2018-19 Toronto Maple Leafs - General Discussion

[ZBBM]

The Leafs have a shot at upsetting the very best teams in the league, but they would indeed be upsets.  Superior defense, like we saw tonight ? assuming it can be applied for at least four games in a given playoff series ? will probably be enough to best the Leafs.  In other words, our elite offensive capacity is good enough to overcome many teams, but not those with elite defensive play.  I would put TBL and NSH in that category.

I wouldn't put Tampa in the same defensive category as Nashville. Tampa is elite offensively but they don't defend as well as Nashville. The Leafs actually have a better goals against than Tampa.

I agree. While Tampa has some really good pieces on defense (much better than the Leafs) they're not as good defensively as the Preds.

Tampa vs Toronto in the playoffs is a coin flip for me. I think Toronto has the better goalie.

TBL's defense is better up and down the pairings than the Leafs'.  I think their record is no fluke, and they truly are in a class above us.  Sure, we could beat them, but as I said it would be an upset (and probably would hinge on Andersen stealing at least a couple of games).

 

[Highlander]

We saw it last night and we see it quite often, the Leafs offensive juggernaut stifled by great Defensive teams. Isn't it time, if we are serious about a real Cup run to get Dougie Hamilton and play him with Rielly to create a truly real 1st Defensive pairing?  Hainsey can either drop down the list or be kept as a 7th D man (or sent to Robidas Island).  What would we have to give up?  Lilepad, Bracco and a 1st or more?

 

[Kin]

Dougie Hamilton is a lot of things but one thing he emphatically is not is the answer to anyone's defensive problems.

 

[WAYNEINIONA]

Dougie Hamilton is a lot of things but one thing he emphatically is not is the answer to anyone's defensive problems.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Highlander]

So anyone who is, is going to cost us way too much??

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Dougie Hamilton is a lot of things but one thing he emphatically is not is the answer to anyone's defensive problems.

He's not winning any Norris' but he's still a 25-year old borderline top pairing right handed defenceman signed to a reasonable rate for 2 more seasons after this one. If he's available the Leafs should be calling Carolina.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/IgorEronko/status/1082656310838157313

 

[CarltonTheBear]

What would we have to give up?  Lilepad, Bracco and a 1st or more?

They're specifically looking for scoring, so I doubt Liljegren would be the centrepiece they're after. Gotta think it'd be something revolving around Kapanen. I don't think that'd be enough to get it done but I'd imagine they'd be pretty intrigued about an all-Finn line with him, Teravainen, and Aho.

 

[Zee]

The Leafs have a shot at upsetting the very best teams in the league, but they would indeed be upsets.  Superior defense, like we saw tonight ? assuming it can be applied for at least four games in a given playoff series ? will probably be enough to best the Leafs.  In other words, our elite offensive capacity is good enough to overcome many teams, but not those with elite defensive play.  I would put TBL and NSH in that category.

I wouldn't put Tampa in the same defensive category as Nashville. Tampa is elite offensively but they don't defend as well as Nashville. The Leafs actually have a better goals against than Tampa.

I agree. While Tampa has some really good pieces on defense (much better than the Leafs) they're not as good defensively as the Preds.

Tampa vs Toronto in the playoffs is a coin flip for me. I think Toronto has the better goalie.

TBL's defense is better up and down the pairings than the Leafs'.  I think their record is no fluke, and they truly are in a class above us.  Sure, we could beat them, but as I said it would be an upset (and probably would hinge on Andersen stealing at least a couple of games).

Tampa's D is better than the Leafs but they're not a "lock down" type defense like Nashville. Tampa plays a similar style to Toronto where they would rather outscore you than protect a 2-1 lead.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I'll give you that the Preds D is really good but...if Matthews goal wasn't offside, or he doesn't hit the post on his slap shot and if Kappy didn't put it off the post the Leafs are up 3-1 after the first and we have a totally different game.
As for T-Bay. I like the Leafs chances against them, I really do.
If we're looking at getting a #1 righty, I'd target Parayko. I don't think Dubas is willing to pay the price for a D man like him tho.

 

[Highlander]

https://twitter.com/IgorEronko/status/1082656310838157313

Good to know! Is Korshkov playing yet, thought he is injured (again).

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/IgorEronko/status/1082656310838157313

Good to know! Is Korshkov playing yet, thought he is injured (again).

Dubas took in Korshkov's 3rd game since his return from injury.

 

[Kin]

Dougie Hamilton is a lot of things but one thing he emphatically is not is the answer to anyone's defensive problems.

He's not winning any Norris' but he's still a 25-year old borderline top pairing right handed defenceman signed to a reasonable rate for 2 more seasons after this one. If he's available the Leafs should be calling Carolina.

Ok but to some extent you're just shuffling the deck chairs there. Sure, Hamilton is a RHD and so he could be on the top line with Rielly but that almost certainly means you can't bring back Gardiner so our #2 LHD suddenly looks pretty thin and you're not really adding much in the way of stout defensive presence. Throw in the cost to get Hamilton and it's tough not to think they'd be better off just keeping Gardiner.

 

[Kaberle15]

I'll give you that the Preds D is really good but...if Matthews goal wasn't offside, or he doesn't hit the post on his slap shot and if Kappy didn't put it off the post the Leafs are up 3-1 after the first and we have a totally different game.
As for T-Bay. I like the Leafs chances against them, I really do.
If we're looking at getting a #1 righty, I'd target Parayko. I don't think Dubas is willing to pay the price for a D man like him tho.

If they can somehow keep Gardiner for the playoff run and add Parayko this year without losing any core player, the Matthews/Marner cap situation almost solve it self *

* Assuming Gardiner walks as an UFA next season.

Do some magic Dubas!

 

[Zee]

https://twitter.com/IgorEronko/status/1082656310838157313

Good to know! Is Korshkov playing yet, thought he is injured (again).

Dubas took in Korshkov's 3rd game since his return from injury.

Alexander Yelesin, Artem Blazhiyevsky, this is like throwing darts against a dart board.  If they're such good defensive prospects why are they undrafted?  Are we going to keep bringing over Zaitsev's of the world in hopes that eventually someone fixes our defense?

 

[herman]

Alexander Yelesin, Artem Blazhiyevsky, this is like throwing darts against a dart board.  If they're such good defensive prospects why are they undrafted?  Are we going to keep bringing over Zaitsev's of the world in hopes that eventually someone fixes our defense?

Yeah, why in the world should we be spending our copious resources trying to take free shots at landing the next Mark Giordano, or Ed Belfour, or Yanni Gourde, or Martin St. Louis?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Alexander Yelesin, Artem Blazhiyevsky, this is like throwing darts against a dart board.  If they're such good defensive prospects why are they undrafted?  Are we going to keep bringing over Zaitsev's of the world in hopes that eventually someone fixes our defense?

Yeah, why in the world should we be spending our copious resources trying to take free shots at landing the next Mark Giordano, or Ed Belfour, or Yanni Gourde, or Martin St. Louis?

Let's not get too carried away here. They're just looking for cheap depth players.

 

[Kin]

Yeah, not to take a sensible position between two extremes or anything but while there are certainly quality players to be found who didn't get drafted it'd be kind of ridiculous to pin serious hopes on significantly improving the team via that method.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Ok but to some extent you're just shuffling the deck chairs there. Sure, Hamilton is a RHD and so he could be on the top line with Rielly but that almost certainly means you can't bring back Gardiner so our #2 LHD suddenly looks pretty thin and you're not really adding much in the way of stout defensive presence. Throw in the cost to get Hamilton and it's tough not to think they'd be better off just keeping Gardiner.

I'm probably one of Jake's biggest fans on these boards but I'd still probably put Hamilton ahead of him. Even if it's just by a little bit the age difference and handedness make him a decent bit more valuable to me.

With that said, if Babcock ever decided to finally just move Rielly to the right side and pair him with Gardiner or Dermott AND Gardiner signed an extension with an AAV that didn't go higher than $6mil then yeah I'd probably be content not shuffling the chairs as you said. I'm just getting pretty tired of Rielly having to play with a crappy partner.

 

[Zee]

Alexander Yelesin, Artem Blazhiyevsky, this is like throwing darts against a dart board.  If they're such good defensive prospects why are they undrafted?  Are we going to keep bringing over Zaitsev's of the world in hopes that eventually someone fixes our defense?

Yeah, why in the world should we be spending our copious resources trying to take free shots at landing the next Mark Giordano, or Ed Belfour, or Yanni Gourde, or Martin St. Louis?

Sure there are exceptions that fall through the cracks, but I'm specifically looking at the Leafs recent history with Ozhiganov, Zaitsev, Rosen and Borgman coming over, none of which move the needle on the defense. Could we get lucky and eventually find one that makes an impact like the players you mentioned above?  Maybe, but I'm not holding my breath that it'll happen this season or next when the Leafs window is wide open to have a run.

Edit: I added Rosen and Borgman whom I completely forgot about.  While I'm not against taking shots in the dark like this, there's a point where you can't just keep handing out contracts to these guys given the Leafs can only have 50 contracts.  Draft and develop your d-men (Lilejegren and Sandin please hurry up) or make a big trade for someone for immediate help.