Good to hear, nips. Though bolting might have rubbed Nonis the wrong way? Or the contract negotiations? Would love him back. Didn't know we still held his rights, but I highly doubt they sign him before July. Just a gut instict.
- systemtool

If nonis is offended by how negotiations go then he isn't fit to be a gm. They do it to the players the gm should be able to handle it too.

There are very very few #1 defenseman according to Dozzer's standards.

If Weber isnt one. I would say Chara and Doughty. Maybe Pietrangelo.

Thats about it, and we arent getting one of those guys.
- Leafs43

I say weber is better then chara now and pretty close to even with the other two. Not too many d I would take over weber.

Might as well just move them to wing given their defensive abilities...
- lumlums

I would take both of those guys, put them on the Leaf's d and be a happy man. Even if it meant taking away 2 of the amazing ones the Leafs already have back there.

The problem is not the extra $500,000 Dion will get next year it is other bad contracts and buyouts. The retained salaries of Scrvivens ($62,500) and Frattin ($437,500) are enough for Dions raise. Both retained salaries are off the books next year. Mark Frazer (1.275 mil) and Paul Ranger (1 mil) are both ufa next year and should not be resigned. Those salaries will give Franson his raise. It is time for the Kadri experiment to end. Enough time has been given to this player without seeing consistent and progressive results. Try and package a combination of him Liles, Gardiner, Kuliman, Bozak and draft picks (top 5 protected) for a true young #1 centre and a top pairing stay at home defenceman. Our time to win with our young core is now. We cant wait too long for players who may never develop.

I say weber is better then chara now and pretty close to even with the other two. Not too many d I would take over weber.
- Yeti1181

Chara is still the top shut down guy though. And they can put his King Kong ass in front of the opps net to wreck poop. Though he's never shot the puck through the net.

"He continues to grow," Carlyle said of Rielly, tied for fifth among rookie defenders with 11 points.

"He makes mistakes as young players do – and old players do also. But we think there's a lot more potential in Morgan Rielly and you see glimpses of it now; his skating ability; his ability to move the puck; his ability to get up on the rush; his ability to read the game. It's all improving. And that's a great sign."

Much of it, Carlyle says, is an increasing sense of comfort and confidence. And if there's one piece of advice Rielly has garnered above all others in his acclimation to the NHL, it's to play with confidence.

That was the wisdom passed along from Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf, who, in addition to 26-year-old Cody Franson, has been the most influential voice for the rookie defender.

"I could be back in junior or you know over in Sweden, but I'm not so
- Fruitcakenipple[I] just try to have confidence and play like I can," said Rielly, averaging exactly 18 minutes nightly this season. "And that's all been Dion. He's been great with that. He's been really trying to help me with that."

[url]

I would take both of those guys, put them on the Leaf's d and be a happy man. Even if it meant taking away 2 of the amazing ones the Leafs already have back there.
- weirdoh

Oh, don't get me wrong, they're good players to have, and I'd love one of them, but you need to put them with other more defensively responsible players or they will suck... such as why the Sens have conceded more goals than anybody else in the East

[url]


- systemtool

but dion is a terrible captain?

Chara is still the top shut down guy though. And they can put his King Kong ass in front of the opps net to wreck poop. Though he's never shot the puck through the net.
- weirdoh

Chara has seem to lose a step so might be the downturn of his career coming now. He's still an amazing but he's trending down now IMO.

David Alter @DavidAlter590
And it's now official. Smithson with the Marlies. Will likely play in outdoor game at Comerica tomorrow against Griffins.

Jonas Siegel @jonasTSN1050
Bernier ranks 7th in the NHL with a .929 save percentage this season. James Reimer, with a .924 mark, sits 10th.

"He continues to grow," Carlyle said of Rielly, tied for fifth among rookie defenders with 11 points.

"He makes mistakes as young players do – and old players do also. But we think there's a lot more potential in Morgan Rielly and you see glimpses of it now; his skating ability; his ability to move the puck; his ability to get up on the rush; his ability to read the game. It's all improving. And that's a great sign."

Much of it, Carlyle says, is an increasing sense of comfort and confidence. And if there's one piece of advice Rielly has garnered above all others in his acclimation to the NHL, it's to play with confidence.

That was the wisdom passed along from Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf, who, in addition to 26-year-old Cody Franson, has been the most influential voice for the rookie defender.

"I could be back in junior or you know over in Sweden, but I'm not so
- Fruitcakenipple[I] just try to have confidence and play like I can," said Rielly, averaging exactly 18 minutes nightly this season. "And that's all been Dion. He's been great with that. He's been really trying to help me with that."

On top of that, there's one thing I like about having Dion around. He seems to just let the media roll off his back. He takes a lot of heat in it and I think it's good to keep the spotlight off the younger guys. So they can just develop.

but dion is a terrible captain?
- burn

I don't like him as a Captain, but I do like him as a player. He's the veteran of the D, so he should be doing these things anyways. Just like Lupul and Clarkson are the vets of the forwards and should be leading and helping the youth along. Im in the pro Dion camp, so I was glad to hear of his impact on the kid.

but dion is a terrible captain?
- burn

Yes because he agreed with another veteran leader in the room and that is not leadership.

Chara has seem to lose a step so might be the downturn of his career coming now. He's still an amazing but he's trending down now IMO.
- Yeti1181

finally, im sick of that guy dominating the leafs

Oh, don't get me wrong, they're good players to have, and I'd love one of them, but you need to put them with other more defensively responsible players or they will suck... such as why the Sens have conceded more goals than anybody else in the East
- lumlums

I guess you're right. If they haven't put #3 with anybody defensively responsible why start with those guys?

Jonas Siegel @jonasTSN1050
Bernier ranks 7th in the NHL with a .929 save percentage this season. James Reimer, with a .924 mark, sits 10th.
- Fruitcakenipple

finally, im sick of that guy dominating the leafs
- MetroidPrime

You said it. Gotta end sometime.

Im not putting Karlsson in that top class. It could very well be my Leaf bias talking, and i certainly dont claim to watch a large amount of Sens games, but when I do, Karlsson plays defence like a bottom pairing guy. But all people see is the stats, and his stat line usually looks pretty good.

I like Weber, i have him in the top class. If Doughty and Pietrangelo arent there, i think they will be soon. that being said my Canadian bias is probably starting to show.
- Leafs43

What about Duncan Keith?

Jesus that Andre Burakowsky on team Sweden a stud...FK the Caps might have a good one there...Impressive game for him so far...
- Fruitcakenipple

It's Norway, clam dun bayo.

Jonas Siegel @jonasTSN1050
Bernier ranks 7th in the NHL with a .929 save percentage this season. James Reimer, with a .924 mark, sits 10th.
- Fruitcakenipple

"The Leafs on the other hand are not getting great performances from goaltenders Jonathon Bernier and James Reimer. When you are roughly 40 games into a season and the head coach hasn’t hitched his wagon to one starting goalie and delegated the other guy to being the back-up, issues will creep up in the room, on the bench and on the ice. " - Garth

I don't like him as a Captain, but I do like him as a player. He's the veteran of the D, so he should be doing these things anyways. Just like Lupul and Clarkson are the vets of the forwards and should be leading and helping the youth along. Im in the pro Dion camp, so I was glad to hear of his impact on the kid.
- systemtool

I'm fine with him as captain because I don't see anyone else that should be one on this team.

Jonas Siegel @jonasTSN1050
Bernier ranks 7th in the NHL with a .929 save percentage this season. James Reimer, with a .924 mark, sits 10th.
- Fruitcakenipple

Imagine with competent team defense? Not just picking on the 6 guys at the back, but all over. It's really (frank)ed. Leafs have the talent up front to score. No matter what the funny Engel's guys say, they have competent goalies. Ugh...(frank)ing frustrating.

"The Leafs on the other hand are not getting great performances from goaltenders Jonathon Bernier and James Reimer. When you are roughly 40 games into a season and the head coach hasn’t hitched his wagon to one starting goalie and delegated the other guy to being the back-up, issues will creep up in the room, on the bench and on the ice. " - Garth
- lumlums

garth is right, id rather have buffalos goalie tandem

Komi is in tonight!!