That's because the 8th pick is a future Sabre and automatically a future all star...
- NewfoundLeafer

apparently

The 8th is more valuable than the 4th obviously
- matt1337

The hell with the 8th, keep it and give them scraps.

The hell with the 8th, keep it and give them scraps.
- burn

you actually think buffalo has scraps? more like future superstars.

The 8th is more valuable than the 4th obviously
- matt1337

Let Edmonton overpay - they already had Schultz, a small scoring defenseman like Barrie. Same goes for Buffalo. He's 5'10" and very good offensively, and defensively - not so much. Leafs don't need this type of defenseman. Most level headed ratings do not have this guy in the top 30 defensemen in the NHL - a top ten draft pick this year should get you a pretty good defensive prospect. He was a good pick at 64 by Colorado projected to go 45th.

Let Edmonton overpay - they already had Schultz, a small scoring defenseman like Barrie. Same goes for Buffalo. He's 5'10" and very good offensively, and defensively - not so much. Leafs don't need this type of defenseman. Most level headed ratings do not have this guy in the top 30 defensemen in the NHL - a top ten draft pick this year should get you a pretty good defensive prospect. He was a good pick at 64 by Colorado projected to go 45th.
- winsix

You're severely underselling Barrie. Highly unlikely that those dmen don't ever become as good as Barrie currently is

You're severely underselling Barrie. Highly unlikely that those dmen don't ever become as good as Barrie currently is
- burn

Have to admit - I don't see him play much - he's a 50 point a year guy from his stats and he's 5'10" - those are hard facts. How many 5'10" great defenseman can you think of? Talent is one thing, but when the game is on the line and you need to clear in front of your net - who do you want out there?

Have to admit - I don't see him play much - he's a 50 point a year guy from his stats and he's 5'10" - those are hard facts. How many 5'10" great defenseman can you think of? Talent is one thing, but when the game is on the line and you need to clear in front of your net - who do you want out there?
- winsix

Who cares how big he is, if he's playing well it Doesnt matter.


Clearing e fort of the net is so overused and yet understood on this site it's hilarious. You don't need to be chara to clear the front of the net. If you're doing your job correctly you don't have to clear the front of the net, proper positioning and you don't have to clear the net. If you have the puck and playing in the other teams zone you don't have to clear the net.

People so obsessed with guys you can clear the net but cannot do anything else. There are other skills that dmen need to have, and if the only thing that a dman can do is clear the net and block shots he's garbage. Those skills are so overrated by people it's absurd.

Who cares how big he is, if he's playing well it Doesnt matter.


Clearing e fort of the net is so overused and yet understood on this site it's hilarious. You don't need to be chara to clear the front of the net. If you're doing your job correctly you don't have to clear the front of the net, proper positioning and you don't have to clear the net. If you have the puck and playing in the other teams zone you don't have to clear the net.

People so obsessed with guys you can clear the net but cannot do anything else. There are other skills that dmen need to have, and if the only thing that a dman can do is clear the net and block shots he's garbage. Those skills are so overrated by people it's absurd.
- burn

Roman Polak!!

Because he would put that team close to the top assuming Price could stay healthy.
- BetterCallSaul

(frank) are you delusional

Roman Polak!!
- ClarksonDavid

Difference maker!!


Guys that play 3rd line and get caved in are highly valuable. Everyone needs guys to play in their own zone (cause they can't get it out) and block shots and burry guys from behind.

Who cares how big he is, if he's playing well it Doesnt matter.


Clearing e fort of the net is so overused and yet understood on this site it's hilarious. You don't need to be chara to clear the front of the net. If you're doing your job correctly you don't have to clear the front of the net, proper positioning and you don't have to clear the net. If you have the puck and playing in the other teams zone you don't have to clear the net.

People so obsessed with guys you can clear the net but cannot do anything else. There are other skills that dmen need to have, and if the only thing that a dman can do is clear the net and block shots he's garbage. Those skills are so overrated by people it's absurd.
- burn

I agree with you to a point. I really like skill in hockey - much more than toughness. The reality is that a small superstar talent can be both intimidated and hurt by bigger, meaner, dirtier players. Of the four finalists in the playoffs this year - only Pittsburgh do not have at least one big bruising back liner. The other three have more than one.

I agree with you to a point. I really like skill in hockey - much more than toughness. The reality is that a small superstar talent can be both intimidated and hurt by bigger, meaner, dirtier players. Of the four finalists in the playoffs this year - only Pittsburgh do not have at least one big bruising back liner. The other three have more than one.
- winsix

i think the biggest concern is we already have rielly and gardiner. if we moved gardiner to them, then it'd be worthwhile, but having 3 offensive guys doesn't make much sense.

I agree with you to a point. I really like skill in hockey - much more than toughness. The reality is that a small superstar talent can be both intimidated and hurt by bigger, meaner, dirtier players. Of the four finalists in the playoffs this year - only Pittsburgh do not have at least one big bruising back liner. The other three have more than one.
- winsix

I'm sorry, you'll have to help me with this one. I just looked. Outside of polak on sjs I don't really see one. The blues have on in bortuzzo but he's only played 1/4 of their games, he's not a regular. Coburn on tb don't know if he's a polak or not. Certainly not more than one each.

i think the biggest concern is we already have rielly and gardiner. if we moved gardiner to them, then it'd be worthwhile, but having 3 offensive guys doesn't make much sense.
- matt1337

Barrie would be an upgrade on Gardiner - the question is what would be the cost? It still does not address the requirement of size at the back end. The leafs have a team that does not have size either on defense or up front. Need to offer a safe environment
for the top Leaf players from teams that take liberties - like Flyers did with McDavid and Gianta did with Reimer and like the Bruins have been doing for years.

I'm sorry, you'll have to help me with this one. I just looked. Outside of polak on sjs I don't really see one. The blues have on in bortuzzo but he's only played 1/4 of their games, he's not a regular. Coburn on tb don't know if he's a polak or not. Certainly not more than one each.
- burn

San Jose :Bret Burns 6'5"
St Louis : Alex Pietrangelo 6'4" Colton Paryako 6'6" Jay Boumeeter 6'4"

seriously whats wrong with the size of our defensive prospects?

Valiev is like 210lbs 6ft3 etc

Loov is 6ft3

Barrie would be an upgrade on Gardiner - the question is what would be the cost? It still does not address the requirement of size at the back end. The leafs have a team that does not have size either on defense or up front. Need to offer a safe environment
for the top Leaf players from teams that take liberties - like Flyers did with McDavid and Gianta did with Reimer and like the Bruins have been doing for years.
- winsix

http://www.marlies.ca/team/index.asp

There is some size coming through the system

San Jose :Bret Burns 6'5"
St Louis : Alex Pietrangelo 6'4" Colton Paryako 6'6" Jay Boumeeter 6'4"
- winsix

Those guys have skill and play the game, size isn't determining factor of what is being talked about here.

Those guys aren't Roman polak.

seriously whats wrong with the size of our defensive prospects?

Valiev is like 210lbs 6ft3 etc

Loov is 6ft3
- pinksocked

Lets go get Jared tinor..........

seriously whats wrong with the size of our defensive prospects?

Valiev is like 210lbs 6ft3 etc
- pinksocked

Here are a couple of problems moving forward;

Top prospects coming in (not including Matthews)

Up Front:
Nylander 5'11"
Marner 5'11"
Kapanen 5'10"
Brown 5'11"

Back:

Bracco : 5'9"
Loov 6'5"
Dermott 5'11"
Valiev 6'2"

There's only one guy - and he's not a top prospect. Other teams will take liberties.

Here are a couple of problems moving forward;

Top prospects coming in (not including Matthews)

Up Front:
Nylander 5'11"
Marner 5'11"
Kapanen 5'10"
Brown 5'11"

Back:

Bracco : 5'9"
Loov 6'5"
Dermott 5'11"
Valiev 6'2"

There's only one guy - and he's not a top prospect. Other teams will take liberties.
- winsix

WTF

http://www.marlies.ca/team/index.asp

There is some size coming through the system
- pinksocked

I agree - not much at the top end of the talent pool though.

seriously whats wrong with the size of our defensive prospects?

Valiev is like 210lbs 6ft3 etc
- pinksocked

Zaitsev is 6'2" and 200lbs.

For our younger/B prospects:
Nielsen 6'3"
Desrocher 6'4"
Harrington 6'2"

I'm not worried about it. Towering nasty beast defensemen who can actually play the game and log big minutes? Chara? Ummm... *crickets*

There are plenty of 5/6 guys who can provide some toughness/grit for cheap.

I agree - not much at the top end of the talent pool though.
- winsix

Leivo, Hyman, Lindberg, the Goat. Not high end but 2 or 3 of those will make the Leafs and add size. Add Matthews to that and thats a huge injection of size.