My idea involves not getting crappy players. Don't need "defense first dmen", they need good players that move the puck up the ice and out of their zone. Not trash that get trapped into their own zone.
- burn

Which D-man should Leafs add and how?

So draft pundits are saying Matthews and laine are closer than mcdavid and eichel, and if Matthews is better than eichel, does that mean laine is also better than eichel?
- matt1337

I read 8 of 10 scouts picked Matthews, 2 picked Laine

Which D-man should Leafs add and how?
- MaximusAurelius

Can we wait for Dermott to be 1 of them?

Pittsburgh proved that you can ice a top 4 of puck moving, mobile dmen and have success.

The way of the slow, grinding defensive types are going the way of the enforcer
- WingmanWillie

This

If he plays with C. Carrick on the 3rd pair, I'm good with that. He's cheap.


Gardiner with Zaitsev

Just need that beauty to play with Rielly. Unfortunately, it's lookin like it will be Marincin
- WingmanWillie

I'm guessing that Marincin is moved at the draft, along with perhaps Holland. Those guys in combination with a Bozak or the little guy who used to the #1 goalie in Toronto may find there way to Calgary.



Bernier + Holland
for
Deryk Engelland

or

Bernier + Michalek
for
Smid

I'm guessing that Marincin is moved at the draft, along with perhaps Holland. Those guys in combination with a Bozak or the little guy who used to the #1 goalie in Toronto may find there way to Calgary.



Bernier + Holland
for
Deryk Engelland

or

Bernier + Michalek
for
Smid
- BorjeFan4Ever

Not sure I like either of those, but I'll take trade 2 over trade 1

December 2015 all on the boards here agreed Pittsburg was a mess, in particular their defense being very weak.
They played bad, no points, Kessel not producing, Crosby a shade of his former self.

Pittsburg wins the cup because they have one of best offense in the NHL, including the best player in NHL, not because they have a strong D.
- MaximusAurelius

Who cares? They won the cup

Can we wait for Dermott to be 1 of them?
- walshyleafsfan

I'm all for that (basis of my argument was that with Dermott, Harrington, Zaitsev, Rielly and Carrick, Gardiner might be moved for a different D-guy).
However, Dermott needs 2 more seasons in order to be ready for NHL.
Leafs need a top D man coming season.

BTW for those laughing about adding Girardi to Leafs to get some more defensive acumen; please enlighten me with your ideas how Leafs address the top4 D this offseason (targets, ways to get these players).
- MaximusAurelius

No laughing here, lots of Leaf fans self-included come up with deals that are unlikely. If I had my choice, there are two d-men I would target. Larsson from NJ is a young big skilled d-man, who would easily develop into a number 1 guy. He was a #4 pick of Lou's. NJ is offensively challenged - probably more than any other team. If we could trade JVR, a prospect and a pick (2nd rounder max) - and let NJ negotiate a long term deal with JVR - we would have a number 1 d-man and controllable for a long time. The second deal that is possible would be with the Ducks. They are in trouble because they will lose a solid D-Man unless they make a trade (Las Vegas). I heard they offered Cam Fowler for JVR (main pieces) in a deal. The Leafs want Lindholm and may have to up the deal but it would be for a young guy that can be a number 1 d-man.

Not sure I like either of those, but I'll take trade 2 over trade 1
- WingmanWillie

Who cares? They won the cup
- WingmanWillie

In spite of their D, not because of. You made it sound Pittsburg D was reason for their SC win.

BTW for those laughing about adding Girardi to Leafs to get some more defensive acumen; please enlighten me with your ideas how Leafs address the top4 D this offseason (targets, ways to get these players).
- MaximusAurelius

just as it the case that now and going forward mobility is an increasingly important factor over size... it could be the case that the Leafs would chose to augment the current D-core with a guy like Polak or Demers... who aren't likely to see much PPL time( ) but are locks to kill penalties and work against other team bottom six.

I see a guy like Gardiner as less of liability if he doesn't have to kill penalties.

Net result your top 4 probably play around 20-22 minutes a night.. and then your bottom pair take the PK time and end up with 12-14 minutes a night.

and you do this because guys like Weber are very rare.. a guy that formidable who can still move.

December 2015 all on the boards here agreed Pittsburg was a mess, in particular their defense being very weak.
They played bad, no points, Kessel not producing, Crosby a shade of his former self.

Pittsburg wins the cup because they have one of best offense in the NHL, including the best player in NHL, not because they have a strong D.
- MaximusAurelius

Th have one of the best offenses because their dmen are able to get the puck up and out.they aren't in their zone much so they don't have to be strong defenders. That is the new way of thinking. Teams do not want to get slow plodding defensive players that ar stuck in their own zone anymore.

I read 8 of 10 scouts picked Matthews, 2 picked Laine
- walshyleafsfan

So what you're saying is laine is better than eichel?

Th have one of the best offenses because their dmen are able to get the puck up and out.they aren't in their zone much so they don't have to be strong defenders. That is the new way of thinking. Teams do not want to get slow plodding defensive players that ar stuck in their own zone anymore.
- burn

Bingo. Their forwards are very good, they have Dmen that do a very good job of getting the puck to those forwards.

Which D-man should Leafs add and how?
- MaximusAurelius

No Idea who is really available and what the cost are, so impossible to say.


I do know they don't want girardi. That isn't the team Babcock wants.

Not sure I like either of those, but I'll take trade 2 over trade 1
- WingmanWillie

Agreed and easily.

33 more hours!!!!!!

No laughing here, lots of Leaf fans self-included come up with deals that are unlikely. If I had my choice, there are two d-men I would target. Larsson from NJ is a young big skilled d-man, who would easily develop into a number 1 guy. He was a #4 pick of Lou's. NJ is offensively challenged - probably more than any other team. If we could trade JVR, a prospect and a pick (2nd rounder max) - and let NJ negotiate a long term deal with JVR - we would have a number 1 d-man and controllable for a long time. The second deal that is possible would be with the Ducks. They are in trouble because they will lose a solid D-Man unless they make a trade (Las Vegas). I heard they offered Cam Fowler for JVR (main pieces) in a deal. The Leafs want Lindholm and may have to up the deal but it would be for a young guy that can be a number 1 d-man.
- winsix

He would be ideal. But if NJ deals him, they might as well deal Schneider.
They're not up for that is my guess (bc surely Leafs contacted NJ on Schneider) so I think he's untouchable at NJ.

Anaheim yes, but seems like Lindholm will not be moved either.

I'm wondering Ekholm from NSH (Josi and Weber not being moved?).

Hunwick's year at NYR before being signed by Toronto he had great advanced stats.
- MaximusAurelius

I doubt he was top pairing though.

No Idea who is really available and what the cost are, so impossible to say.


I do know they don't want girardi. That isn't the team Babcock wants.
- burn

You never provide solutions to any of the Leafs problems, you only ever rip others ideas apart and call their ideas stupid.

Pretty impressive.

He would be ideal. But if NJ deals him, they might as well deal Schneider.
They're not up for that is my guess (bc surely Leafs contacted NJ on Schneider) so I think he's untouchable at NJ.

Anaheim yes, but seems like Lindholm will not be moved either.

I'm wondering Ekholm from NSH (Josi and Weber not being moved?).
- MaximusAurelius

Swedes are all the rage these days huh?

You don't think Rielly will have improved any?

If Babs leaned on him last year, why would this year be any different?

I definitely agree that Hunwick is the wrong pairing for him, but I think Rielly plays top pair no matter what
- WingmanWillie

Will they play him there? Yes

Will he be a Corsi god? No, unless they find him a true #1 to play with.

I think he'll turn into a good top pair guy...just not there yet.

You never provide solutions to any of the Leafs problems, you only ever rip others ideas apart and call their ideas stupid.

Pretty impressive.
- bixll

i used to think this too.. but somehow my pov has changed..

You never provide solutions to any of the Leafs problems, you only ever rip others ideas apart and call their ideas stupid.

Pretty impressive.
- bixll

Cool story