He’s a bottom pairing d man!

What the hell else do you expect from him? Top minutes? PP dominance? All star performance? What?
- Dozzer

I'm critical of saying that he's been one of the "Leafs best" because:

1. He doesn't play much and when he does it's in highly protected situations

2. The dumpster fire surrounding him has made his mediocreness more tolerable.

The best I can say about him: he sucks but he hasn't been worse (or better) this season than last.

from a bottom pairing guy, you would expect they know how to play defense, no? Or is that just me?
- PatC80

I'm with you, but also they don't expect their top pairing defenceman to know how to play defence (Rielly) so there's that.

Which he gets due to his rookie partner who isn’t very capable defensively yet

Keep blaming Dermott for Sandin’s weaknesses however
- Dozzer

I'm not blaming Dermott for Sandin's perceived weaknesses... I'm blaming Dermott because he's not an NHL calibre defenseman.

from a bottom pairing guy, you would expect they know how to play defense, no? Or is that just me?
- PatC80

Notice how when he wasn’t in the game they lost 7-1 to a team full of secondary guys and minor league players?

I’m guessing no because your hate for him blinds you

I'm not blaming Dermott for Sandin's perceived weaknesses... I'm blaming Dermott because he's not an NHL calibre defenseman.
- PatC80

He’s fine you know it all

Notice how when he wasn’t in the game they lost 7-1 to a team full of secondary guys and minor league players?

I’m guessing no because your hate for him blinds you
- Dozzer

So, if Dermott was in the lineup, you think they'd win that game? Or what lose 6-1?

Come on, bud...

I think your hate for Sandin is blinding you

I'm critical of saying that he's been one of the "Leafs best" because:

1. He doesn't play much and when he does it's in highly protected situations

2. The dumpster fire surrounding him has made his mediocreness more tolerable.

The best I can say about him: he sucks but he hasn't been worse (or better) this season than last.
- mjones242

He’s decent he doesn’t suck

He’s a bottom pairing guy so stop expecting him to get lots of ice time and perform miracles

Notice how when he wasn’t in the game they lost 7-1 to a team full of secondary guys and minor league players?

I’m guessing no because your hate for him blinds you
- Dozzer

Wait... you think Dermott and his 13mins a game makes a difference in that 7-1 blowout loss?

There’s so many lunatics here who think the leafs should cut Dermott in order to play Liljegren and have two rookies full time on the D


- Dozzer

Yeaaaah I wouldn't say a couple rookies on the same pairing is the answer but something needs to be done there.

Id maybe be for a Muzzin Liljegren second pair and rotating Dermott / Sandin with Holl on the bottom in the interim. 🤷🏻‍♂️

We need another defenceman, like a real one that can defend. If Rielly could defend I don't think that's so desperate a need. But Dermott and Holl are not world beaters, then we have two rookies. Somethings got to be done there.

So, if Dermott was in the lineup, you think they'd win that game? Or what lose 6-1?

Come on, bud...

I think your hate for Sandin is blinding you
- PatC80

I don’t hate Sandin but unlike you guys I’m willing to acknowledge he’s a (frank)ing rookie so he’s going to (frank) up… A LOT

He scored 6 pts in 51 games last year so I'm doubting he hits double digits this year. I expect he'll be swapped with Liljegren a bit and potentially whoever they presumably end up picking up at the TDL.

If he scores 15pts though, I'll be ecstatic!
- mjones242

Yes well I expected Toronto to go back to their insane scoring ways so I figured he'd give me a few points just by passing it to Matthews from time to time.

That is faint praise.

Dermott has been given sweetheart zone starts all year and very little TOI. He's less than mediocre but has looked better because of the carnage that surrounds him.
- mjones242

Sandin and Dermott have been good.

They have even taken some mins off of Muzzin and Holl.


If it keeps up they will take even more.

He’s decent he doesn’t suck

He’s a bottom pairing guy so stop expecting him to get lots of ice time and perform miracles
- Dozzer

I'm not expecting him to get lots of ice time or perform miracles.

Yeaaaah I wouldn't say a couple rookies on the same pairing is the answer but something needs to be done there.

Id maybe be for a Muzzin Liljegren second pair and rotating Dermott / Sandin with Holl on the bottom in the interim. 🤷🏻‍♂️
- joel878

Liljegren is getting sent back to the AHL as soon as Mikheyev is healthy so don’t depend on or play him too much

i got tickets to the Tronna sports card expo thingy
gunna go blow a bunch of money on stuff I dont need
- senstroll

Please ask them how much my 1984 Canada Cup poster is worth:



I'm assuming a bajillion dollars, but I'd be willing to part with it for 3 zillion dollars.

watches sandin get out worked and scored on....cool cool
- senstroll

He’s fine you know it all
- Dozzer

Until he proves he can handle the defensive part of being a defenseman, I don't think he should be in the Leafs lineup.. Maybe give someone like Carl Dahlstrom a chance

Just did lol

Altho the shot should have never happened tbh
- Dozzer

Holy smokes, shots happen on a plays like that. ?, should have been called for the major slash on Sandin. JMO, But shots happen during 1 on 1 battles.

Liljegren is getting sent back to the AHL as soon as Mikheyev is healthy so don’t depend on or play him too much
- Dozzer

I'm not so sure, think Amadio goes.

Think they prefer to keep 7 D up with the uncertainty there, at least in the short term.

I can see a minor trade happening eventually. Forward + dman for defenceman. Or something like that.

Wait... you think Dermott and his 13mins a game makes a difference in that 7-1 blowout loss?
- mjones242

Liljegren was beat multiple times

Wait... you think Dermott and his 13mins a game makes a difference in that 7-1 blowout loss?
- mjones242

The Leafs would have had more O-zone starts with Dermott on the ice.. Since that is really the only time he plays

I don’t hate Sandin but unlike you guys I’m willing to acknowledge he’s a (frank)ing rookie so he’s going to (frank) up… A LOT
- Dozzer

But he hasn't. He has been very good.

(frank), a player split the D in Tampa, made Hedman and the Russian look like Pee Wee D men too...

Holy smokes, shots happen on a plays like that. ?, should have been called for the major slash on Sandin. JMO, But shots happen during 1 on 1 battles.
- bixll

Yes which also means it was Sandin who got defeated

Why do you guys think he’s so bloody perfect? He’s good but he’s a rookie and he’s far from stable due to that

I hope so.

But also, we've played Montreal (who are getting killed), Ottawa twice and a Pittsburgh lineup which was decimated. Where was his 3 points then so we could stop dumping on him and talk about how it was against poop teams. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Id have even settled for 3 points over the 4 games. 🤦🏻‍♂️
- joel878

I think everyone agrees a Leaf loss against the Hawks tonight would be highly problematic.

On the other hand, sometimes you need to hit a hard bottom in order to empower change. If the Leafs lose against the Hawks will there be an intervention of some type? Is there anyone in the Leaf system at risk of losing their job over the next few days.
- spatso

2.5

https://www.hockeybuzz.co...post_id=21874923#21874923