it ends up in our net.

actually i dont agree... rielly is brutal defensively.. gardiner barely capable.

franson has given the puck away as many times as ranger and nobody mentions this.

gunnarsson has been the worst d-man outside of fraser easily this year.
- Dozzer

The one I will give you is Gunnarssuck.. I am not a fan of that guy. I'll agree to disagree on the rest, however.

He wouldnt even be on a top pairing in the AHL.

He'd get eaten alive by top lines.
- jbold

yes jbold.. we know.. you think ranger should be playing in the Z league in poland.

we get it.

He wouldnt even be on a top pairing in the AHL.

He'd get eaten alive by top lines.
- jbold

Pretty sure he was already a top pairing in the AhL. I'm just spitballing.

wow.

even i think ranger in that spot is a bad idea lol
- Dozzer

I'm sorry, every time I see a Leafs D line up I almost start to cry.

this.. this is what i am trying to say.

i dont equate rangers game style to gardiner or rielly.. but in comparison to gunnar and fraser? anyday of the week.

another minus game for rielly tho.. and the only point gardiner got was when he was paired with franson on the PP

also.. playing a team on the second half of a back to back.. not quite so impressive when the full picture is considered
- Dozzer

C'mon Dozzer....... the Kings played the Habs the previous night. They hardly broke out a sweat against them.

Guys, Paul Ranger should be playing in the Z league in poland.

yes jbold.. we know.. you think ranger should be playing in the Z league in poland.

we get it.
- Dozzer

They call it the Z league?

Cool...... I think

Rielly is not that bad defensively.

Gardiner I agree

Franson is brutal in his own end. Much like Ranger.

Gunnar has only looked decent cause of his pairing with Phaneuf.

Franser needs to go.
- faceto27

rielly is minus 13 ffs

and i dont think ranger is that bad. he make little mistakes.. problem is.. when he makes one.. its a big one

Honestly Phaneuf ranger might be the best option as it makes the other pairs much stronger. I know it's really out there idea but it might just be crazy enough to work.
- Yeti1181

I can't understand how Gunnarsson is still the default #1 pairing with Phaneuf... he needs to be dropped to 3rd pairing duties. I would give a shot at Ranger and/or Liles with Phaneuf, or anyone else for that matter.

Guys, Paul Ranger should be playing in the Z league in poland.
- Pecafan Fan

Does he have Polish background? What is the import quota for the league?

You can't just put this out there Marty

Guys, Paul Ranger should be playing in the Z league in poland.
- Pecafan Fan

i'm going there to start it this weekend

They call it the Z league?

Cool...... I think
- faceto27

please tell me you dint think i was telling the truth

rielly is minus 13 ffs

and i dont think ranger is that bad. he make little mistakes.. problem is.. when he makes one.. its a big one
- Dozzer

Do you think he'd be -13 if he was paired up with Dion??

Doubt it

please tell me you dint think i was telling the truth
- Dozzer

It wasn't the truth?

this.. this is what i am trying to say.

i dont equate rangers game style to gardiner or rielly.. but in comparison to gunnar and fraser? anyday of the week.

another minus game for rielly tho.. and the only point gardiner got was when he was paired with franson on the PP

also.. playing a team on the second half of a back to back.. not quite so impressive when the full picture is considered
- Dozzer

THe minuses Rielly got though weren't with Gardiner. They were with Ranger and someone else.

And it wasn't the point Gardiner got last night that impressed me, it was the quickness him and Rielly showed last night, breaking up plays and keeping offensive plays going. They created and helped sustain a lot of offensive pressure while finding ways to work together to prevent any defensive zone time. It was like they increased the speed of the leafs game ten fold and actually made LA's players look bigger and slower.

rielly is minus 13 ffs

and i dont think ranger is that bad. he make little mistakes.. problem is.. when he makes one.. its a big one
- Dozzer

he makes little mistakes, but when he one makes one, it's a big one? Is that a yogi-ism?

I think he has complete lapses, very phaneuf like

wow.

even i think ranger in that spot is a bad idea lol
- Dozzer

Does it really hurt to experiment? I don't think so. At least Yeti agreed with the experiment

Do you think he'd be -13 if he was paired up with Dion??

Doubt it
- faceto27

No. Look who he's been playing with. Fraser, Ranger and Franson.