Leafs don’t even have it bad...at least they’re competitive enough to have a shot at getting into the playoffs even with their shortcomings.

Speaking of shortcomings...why doesn’t anyone talk about the Panthers? They have everything and still suck.
- Trilla

Dont worry, i'll be forced to drop Bob in my fantasy team this year.

He'll be due for a vezina bounce back season next year after that.

With loads of cap space, would Ottawa help TO and pry that 15th pick out of them?, then they could start bundling the 15 and nyi pick for something good such as tkachuck

Are you sure about that? Rielly, Muzzin, Dermott, and Sandin are all LD, they're about to lose both Ceci/Barrie at RD, there's no real physical threat on their blue line, as a team they had the 4th fewest hits in the league, they were 3rd worst in the league in GA, and their PK was in the bottom 1/3 of the league at <78%. Sanderson (LD) projects as a better all-round d-man, but I would seriously question whether he was actually closer to what the Leafs need than Schneider (RD)... even before considering the additional resource cost to actually move up high enough to draft him. Not to mention the rather obvious potential for Schneider to become a major fan favorite, especially on a team where heart and determination are being openly questioned.
- khawk

Losing Barrie and Ceci should be considered a blessing to the Leafs, especially Ceci. The Leafs should take Schneider at number 15 if he is still available. There is no way they will shell out the assets to get Sanderson. He should go 5-7!

Are you sure about that? Rielly, Muzzin, Dermott, and Sandin are all LD, they're about to lose both Ceci/Barrie at RD, there's no real physical threat on their blue line, as a team they had the 4th fewest hits in the league, they were 3rd worst in the league in GA, and their PK was in the bottom 1/3 of the league at <78%. Sanderson (LD) projects as a better all-round d-man, but I would seriously question whether he was actually closer to what the Leafs need than Schneider (RD)... even before considering the additional resource cost to actually move up high enough to draft him. Not to mention the rather obvious potential for Schneider to become a major fan favorite, especially on a team where heart and determination are being openly questioned.
- khawk

Leafs have moved Reilly to the right side to accommodate Muzzin before. They could do that with their other dmen. Sanderson plays a shutdown defensive role, which the leafs need..they don’t need another puck moving defenseman in Schneider just because he plays on the right side.

I still feel they trade that pick..because the player they draft won’t help them this season or next. But if they get no takers, it’s possible they draft Schneider (if he isn’t taken). If he is, maybe they take Guhle

PD is taking too long for my liking, I hope to hear some rumbling of rumors of UFA /RFA or trades soon to come??? How about getting another 1st rounder around 6-10 🤣🤣🧐🧐🧐

Dont worry, i'll be forced to drop Bob in my fantasy team this year.

He'll be due for a vezina bounce back season next year after that.
- david22

I never draft a goalie for my first 2-3 picks.

Leafs have moved Reilly to the right side to accommodate Muzzin before. They could do that with their other dmen. Sanderson plays a shutdown defensive role, which the leafs need..they don’t need another puck moving defenseman in Schneider just because he plays on the right side.
- Trilla

So...

a) Moving your best players out of their natural position to fill gaps is what you do out of necessity when you don't construct your roster properly... it shouldn't be your "A" plan, especially when it's clearly not working out all that well.

b) I would be curious to know where you got the impression that Schneider is a puck-moving defenceman, because the majority of assessments cite the offensive side of the game as his biggest limitation. Defensively, he's considered to be among the best in the draft, and probably the most physical and NHL-ready d-man available.

So...

a) Moving your best players out of their natural position to fill gaps is what you do out of necessity when you don't construct your roster properly... it shouldn't be your "A" plan, especially when it's clearly not working out all that well.

b) I would be curious to know where you got the impression that Schneider is a puck-moving defenceman, because the majority of assessments cite the offensive side of the game as his biggest limitation. Defensively, he's considered to be among the best in the draft, and probably the most physical and NHL-ready d-man available.
- khawk

I didn’t say I agree with them moving him to the right, I’m just saying the leafs haven’t been afraid to shift players out of their natural positions.

When it comes to Schneider:

You’re right, he is good defensively and has physical elements to his game (after all, he’s like 6’2). I don’t think I’d put him as the most physical (Ghule takes that spot even though Schneider seems more flashy with hits)

I remember him at the under18s joining the the rush all the time though and this year he pretty much got half his points on the man advantage. Didn’t realize people think he’s the most NHL ready dman..To me, there is no dman that looks NHL ready this season. That includes Drysdale.

Calgary kind of reminds me of Sens in 2007 when they went to the cup and got destroyed by the Ducks (unproven Goalie, sniper, playmaker, leader, decent top 4 D) . However, Calgary has Tkachuk - a player that Ottawa has never had (until Brady!). I'd give that group at least 2 more years to try and get it done. No way I'd trade Tkachuk.

BUT to play along with the thread - I'd think you'd have to give up the 3rd or 5th and Islanders 1st round pick, Brannstrom, and one of the million goalies Ottawa has. Probably even another prospect like Thomson/Norris/Brown/etc. or a proven player like Brown/Tierney. It would be a really stupid trade.

I only see the Flames blowing things up if they have a locker room similar to Ottawa a couple years ago.

Opening right roster? (sign Hamonic)

Brady Tkachuk - Chris Tierney - Connor Brown
Anthony Duclair - Quinton Byfield - Colin White
Lucas Raymond - Josh Norris - Drake Batherson
Nick Paul - Logan Brown - Bobby Ryan

Thomas Chabot - Travis Hamonic
Erik Brannstrom - Nikita Zaitsev
Christian Wolanin - Artem Zub
Mike Rielly - Christian Jaros

Anders Nilsson
Marcus Hogberg

Leafs have moved Reilly to the right side to accommodate Muzzin before. They could do that with their other dmen. Sanderson plays a shutdown defensive role, which the leafs need..they don’t need another puck moving defenseman in Schneider just because he plays on the right side.

I still feel they trade that pick..because the player they draft won’t help them this season or next. But if they get no takers, it’s possible they draft Schneider (if he isn’t taken). If he is, maybe they take Guhle
- Trilla

Sanderson was considered the best defensive D Man in this years draft. Then the unthinkable happened in his last 2 tournaments where his offensive skills emerged. As a result he rocketed up the charts and many think he has surpassed Drysdale. L

Sanderson was considered the best defensive D Man in this years draft. Then the unthinkable happened in his last 2 tournaments where his offensive skills emerged. As a result he rocketed up the charts and many think he has surpassed Drysdale. L
- Barrykerr1

very few people actually think he's surpassed Drysdale......something like 3 of the top 20 rankings had him ahead

very few people actually think he's surpassed Drysdale......something like 3 of the top 20 rankings had him ahead
- sensarmy_11

I think Sanderson is a good pick. But, need to go cautiously. Sanderson is top ranked American in draft and he gets an extra push from the US hockey media because of that.

A larger issue is Sanderson is one of the younger draft eligible players (like Byfield) and that is a legitimate reason to look closely at his late season performance. Year end tournaments and playoffs almost always give a boost to the younger draft eligible kids.

very few people actually think he's surpassed Drysdale......something like 3 of the top 20 rankings had him ahead
- sensarmy_11

This is why I don’t buy in to the Sanderson hype.

Drysdale has been a constant since the beginning of the year and was regarded as the best dman in this class.

All of a sudden, we get no hockey and Sanderson’s name comes up as a dark horse.

We’ve got to remember that their are so few “highly touted” dmen in this class...so the value of their position automatically goes up in draft rankings.

very few people actually think he's surpassed Drysdale......something like 3 of the top 20 rankings had him ahead
- sensarmy_11

True, except many of the rankings acknowledge that Sanderson has been one of the fastest risers in the draft, which can be a major X-factor on draft day. The question is, how much do things like late birthday, development trajectory, and projected upside overtake the more established performance data? For instance, Stutzle & Drysdale got significant WJC exposure this year... while Byfield played in a more limited role, and Sanderson has yet to even have that opportunity. Now I'd say the Byfield/Stutzle duo is more widely regarded as a coin toss, but this isn't to say that Drysdale/Sanderson isn't an equally interesting choice for a team looking to add on the blue line. And in both cases, it doesn't matter who's objectively achieved more as of Oct/2020, it only matters what success they're likely to have in the NHL.

Case in point, Sam Cosentino's most recent mock draft has Stutzle-Byfield going #2/#3, Sanderson-Drysdale going #5/#6, and Holtz-Raymond falling to #8/#9.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXbhYXwzSBw

Now I'd generally prefer that they focus on forwards at 3/5, and I get the sense the Stutzle/Drysdale crowd would be seriously pissed off if this mock draft came to fruition... but it's not like Byfield/Sanderson wouldn't be a major upgrade to both their top line and top-4 D pairings.

True, except many of the rankings acknowledge that Sanderson has been one of the fastest risers in the draft, which can be a major X-factor on draft day. The question is, how much do things like late birthday, development trajectory, and projected upside overtake the more established performance data? For instance, Stutzle & Drysdale got significant WJC exposure this year... while Byfield played in a more limited role, and Sanderson has yet to even have that opportunity. Now I'd say the Byfield/Stutzle duo is more widely regarded as a coin toss, but this isn't to say that Drysdale/Sanderson isn't an equally interesting choice for a team looking to add on the blue line. And in both cases, it doesn't matter who's objectively achieved more as of Oct/2020, it only matters what success they're likely to have in the NHL.

Case in point, Sam Cosentino's most recent mock draft has Stutzle-Byfield going #2/#3, Sanderson-Drysdale going #5/#6, and Holtz-Raymond falling to #8/#9.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXbhYXwzSBw

Now I'd generally prefer that they focus on forwards at 3/5, and I get the sense the Stutzle/Drysdale crowd would be seriously pissed off if this mock draft came to fruition... but it's not like Byfield/Sanderson wouldn't be a major upgrade to both their top line and top-4 D pairings.
- khawk

Watched the Cosentino video. Really great analysis. If the Sens end up with Byfield and Sanderson they will have taken both of the really young guys from the top ranked players.

I knew that Sanderson had size and played a physical game. I did not know that he had an edge (mean streak) as part of his game.

I was intrigued by the discussion that Sanderson could become for Chabot what Jones and Werenski are for each other. This is probably a huge reach, but it is surely an exciting reach.