agreed. but having to take on Ceci's contract was abhorent.

and then Dubas expecting Ceci to replace Zaitsev's minutes "effectively" was just plain bad judgement.

I'm not talking about the contract escape... or why Dubas had to escape the contract.

I'm talking about the defense that Dubas "constructed"... which I think we fairly describe as somewhere between "shambolic and what-da-phack"
- BorjeFan4Ever

What other D was there?

Would you rather marincin play instead of Ceci?

What contract did Ceci come with exactly.

Pretty clear the plan was to use Ceci as a right handed stop gap, also known as a warm body.

I think last year's blueline was built with this year in mind. Hence the lack of long term anywhere. The feel I get was they came to the realization that permanent solutions weren't a viable option at that point.
- joel878

The problem with fans is thinking there are magically D that fall out of the sky that are available.

The problem with fans is thinking there are magically D that fall out of the sky that are available.
- Santo_44

Not enough supply. Too much demand. But not impossible.

What contract did Ceci come with exactly.

Pretty clear the plan was to use Ceci as a right handed stop gap, also known as a warm body.

I think last year's blueline was built with this year in mind. Hence the lack of long term anywhere. The feel I get was the decision was made that permanent solutions weren't available to them last summer.
- joel878

so... if I'm interpreting you correctly - your saying Dubas was consciously to "Waste a year" ... which may or may not be a reasonable choice. But if true, that means the boy-wonder made conscious decision to go into the season with "patchwork defense" behind $40M in elite forwards.

if this is true... Leaf fans should be calling for Dubas' head.
if this is true ... other Leaf players should be calling for Dubas' head.

I don't think it is true... otherwise Dubas would truly be the most arrogant person on the planet.

So I'll give him the benefit of the doubt... but that means his judgement of Barrie and Ceci was "out to lunch".

there were players who could have help at the TDL, when Muzzin and Rielly were both out... they could have been had for 3rd or 4th pick.

Dubas didn't pull the trigger on those for one of two reasons - i) Shanahan wouldn't let him after the Babcock thing or after the use of picks to escape contracts ii) Dubas didn't feel he needed to patch - that Ceci and Barrie were good enough.

either way "BAD JUDGEMENT" on Dubas part.

By absolute default he would because Ristolainen is (frank)ing garbage.

Nylanders contract is $6.9M. You're an even bigger fool than you're coming off as if you think it's a bad contract.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Its not a bad contract for a quality performing winger. Its a bad contract for a guy that doesnt play in the tough spots, directly benefits from top 10 centers and most certainly will pout when moved to a smaller market.

If you think GMs are lining up to get Nylander, I guess time will tell which one of us is right. The league I watch doesn't trade top flight defenseman for a winger that only plays when he feels like it

What other D was there?

Would you rather marincin play instead of Ceci?
- Santo_44

I would rather have spent a 4th round and acquire Scandella - as one example.

It was and IS Dubas who believes that those two donkeys are good enough. This is about Dubas lack of judgement - not mine.

Its not a bad contract for a quality performing winger. Its a bad contract for a guy that doesnt play in the tough spots, directly benefits from top 10 centers and most certainly will pout when moved to a smaller market.

If you think GMs are lining up to get Nylander, I guess time will tell which one of us is right. The league I watch doesn't trade top flight defenseman for a winger that only plays when he feels like it
- ThundernLightning

First bolded- Again, he led the entire NHL in net front goals.

Second bolded- No. It's already pretty (frank)ing obvious.

Not enough supply. Too much demand. But not impossible.
- gergeswillems

I agree.

Just Ceci was signed as a stop gap because there were no D to be had in his place.

turns out you can just jab a goalie till the puck comes loose and then shoot it in the net. who knew?
- BINGO!

did the broons get an undeserved break?

The problem with fans is thinking there are magically D that fall out of the sky that are available.
- Santo_44

I think the point of interest (in hindsight) is could Dubas have made the trade and then walked away from Ceci? If so, then in hindsight that 4.5 could have been allocated better. If not, then it was what it was and the one year of Ceci was much better than 5 more of NZ.

I would rather have spent a 4th round and acquire Scandella - as one example.

It was and IS Dubas who believes that those two donkeys are good enough. This is about Dubas lack of judgement - not mine.
- BorjeFan4Ever

45 games into the season?

No. What other D were available mid July when Ceci signed.

First bolded- Again, he led the entire NHL in net front goals.

Second bolded- No. It's already pretty (frank)ing obvious.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Please tell me your proof is because Eklund said so....please, please, please tell me that.

AM next captain

https://twitter.com/jonas...tatus/1293577969718493184
- senstroll

He'll be singing a different tune once he hears what Garth has to say

I think the point of interest (in hindsight) is could Dubas have made the trade and then walked away from Ceci? If so, then in hindsight that 4.5 could have been allocated better. If not, then it was what it was and the one year of Ceci was much better than 5 more of NZ.
- The Law

Into who? Who was available mid July?

so... if I'm interpreting you correctly - your saying Dubas was consciously to "Waste a year" ... which may or may not be a reasonable choice. But if true, that means the boy-wonder made conscious decision to go into the season with "patchwork defense" behind $40M in elite forwards.

if this is true... Leaf fans should be calling for Dubas' head.
if this is true ... other Leaf players should be calling for Dubas' head.

I don't think it is true... otherwise Dubas would truly be the most arrogant person on the planet.

So I'll give him the benefit of the doubt... but that means his judgement of Barrie and Ceci was "out to lunch".

there were players who could have help at the TDL, when Muzzin and Rielly were both out... they could have been had for 3rd or 4th pick.

Dubas didn't pull the trigger on those for one of two reasons - i) Shanahan wouldn't let him after the Babcock thing or after the use of picks to escape contracts ii) Dubas didn't feel he needed to patch - that Ceci and Barrie were good enough.

either way "BAD JUDGEMENT" on Dubas part.
- BorjeFan4Ever

I mean clearly your opinion can't be changed and I don't care to really.

Fact of the matter is permanent solutions at RHD aren't exactly falling out of the sky. We're there more viable options traded for or signed last summer? I'm not being cynical, legit question.

You can call it a wasted year, but the fact of the matter is buying into someone they didn't see as a long term solution with assets and term is a far more irresponsible conclusion to come to than plugging a warm body into the lineup for a season with zero long term commitment.

The Barrie trade was yikesy, but the real swing and miss was not parlaying that asset into something useful. There was a point where Barrie on peanuts for cap and no long term commitment would have been a valuable commodity.

For your assessment to be accurate that would mean that this year was do or die for the leafs, and reality is it wasn't. They've been preaching patience from day 1, some people are just incapable of hearing it.

Any GM that thinks he's "A Nylander away" from going deep in the playoffs should immediately be fired.
- ThundernLightning

Same was saif about Kessel.
Ask the pens how that worked out.

They might not hear your trolling through the two rings in their ears.

Shoo

I agree.

Just Ceci was signed as a stop gap because there were no D to be had in his place.
- Santo_44

There was Jake Gardiner. 😉 Everyone knew Ceci sucked. Dumping Zaitsev's contract was the important thing. Going forward I think Sandin is ready to be a regular now. Liljegren isn't far behind. 👍

Same was saif about Kessel.
Ask the pens how that worked out.

They might not hear your trolling through the two rings in their ears.

Shoo
- Fakepartofme

I usually wear rings on my finger and it doesn't effect my hearing.

Please tell me your proof is because Eklund said so....please, please, please tell me that.
- ThundernLightning

Are you serious, Garf?

Same was saif about Kessel.
Ask the pens how that worked out.

They might not hear your trolling through the two rings in their ears.

Shoo
- Fakepartofme

Comparing Nylander to Kessel is a pretty big stretch. Kessel has always been a far superior player

There was Jake Gardiner. 😉 Everyone knew Ceci sucked. Dumping Zaitsev's contract was the important thing. Going forward I think Sandin is ready to be a regular now. Liljegren isn't far behind. 👍
- gergeswillems

Yup, with a 4 year commitment.

At the time, there was no long term fit Dubas was willing to trade for, or was willing to come to TO. So he signed Ceci at a one year commitment.

Makes a lot of sense to me.

Same was saif about Kessel.
Ask the pens how that worked out.

They might not hear your trolling through the two rings in their ears.

Shoo
- Fakepartofme

big diff between Kessel and Nylander. Kessel a level above Nylander. Kessel was the MVP of the playoffs when they won and for some reason they gave conn smythe to crosby...

Are you serious, Garf?
- GreatGigInTheSky

Name calling...clearly you've accepted you've lost this exchange. Ill move on.

Peace and love, my friend.

Name calling...clearly you've accepted you've lost this exchange. Ill move on.

Peace and love, my friend.
- ThundernLightning

Go away and don't come back, you aren't welcome here.

big diff between Kessel and Nylander. Kessel a level above Nylander. Kessel was the MVP of the playoffs when they won and for some reason they gave conn smythe to crosby...
- MisterBrown

Thank you. Its good to have some allies here. Im glad everyone isn't blinded by homerism