Rielly is an interesting one... Some fans think he's a legit #1, some fans think he's a #2 D-Man and some (on twitter that claim to be Leafs fans) believe he is a 3-4 guy.. With Pietrangelo, the consensus is that he is a legit top pairing guy. That's is what we need.
- PatC80

Rielly is a top pairing guy on any team. Aside from the year before, is he an exceptional elite one? I think that is closer to the question. It's not a hit on him, but sometimes elite players need a complementary piece. Nobody questions Jones/Werenski as a pairing despite the fact that both are legit top pairing guys themselves.

Ya, I guess. Dion was never in the talks for the Norris. But his career went in the toilet after he got married. You are correct.
- bixll

Interesting, I thought it was the 18 Wheeler Accident that did him in.

Ya, I guess. Dion was never in the talks for the Norris. But his career went in the toilet after he got married. You are correct.
- bixll

Dion came third one year in Calgary. He was the dynamic young stud and fell apart after iggy beat him up in practice.

Didn’t you witness it first hand with Phaneuf?
- DrunkenCanuck

Ville Leino, Jay Bouwmeester, Lecavallier ?

Rielly is an interesting one... Some fans think he's a legit #1, some fans think he's a #2 D-Man and some (on twitter that claim to be Leafs fans) believe he is a 3-4 guy.. With Pietrangelo, the consensus is that he is a legit top pairing guy. That's is what we need.
- PatC80

Until AP signs as a leaf. Then he will be over the hill and "done" as a top guy

Rielly is a top pairing guy on any team. Aside from the year before, is he an exceptional elite one? I think that is closer to the question. It's not a hit on him, but sometimes elite players need a complementary piece. Nobody questions Jones/Werenski as a pairing despite the fact that both are legit top pairing guys themselves.
- AdamFrench

Rielly might be not Jones, but I definitely take him over Werenski.

Disagree strongly with this. Depth is a combination of high paid talent and a good and well stocked talent pool of picks and players found outside North America. The Rangers spent a sh!tload of money on Panarin and he compliments the mix of veterans that are very well paid and the rookies and talent that are not getting paid yet. With Lafreniere and Kakko and very solid goaltending, the Rangers will be contenders for many years. Leafs need to add that D-man - similar to Rangers adding Trouba and also need to find a goalie that doesn't let a subway train between his legs when it counts the most.
- winsix

I can see that angle. I think the argument is tied to the idea that could be contenders, should be contenders... And are contenders are very different things. Adding one stud defenseman who will undoubtedly regress when your core is still essentially prepubescent isn't a needle mover when it comes to will be a contender VS actually is a contender.

At least according to that dudes article, which I can say I don't disagree with. He identified a pile of 'top tier' defenseman who have signed big ticket contracts at that age and referenced how many cups they've won as a group. Spoiler alert, the answer rhymes with hero.

Or...and hear me out here. We're the Caps with Mike Green and still think he's the one when there is a John Carlson coming up that is needed instead.
- AdamFrench

i knew there was another dermott fan out there

Dion came third one year in Calgary. He was the dynamic young stud and fell apart after iggy beat him up in practice.
- AdamFrench

Ah Yes.. I remember that

i knew there was another dermott fan out there
- Tumbleweed

I am not interested in moving Dermott, unless he is in a package to get a stud D man..

I am not interested in moving Dermott, unless he is in a package to get a stud D man..
- bixll

Agree

Keep Derms

Ummm...they didnt make the playoffs
- Fakepartofme

I believe that was his point.

Rielly is a top pairing guy on any team. Aside from the year before, is he an exceptional elite one? I think that is closer to the question. It's not a hit on him, but sometimes elite players need a complementary piece. Nobody questions Jones/Werenski as a pairing despite the fact that both are legit top pairing guys themselves.
- AdamFrench

Rielly's style is going to leave him pretty partner dependent... Look at his success with Hainsey VS Ceci. Both are far from studs, one plays to his style.. One was a disaster that made him alter his game with not so much success.

I think Rielly has proven he doesn't need an elite level partner to take the next step, he just needs a competent one.

Agree

Keep Derms
- mr.sir

If you keep Rielly and Muzzin, and want to keep Sandin -- there's only 3 spots left.
Considering Dermott is a LHD, seems a logical option to consider for a trade.
Thát and the speedo.

Rielly is a top pairing guy on any team. Aside from the year before, is he an exceptional elite one? I think that is closer to the question. It's not a hit on him, but sometimes elite players need a complementary piece. Nobody questions Jones/Werenski as a pairing despite the fact that both are legit top pairing guys themselves.
- AdamFrench

I'd say it's more the rule than the exception. Who gets paired with the kind of partners that Reilly gets? I can see Letang, Carlson, can't think of anyone else right now.

Rielly is a top pairing guy on any team. Aside from the year before, is he an exceptional elite one? I think that is closer to the question. It's not a hit on him, but sometimes elite players need a complementary piece. Nobody questions Jones/Werenski as a pairing despite the fact that both are legit top pairing guys themselves.
- AdamFrench

that's the thing with Rielly, he is not a consensus #1.. I like Rielly, but getting someone like Pietrangelo allows the Leafs to move guys down a step to hopefully make them more comfortable

Pietrangelo, Rielly, Muzzin, hopefully, Pesce or DeMelo

Sandin/Lehtonen/Dermott/Liljegren/Holl battle it out for the last 2 spots

Until AP signs as a leaf. Then he will be over the hill and "done" as a top guy
- Aaron_85

Yes, immediately upon signing the contract, he'll be washed up and overpaid

"Signing Alex Pietrangelo would ignore the Leafs’ biggest problems."

The first line of the tweet is already wrong.

Signing him literally solves the Leafs biggest problem. A RD. And not just any RD, an all World RD.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Yup.

I mean, if you're going to write a screed lamenting an AP signing, at least provide some metrics to help support your case.

It's pretty amusing that AP actually won a Cup and there is zero mention of him doing so in this article. Like, I get it, teams need a supporting cast who can step up. Guess what? The Leafs can still address their lack of grit and sandpaper and fill the bottom 6 forwards with cheap pieces that fill those roles.

There is also the notion of filling gaps at the TDL. Move pieces out that aren't working and bring in pieces that can compete.

If you keep Rielly and Muzzin, and want to keep Sandin -- there's only 3 spots left.
Considering Dermott is a LHD, seems a logical option to consider for a trade.
Thát and the speedo.
- MaximusAurelius

Agreed... that dang speedo was his downfall

Or...and hear me out here. We're the Caps with Mike Green and still think he's the one when there is a John Carlson coming up that is needed instead.
- AdamFrench

How much damage do I do to the rest of the team to to make it work? Can I find the money by moving spare parts (AJ, Kerfoot, Dermott, etc) to be replaced by guys being brought up? Do I lose Hyman next year? Or do bigger pieces have to go. So, make the calculation of what goes out versus what comes in. Hard to say if the Kapanen trade is what the market is going to be for trading guys with low cash salary.

Also, Caps weren’t sitting with maxed out cap facing 2 or 3 three years of a flat cap and no idea of when and how much growth we’ll see.

Yup.

I mean, if you're going to write a screed lamenting an AP signing, at least provide some metrics to help support your case.

It's pretty amusing that AP actually won a Cup and there is zero mention of him doing so in this article. Like, I get it, teams need a supporting cast who can step up. Guess what? The Leafs can still address their lack of grit and sandpaper and fill the bottom 6 forwards with cheap pieces that fill those roles.

There is also the notion of filling gaps at the TDL. Move pieces out that aren't working and bring in pieces that can compete.
- mjones242

Getting a top pairing RHD actually addresses the biggest problem which is not having a top pairing RHD

Getting a top pairing RHD actually addresses the biggest problem which is not having a top pairing RHD
- PatC80

Is a problem really addressed if it leaves no room to address other problems / creates more?

Is a problem really addressed if it leaves no room to address other problems / creates more?
- joel878

Getting a bit philosophical here, are you? I like

that's the thing with Rielly, he is not a consensus #1.. I like Rielly, but getting someone like Pietrangelo allows the Leafs to move guys down a step to hopefully make them more comfortable

Pietrangelo, Rielly, Muzzin, hopefully, Pesce or DeMelo

Sandin/Lehtonen/Dermott/Liljegren/Holl battle it out for the last 2 spots
- PatC80

Getting somebody better than Ceci allows you to move guys down a step. Improving on Barrie gives you a better mix.

Flat cap.

Getting a bit philosophical here, are you? I like
- 21peter

As Frank Sinatra would say “ Do be, do be, do.”