herman said:
I like our Baby Buds a lot and it's very nice to see how they've grown this year into expanded roles, but for the playoffs, I kind of want the steadier hand, especially with Muzzin being a question mark (even if he comes back and gets sufficient warm up games). The built-in chemistry with Brodie means getting a strong top-4 LD gives us back a solid RD (Brodie is better on the right side). Lyubushkin working well as Rielly's safety blanket for non-shutdown matchups opens the door for something like this.
I've said again and again the teams defence group, if healthy, is nowhere near as bad as some of the talking heads or fans make it out to be. But with no real clear and reasonably priced targets to go after at forward or goaltending if the Leafs make a move going after Giordano makes the most sense. He a) wouldn't cost a 1st or top prospect, b) has built-in chemistry with Brodie already, and c) has reportedly expressed an interest in coming here.
Rielly-Lyubushkin
Giordano-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Assuming Muzzin is healthy and ready to go, that's six 20-minute NHL defencemen there. Any one of those pairings could reasonably go up against any teams top line in the league. None of those pairs would need sheltering or comfy zone starts to succeed. It'd especially be a massive luxury to have since our path to the Finals goes through Florida and Tampa, both of whom would absolutely need at least two shutdown pairings. The two bottom pairings would be the primary match-up guys there, which would take a lot of pressure off Rielly. With those 6 and Sandin and Liljegren next up in line (Dermott gone for cap space) the team also isn't at risk of crumbling if anyone struggles or goes down with an injury like they did with Muzzin last playoffs.
If Muzzin still looks off when he returns, you could switch to Muzzin-Sandin and have them play in more of a sheltered role, which while obviously a non-100% Muzzin is far from ideal but that still wouldn't be a bad 3rd line.