Zaitsev and Brown traded to Ottawa

[Phileas Fogg]

On paper yes, but we dont know. Liljegren, Borgman, Rosen whoever could do well if they're here. We just dont know until it happens.

Hopefully no one in the leaf brass shares the "well, we could win lotto max instead of planning for retirement" approach to sports management.

 

[Bender]

For what it's worth, Evolving-Wild's wins and goals above replacement models both have Ceci ranked above Zaitsev (but neither of their numbers are anything to write home about).

Was Ceci played too high up for the Sens? Maybe less minutes he may be more effective

Giving any bad player fewer minutes is going to be a positive. The problem is, the Leafs are short a lot of good defencemen. I sure hope Dubas has some sort of plan here, because starting the season with Reilly, Muzzin and a bunch of ahl'ers is not going to work out well.

I think any rational human being would know that Dubas has a plan.

 

[Zee]

On paper yes, but we dont know. Liljegren, Borgman, Rosen whoever could do well if they're here. We just dont know until it happens.

Hopefully no one in the leaf brass shares the "well, we could win lotto max instead of planning for retirement" approach to sports management.

I get the sentiment, but rather than lottery ticket total crapshoot less than 0.1% chance or whatever, these are players they've been developing and watching longer than any of us so they can project what they'll be. Not exactly a total shot in the dark.

 

[Kin]

On paper yes, but we dont know. Liljegren, Borgman, Rosen whoever could do well if they're here. We just dont know until it happens.

Hopefully no one in the leaf brass shares the "well, we could win lotto max instead of planning for retirement" approach to sports management.

So what sort of approach to upgrading the Leafs defense should management take given their limited cap space?

 

[ZBBM]

I say again, bring up all the young dudes and let Freddie bail them out (or not) as they learn. It's the only way.

 

[Redleaf]

On paper yes, but we dont know. Liljegren, Borgman, Rosen whoever could do well if they're here. We just dont know until it happens.

Hopefully no one in the leaf brass shares the "well, we could win lotto max instead of planning for retirement" approach to sports management.

Lol. No. That?s not a good approach.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

On paper yes, but we dont know. Liljegren, Borgman, Rosen whoever could do well if they're here. We just dont know until it happens.

Hopefully no one in the leaf brass shares the "well, we could win lotto max instead of planning for retirement" approach to sports management.

So what sort of approach to upgrading the Leafs defense should management take given their limited cap space?

Trade.

 

[Kin]

Trade.

Trade who? And for who? And what reason is there to believe that the Forward for Defense trade market has gotten a lot better?

 

[Guilt Trip]

On paper yes, but we dont know. Liljegren, Borgman, Rosen whoever could do well if they're here. We just dont know until it happens.

Hopefully no one in the leaf brass shares the "well, we could win lotto max instead of planning for retirement" approach to sports management.

The season doesnt start tomorrow. I suspect Dubas has a plan but I still stand by what I said. We wont know if any of the AHLers will succeed until they're actually here. We'll see.

 

[Redleaf]

Sounds like there may have been a trade for Kadri in the works that fell thru. I?m sure the Leafs haven?t stopped taking calls on their forwards to try and turn one of them into a top D-man.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Trade.

Trade who? And for who? And what reason is there to believe that the Forward for Defense trade market has gotten a lot better?

There's literally no answer I can give you that you won't nitpick on either of those questions, even if I was to give you an answer that actually came to fruition 5 minutes later - so I'm not going to take the bait.

 

[herman]

It?s not bait. It?s a legitimate question we all have for anyone who insists on changes being made but without presenting any viable options.

No team goes into the playoffs with the exact same lineup as Opening Day. The Leafs core drivers are largely intact (sans Gardiner) and none of them are 30 yet. There are maybe only two teams that wouldn?t kill everyone to be in our situation.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

No team goes into the playoffs with the exact same lineup as Opening Day. The Leafs core drivers are largely intact (sans Gardiner) and none of them are 30 yet. There are maybe only two teams that wouldn?t kill everyone to be in our situation.

The healthy defence this season vs our starting defence last season is pretty close to being equal. Arguably even better if Dermott can outperform Hainsey on the top pair:

Rielly-Dermott > Rielly-Hainsey
Muzzin-Ceci  = Gardiner-Zaitsev
Rosen-anybodynotOz = Dermott-Oz

 

[Frank E]

I quite liked Brown's game, so I'll miss watching him.

I'm a little concerned about the PK, given it looks like Hainsey is gone along with Brown. 

 

[herman]

Justin Holl, baby!

 

[Phileas Fogg]

It?s not bait. It?s a legitimate question we all have for anyone who insists on changes being made but without presenting any viable options.

It is bait when it isn't asked as genuine interest, rather as an excuse to argue. If someone else asked the question, I'd say likely Kadri or Johnsson would be a prime candidate, targeting Carolina or another team either weak at C or rich in defense.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Justin Holl, baby!

 

[bustaheims]

I'm a little concerned about the PK, given it looks like Hainsey is gone along with Brown.

The PK wasn?t exactly amazing last season. It could use new faces to go with the new strategies from the new assistant coaches.

 

[herman]

It?s not bait. It?s a legitimate question we all have for anyone who insists on changes being made but without presenting any viable options.

It is bait when it isn't asked as genuine interest, rather as an excuse to argue. If someone else asked the question, I'd say likely Kadri or Johnsson would be a prime candidate, targeting Carolina or another team either weak at C or rich in defense.

He has asked previously. I always ask when people just shout traaaade or GET A D-Man, because they tend to blame Dubas for not doing anything. People need to recognize the market that exists or does not exist. Situations can materialize down the road (injuries, positioning).

I have eyeballs for Rasmus Andersson or Pesce. Both Calgary and Carolina are looking for 2C, but if we bump Kadri, we need a good defensive 3C as part of the package.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

He has asked previously. I always ask when people just shout traaaade or GET A D-Man, because they tend to blame Dubas for not doing anything. People need to recognize the market that exists or does not exist. Situations can materialize down the road (injuries, positioning).

I have eyeballs for Rasmus Andersson or Pesce. Both Calgary and Carolina are looking for 2C, but if we bump Kadri, we need a good defensive 3C as part of the package.

One can tell based on the way a question is phrased whether it's a lead in for further enjoyable discussion (like yours), or just an excuse for contradiction. Better to take the high road.

I like both those players; Pesce in particular. I'm less concerned about the 3C, considering we have the flexibility to potentially slot Nylander in there for occasional shifts, or possibly even Spezza. I think the need is too great on D, assuming Gardiner is gone, to necessarily require addressing the 3C hole if it compromises targeting the right guy on defense.