I think what Tampa has done has been very overrated by the fact they are Tampa.

I said what I said.
- joel878

Tampa's core is solid/proven and they have an all-world goalie. Hagel is a really nice add for them.

They scare me more than FLA, tbh. 🤷

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.
- Monkeypunk

Boston is two points behind the Leafs, with 1/4 of the season to play.

And we have no goalie.

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

It absolutely does. It frees Brodie from the pulldown of Holl. That, in itself, upgrades the team.

Now they just need to trade him away and the team improves even more.

You know Dubas did okay when there are no trolls here.
- shack67

👋

Not too worried about Boston TBH. On the Leafs side, with decent goaltending, a top six as good as any IMO, the Leafs can beat any team in a given game. The rest is up to the boys and Keefe. I think there is still a move to get some serious beef. Leafs 3rd line is easily the best its been. Mikheyev, the way he is skating right now would be a top six player on most teams.
- winsix

I'll definitely miss Mik's speed next season.

Gio is no longer a “very good” d-man. He’s a legit Top 4 presence but he’s nowhere near his Norris days. His offence has dried up and the jury is still out whether his numbers were propped up by Soucy this season. (there was a good breakdown article about this I read that have conveniently forgotten the link to)

Having said that, the Leafs have improved but this move, IMHO, does not match those made by their divisional rivals.

Blackwell? Meh… Marginal improvement on the 4th.

I’ll have to disagree with the “significantly” better team assessment.

They’ve moved the needle slightly but so has every other contender other than… the Canes? (who have been inexplicably quiet)
- mjones242

An honest take 👍

Wonder what number Gio wears? 🤷🏼‍♂️

Typical Leafy move, go for the crippled old warhorse and ignore a younger defenseman like Jacob Chykrun. Waste assets on another on their way out veteran. Out again in the first. Bye Dubas, don't let the door hit you on the way out!

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

He struggles the second he touches the ice.

Wonder what number Gio wears? 🤷🏼‍♂️
- .HOHO.

55. Book it!

Typical Leafy move, go for the crippled old warhorse and ignore a younger defenseman like Jacob Chykrun. Waste assets on another on their way out veteran. Out again in the first. Bye Dubas, don't let the door hit you on the way out!
- PrinceLH

We missed you so much.

How was the convoy?

Typical Leafy move, go for the crippled old warhorse and ignore a younger defenseman like Jacob Chykrun. Waste assets on another on their way out veteran. Out again in the first. Bye Dubas, don't let the door hit you on the way out!
- PrinceLH

Yeah cause Az was just dying to hand over Chychrun for nothing. What a flaming hot take of 💩 there

And who said the trolls weren’t showing up

Typical Leafy move, go for the crippled old warhorse and ignore a younger defenseman like Jacob Chykrun. Waste assets on another on their way out veteran. Out again in the first. Bye Dubas, don't let the door hit you on the way out!
- PrinceLH

Kind of feel like Chychrun is a better off-season move than desperation TDL acquisition.

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

You’re bang on…..He’s still very good
- Dozzer

Disagree. He’s very solid but could be better given he’s escaped Seattle. He’s definitely not a liability in any way.

Alan Walsh just posted a flower emoji, might have a deal
- Santo_44

Maybe he forgot to add the poop emoji, because that's what Fleury looks like in net tonight.

Maybe he forgot to add the poop emoji, because that's what Fleury looks like in net tonight.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Fleury suddenly loves being in Chicago I guess?

I like our chances. The only reason we got Gio for less than a first is because Francis did Gio a solid.
Our top 4 matches up well against any other team.
- shack67

Poll the D stands up to ANY other team.

I’ll start with no. TB easily is better.

Wonder what number Gio wears? 🤷🏼‍♂️
- .HOHO.

55¯\_(ツ)_/¯

He struggles the second he touches the ice.
- GreatGigInTheSky

I don't have a defense for this. Sort of like Holl.

Typical Leafy move, go for the crippled old warhorse and ignore a younger defenseman like Jacob Chykrun. Waste assets on another on their way out veteran. Out again in the first. Bye Dubas, don't let the door hit you on the way out!
- PrinceLH

I take it, you are not a fan of this trade

I'll definitely miss Mik's speed next season.
- mjones242

Me too

I think, to make it clear I'm not going after you here, that's sort of where I'm at . . . I don't see what clear path there is to having confidence that we can get out of the Atlantic when you have to run the gauntlet of Tampa & Florida (not to mention Boston isn't a bad team), but I do think Gio and Blackwell help.

As you said, do they move the needle? Individually, probably not - but in terms of how they affect the role that other guys play, it could be what we need.

I like this team - but similarly, I don't know if they can beat Florida or Tampa, but I don't think they are vastly outclassed.
- Monkeypunk

Imo it will come down to all buying in & playing as a team in both ends. It’s more about total commitment. No team goes far without it.

Wonder what number Gio wears? 🤷🏼‍♂️
- .HOHO.

55 apparently

David Pagnotta
@TheFourthPerod
·
45m
#Isles have called teams to gauge interest in D Scott Mayfield. Ask is a 2nd and prospect. #stlblues and #GoKingsGo have been talking.

For those of you Mayfield lovers

NVM fake tweet

Just off the phone with Paul Giordano, Mark’s father, from Toronto.

Paul: “He can now play together with my daughter’s kids. We can be together as a family.”

Added how much the Giordanos appreciate team, fans, city: all for an incredible experience in Seattle. #SeaKraken
- Mike Benton

https://twitter.com/Bento...&t=jVAoRt1nK70mWlf9N3vpRw

Now I don't want to say Gio will necessarily sign again with TO, but... awwwww. He prolly will, amirite/amirov?