He’s been very effective this year in a top 4 role

Exactly what the Leafs need

Who cares how old he was. If he was younger he would be a Norris trophy D man and the Leafs would have had to give up multiple 1sts and prospects.
- Santo_44

Santo, you’ve never seen a Leafs move you didn’t like.

If this is all Dubas has up his sleeve, I’m afraid it’s not enough. Still time left on the TDL clock - let’s see if he has more in store.

He’s been very effective this year in a top 4 role

Exactly what the Leafs need

Who cares how old he was. If he was younger he would be a Norris trophy D man and the Leafs would have had to give up multiple 1sts and prospects.
- Santo_44

He literally won the Norris just 3 years ago at the age of 35. Lol

You’re bang on…..He’s still very good

Any Leafs fan who is critical of this team gets automagically deemed a troll.

Must. Drink. Kool-Aid.
- mjones242

Jonesy is not a troll, he's ok, just misguided on this one. Giordano won the Norris 3 years ago. I would be happy if the Leafs added 45 year old Chara to take out the trash and maybe even stand in front of the opposition net on a PP. Leafs still could use a forward or D-Man that can smash IMO.

Giordano won the Norris 3 years ago
They also got Blackwell

And they got a better 3rd by moving Dermott who would never play in a game for them again

Believing anything further is going to happen is nothing more than fantasizing unless it’s a little move to ensure they have the cap space for Muzzin.
- Dozzer

The Leafs have plenty of cap space left. There’s no need to rush Muzzin back into the lineup - especially now that Gio effectively takes Muzzin’s 2LHD slot.

They’ve got a few million to work with. Why pull the cord now?!

Honestly didn't know much about blackwell, but from reading up on him could be a goodrow,coleman type add.
- Kurtsy

Here's hoping. Wouldn't that be something

The Leafs have plenty of cap space left. There’s no need to rush Muzzin back into the lineup - especially now that Gio effectively takes Muzzin’s 2LHD slot.

They’ve got a few million to work with. Why pull the cord now?!
- mjones242

The leafs don’t get to decide that’s why.

If the doctors say he’s good to go and he himself feels ready the leafs have to put him back in the lineup, or at least just have him sit out while his cap hit counts

As I said Dubas has already said he’s skating again and they hope to have him back in the lineup before seasons end.

Fantastic line from Kristen Shilton:

Now, it's true that Giordano isn't the player he was for most of his 15 seasons with the Calgary Flames. But the 38-year-old did just win a Norris Trophy in 2018-19 after a 74-point season, so he's not too far removed from his prime, either. And he's a Toronto-area product, which might tangibly mean nothing but always makes for a good sidebar.

Go Leafs Go

A Cup parade in Toronto will be such a perfect centrepiece of a post-pandemic summer. 💙😍

The team is better than it was yesterday - significantly so.

Out -Dermott and 2 2nds
In Giordao and Blackwell

Giordano is still a very good NHL D-man if he wasn't the Rangers wouldn't have been trying so hard to get him. Good shot from the point (a weakness for the Leafs) Excellent at clearing the front of the net (also needed) can cross-check with the best of them.
- winsix

Well there now. We're going all the way.

Santo, you’ve never seen a Leafs move you didn’t like.

If this is all Dubas has up his sleeve, I’m afraid it’s not enough. Still time left on the TDL clock - let’s see if he has more in store.
- mjones242

There are contenders, and there are pretenders. What other 'contender' had legit concerns at all three groups: forward, defence, and goaltending? Dubas' refusal to push all his chips in to match these other teams tells you everything you need to know what he thinks about this group's chances.

The leafs don’t get to decide that’s why.

If the doctors say he’s good to go and he himself feels ready the leafs have to put him back in the lineup, or at least just have him sit out while his cap hit counts

As I said Dubas has already said he’s skating again and they hope to have him back in the lineup before seasons end.
- Dozzer

Oh Dozzer.

Did you miss the whole Kucherov thingy?

Jonesy is not a troll, he's ok, just misguided on this one. Giordano won the Norris 3 years ago. I would be happy if the Leafs added 45 year old Chara to take out the trash and maybe even stand in front of the opposition net on a PP. Leafs still could use a forward or D-Man that can smash IMO.
- winsix

Six, I’m not saying Gio is hot trash - I’m saying he doesn’t move the needle enough. The Leafs are likely a dog against FLA or TBL in the first round.

Not sure what I’m wrong about here. I am not confident this team has enough to vault them over the competition.

Do you think this move keeps pace with FLA, TBL, and BOS? Even generously, if it does, are you optimistic?

Lastly, Chara is absolutely horrendous at this stage. Hard pass.

Santo, you’ve never seen a Leafs move you didn’t like.

If this is all Dubas has up his sleeve, I’m afraid it’s not enough. Still time left on the TDL clock - let’s see if he has more in store.
- mjones242

But it is a decent move. You get Gio who may be 38, but is still a legitimate top-4 option. Right now he's playing better than Muzzin has been. If you get a decent pairing out of Gio/Brodie, and Rielly and Boosh keep doing alright in the top spot, then a Muzzin/Holl bottom pairing is better than most team's 5/6 spots. Holl is a great bottom pair guy, he struggles when you bring him in against the other team's top lines. The same can be said for Muzzin this year. Both will benefit from having that extra half-second to make a decision.


What they need is to close gaps and get on the puck carrier faster and eliminate the guy crossing the blue line with speed by closing on him more quickly. Gio and Brodie as a pair can do that. Rielly and Boosh have been doing that alright over the past 3 games (small sample, I know and not against elite competition really) If Muzz and Holl are able to step up against the bottom-6 guys, it will vastly improve whoever we put in net.

The leafs don’t get to decide that’s why.

If the doctors say he’s good to go and he himself feels ready the leafs have to put him back in the lineup, or at least just have him sit out while his cap hit counts

As I said Dubas has already said he’s skating again and they hope to have him back in the lineup before seasons end.
- Dozzer

No team has ever circumvented the cap before and had players miraculously recover Game 1.

There are contenders, and there are pretenders. What other 'contender' had legit concerns at all three groups: forward, defence, and goaltending? Dubas' refusal to push all his chips in to match these other teams tells you everything you need to know what he thinks about this group's chances.
- fifty__missions

Go on….

I get where Dubas is coming from,not wanting to spend a first on a rental,but if he can swing it for somebody with term then he's gotta do it. Leafs are in win now mode. I would trade any prospect not named knies or toppi.

Dubious has been good at finding cheap bottom 6 contracts to fill out lineup.

Nice, I can keep watching Cpt. Cornrow develop into Travis Theodore

Oh Dozzer.

Did you miss the whole Kucherov thingy?
- Atomic Wedgie

I don’t care what other teams have done. I’ll continue to believe Dubas over things that are nothing more than fantasizing by media looking for hits.

He had one primary deal for a d man - yup

The forwards moved were either part of that deal or just making cap space for that deal - yup

He has said they want Muzzin back before the playoffs - yup

So no, I don’t believe they’ll make any deal that taps into the cap space they need for Muzzin

No team has ever circumvented the cap before and had players miraculously recover Game 1.
- mjones242

Not everyone cheats

Keep that in mind if it’s not too busy dreaming

Ok so only thing you COULD do at this point is more moves of a hockey nature. Which means money out.

Holl at 2mil could go out but you bring in cheaper then meaning Middleton or the like at 750k.

Now thing is what forward do we get for low money? That likely means one of Mik, Kerfoot, or Engvall out so can look at a couple mil guy. Or maybe Robertson and a 1mil guy.

Likely not happening I agree here at this point. Could be wrong and well anything CAN happen but…

But it is a decent move. You get Gio who may be 38, but is still a legitimate top-4 option. Right now he's playing better than Muzzin has been. If you get a decent pairing out of Gio/Brodie, and Rielly and Boosh keep doing alright in the top spot, then a Muzzin/Holl bottom pairing is better than most team's 5/6 spots. Holl is a great bottom pair guy, he struggles when you bring him in against the other team's top lines. The same can be said for Muzzin this year. Both will benefit from having that extra half-second to make a decision.


What they need is to close gaps and get on the puck carrier faster and eliminate the guy crossing the blue line with speed by closing on him more quickly. Gio and Brodie as a pair can do that. Rielly and Boosh have been doing that alright over the past 3 games (small sample, I know and not against elite competition really) If Muzz and Holl are able to step up against the bottom-6 guys, it will vastly improve whoever we put in net.
- Monkeypunk

I think I’ve overstepped my usual negative Nelly routine (never intentionally trollworthy!).

Think I’m just angsty about other moves made by rivals. FLA and TBL are juggernauts that we’ll need a lot of luck and some solid tending against.

Hope Gio and Brodie find their Norris chemistry again - even if not quite as glorious.

Curious about Blackwell. Seems small but feisty. Not sure about his skating - hope he has wheels (zero clue).

GLG.

Santo, you’ve never seen a Leafs move you didn’t like.

If this is all Dubas has up his sleeve, I’m afraid it’s not enough. Still time left on the TDL clock - let’s see if he has more in store.
- mjones242

Flat out false but do whatever narrative you like

I am not a complainer and I don't have crippling anxiety for the future(trading picks) like most on here

Six, I’m not saying Gio is hot trash - I’m saying he doesn’t move the needle enough. The Leafs are likely a dog against FLA or TBL in the first round.

Not sure what I’m wrong about here. I am not confident this team has enough to vault them over the competition.

Do you think this move keeps pace with FLA, TBL, and BOS? Even generously, if it does, are you optimistic?

Lastly, Chara is absolutely horrendous at this stage. Hard pass.
- mjones242

This group is already better than Boston.

Tampa is still the team to beat, but their bottom-6 isn't the same bottom-6 it was. Their defense and goaltending is still great. Florida's defense is excellent, but their goaltending has been bottom third all year. They are an excellent team, but they also have warts.

Do we know that Campbell doesn't return to form? Do we think he was on an 50-60 game hot streak or is there the likelihood of injury and defensive lapses casting some shadow there. If Gio stabilizes the top-4 and Campbell returns as himself, there's a lot to like. Sure there's a lot unknown, but you can't address everything. You have to have some faith in the guys you have who have shown they're capable. I'd love to find a 2LW who's an upgrade on Kase/Kerfoot, but with the $1.9m available, I'm not sure I see that answer in this TDL.

I'm honestly not even sure Chychrun does what we want - he's not a shut down guy, he's just fancy.

Flat out false but do whatever narrative you like

I am not a complainer and I don't have crippling anxiety for the future(trading picks) like most on here
- Santo_44

Oh

Alan Walsh just posted a flower emoji, might have a deal