Yes but I'll say it a million times, it addresses a gap... Not the problem. The problem with Toronto's blueline is not one pairing, it is 3 pairings. Pietrangelo does not alleviate that problem. A hockey game is 60 minutes not 25.
- joel878

We can put together a bottom pairing with two of Dermott, Sandin, Liljegrin, Holl, Lehtonen.

If you sign Pietrangelo the first pairing is locked in.

Which means you end up with one hole on defense - the right side 2nd pairing. I'm fine with that being up for competition between the guys mentioned above. We have to give players the opportunity to improve and move up the lineup. This past season saw us try the "two for one" strategy with Barrie/Ceci -didn't work.

If the Leafs had Bobrovsky, have to assume that us Leaf fans would be begging Dubas to get Frederik Andersen
- PatC80

Was he was also letting in those extra large pizzas every single game in the five hole as he won two Vezinas for Columbus?

Why would they add salary, we've constantly been tols that they are broke and want to shed salary.
- Fakepartofme

to be fair ...they are probably going to let Dadonov and hoffman walk so matheson for hornquist re-allocates money ...savings.

Seems like not many, if any, of the players were on Babs' page, either.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Most of the players were on Babs' page, except for Matthews and Nylander.

Yes but I'll say it a million times, it addresses a gap... Not the problem. The problem with Toronto's blueline is not one pairing, it is 3 pairings. Pietrangelo does not alleviate that problem. A hockey game is 60 minutes not 25.
- joel878

It actually does. It means all the guys miscast in trying to play higher in the line up shift down. Getting a top guy does trickle down and help fix the other pairings.

It means a guy who was playing 20 minutes a night now only has to play 15 and maybe that helps him be more effective by not being so tired.

Ya. The money is more (for Florida) upfront. I think Florida is just trying to fill the Dadonov/Hoffman role without taking on more salary. They can replace Matheson with a cheap contract.
- The Law

matheson's ntc kicks in next year. easier to move his long-term commitment this year.

seems odd still. i'm guessing pitts may be retaining salary. or something else going FLA's way.

It actually does. It means all the guys miscast in trying to play higher in the line up shift down. Getting a top guy does trickle down and help fix the other pairings.

It means a guy who was playing 20 minutes a night now only has to play 15 and maybe that helps him be more effective by not being so tired.
- Aaron_85

also, important playoff mins...AP....not ceci or holl or marincin

i know, I just said ceci and holl

that didnt work out well
- senstroll

Out of the whole League, those are the only options?

Here’s the free agent list. You can’t find somebody for $5M or so?


https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-agents/ufa/

If that doesn’t work, let’s trade. Scroll down to $5.5M (Parayko territory) and start looking. There’s lots of good defencemen that we could trade for.

https://www.spotrac.com/n...kings/cap-hit/defenseman/

We need a top pairing guy to play with Rielly. If Dubas can get AP in a way that doesn’t screw the team going forward, I’ll change my name to JFJ2 and be very happy.i just don’t see how he can do it.

Out of the whole League, those are the only options?

Here’s the free agent list. You can’t find somebody for $5M or so?


https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-agents/ufa/

If that doesn’t work, let’s trade. Scroll down to $5.5M (Parayko territory) and start looking. There’s lots of good defencemen that we could trade for.

https://www.spotrac.com/n...kings/cap-hit/defenseman/

We need a top pairing guy to play with Rielly. If Dubas can get AP in a way that doesn’t screw the team going forward, I’ll change my name to JFJ2 and be very happy.i just don’t see how he can do it.
- Canada Cup

Krug is so small, should get him for half price.

Yes but I'll say it a million times, it addresses a gap... Not the problem. The problem with Toronto's blueline is not one pairing, it is 3 pairings. Pietrangelo does not alleviate that problem. A hockey game is 60 minutes not 25.
- joel878

- Fakepartofme

This

25/60 addresses 41.16667 % of the problem. As an added bonus the younger d-men get a front seat to watch how its done. Now get a coach that not only develops a professional defensive strategy, he applies it and you ride the pines if you are not part of the solution.

It actually does. It means all the guys miscast in trying to play higher in the line up shift down. Getting a top guy does trickle down and help fix the other pairings.

It means a guy who was playing 20 minutes a night now only has to play 15 and maybe that helps him be more effective by not being so tired.
- Aaron_85

How many top guys are there in the League?

Krug is so small, should get him for half price.
- bixll

Just say no to more pipsqueak d-men

Yes but I'll say it a million times, it addresses a gap... Not the problem. The problem with Toronto's blueline is not one pairing, it is 3 pairings. Pietrangelo does not alleviate that problem. A hockey game is 60 minutes not 25.
- joel878

And I'll repeat myself once more: adding a perennial Norris Trophy candidate who has captained his team to a Stanley Cup is more than just addressing a "gap".

Rielly-Petro would be matched up against other teams "big" lines -- you know, those Scoring 1 lines that play around 20 mins a game?

Right now the Leafs are playing Rielly with bottom 6 pairing guys who are utterly miscast. If you add a Petro you create an absolute monster on par with Werenski-Jones as the best pair in the NHL.

You seem horrified at the notion of Holl/Lehtonen soaking up 2nd pair D minutes and I say that they'll be just fine with Muzzin. And if they poop the bed, you make a trade for a 2nd pair guy who is a better fit.

DeMelo is an example of a guy who everyone (minus a couple of posters here) seems to think would be an upgrade for the Leafs 2nd pair. He made 900k this past season (and will demand a raise for next season). Is he a unicorn? I'm sure there are other examples of cheap 2nd pair guys the Leafs could trade for if things went south.

Krug is so small, should get him for half price.
- bixll

You’re not in charge of making the pitch to him.

You’re not in charge of making the pitch to him.
- Canada Cup

Now listen here little feller... How about we get you a .....

The hockey Moms would like the cute little guy

It's the Panthers so everyone will leave them alone regarding the hilarious Bobrovsky contract.

Back to overpaid JUstin Holl...
- RogerRoeper

It's not that Holl is overpaid. He's over tenured.

He's the type of guy you should be trying to improve upon year to year, not the type of guy that gets a 3 year deal.

Just say no to more pipsqueak d-men
- winsix

A stay at home shot blocker, that can fight, play on the PK and make a first pass.

Is that so much to ask..

AP would be great, but a few role players to complete this poorly assembled team and things change quickly.

Out of the whole League, those are the only options?

Here’s the free agent list. You can’t find somebody for $5M or so?


https://www.spotrac.com/nhl/free-agents/ufa/

If that doesn’t work, let’s trade. Scroll down to $5.5M (Parayko territory) and start looking. There’s lots of good defencemen that we could trade for.

https://www.spotrac.com/n...kings/cap-hit/defenseman/

We need a top pairing guy to play with Rielly. If Dubas can get AP in a way that doesn’t screw the team going forward, I’ll change my name to JFJ2 and be very happy.i just don’t see how he can do it.
- Canada Cup

the drop off after AP is huge.

Vatenen
Shattenkirk
Brodie (he play right side?)

you have lesser fill ins like Gudas, Tanev, TVR demelo..but none of these move the needle much compared to last season

also, important playoff mins...AP....not ceci or holl or marincin
- senstroll

Leafs may be able to get Karl Alzner out of MTL...

matheson's ntc kicks in next year. easier to move his long-term commitment this year.

seems odd still. i'm guessing pitts may be retaining salary. or something else going FLA's way.
- Tumbleweed

Ya that could be too. maybe that's the hiccup.

Ya that could be too. maybe that's the hiccup.
- The Law

MAybe Mario heard of the crap deal his GM was putting together.

Maritimers' say, the storm is a wussy... Pffft. A little rain, a little wind....

Kind of disappointing. Teddy can (frank) off
- bixll

We lost power for a few hours last night... but no biggie

We lost power for a few hours last night... but no biggie
- .HOHO.

Install a generator in that new place of yours.... Yet ??

Not much of a storm. Eastern shore is getting it the worst. My old stomping ground. Nothing major however.

Pietrangelo DOES make every pairing better, not just the top pairing.

Just by being there he pushes other guys down the order.

He eats up close to half a games worth of ice time. Freeing up the others to play less difficult minutes.

The only problem with him signing here is how much $$$ it costs. That's it.

Install a generator in that new place of yours.... Yet ??

Not much of a storm. Eastern shore is getting it the worst. My old stomping ground. Nothing major however.
- bixll

Not in the new place till the end of October, but yes there will be a generator