McCabe has proven he's not a top pairing defenceman. Need to improve the top pairing defenceman to pair with Risto. A defensive defenceman who can skate is what's needed.
- bluengold12

I dont disagree, its just not going to happen all in one off season. That there is like the bare minimum lets put something that doesnt make the fans want to stick a fork in their eyes blue print.

Smith Ristolainen
McCabe Brodin (usually plays the right side)
Antipin Bogosian

This tickles my balls
- chilliard77

Swap Antipin and McCabe and I like where your heads at. All though I don't know enough about Smith to say he can be a top pairing guy.

Good bye leafs
- GERBE!!!75PTS

Would you (frank)ing stop that?

Swap Antipin and McCabe and I like where your heads at. All though I don't know enough about Smith to say he can be a top pairing guy.
- bluengold12

This isn't really about top pairing v. 2nd pairing. It's just about getting multiple decent pairings.

This past year we had zero decent pairings lol

He shouldn't but probably will.

I like Guhle and Antipin but counting on them to be top 4 guys right away is dangerous waters
- chilliard77

I'm less nervous about Antipin
KHL is much better than Juniors

I want absolutely NO PART of Shattenkirk
Every playoffs he's exposed as being very average (or worse) in his own end
We already have a great PP
No need for a 7mil defenseman on the 2nd pair
- jdfitz77

I will admit the meh playoffs so far is disappointing. But it's only 3 games.

He's the only guy that's top 2 available, we have to go after him for that alone.

This isn't really about top pairing v. 2nd pairing. It's just about getting multiple decent pairings.

This past year we had zero decent pairings lol
- chilliard77

Turkey goes very well with riesling. There's your top pairing.

I will admit the meh playoffs so far is disappointing. But it's only 3 games.

He's the only guy that's top 2 available, we have to go after him for that alone.
- chilliard77

Leafs / Caps have been fun. Leafs thread too.

I will admit the meh playoffs so far is disappointing. But it's only 3 games.

He's the only guy that's top 2 available, we have to go after him for that alone.
- chilliard77

If it's Alzner for 5 mil a year or Shat for 7, it's not even close. Shattenkirk is actually good

I dont disagree, its just not going to happen all in one off season. That there is like the bare minimum lets put something that doesnt make the fans want to stick a fork in their eyes blue print.
- Sabresfan-365

I'd rather Antipin in that spot then McCabe. Him and Risto were good together in the offensive zone but downright horrible together at times in their own zone.

I'm still trying to figure out what kind of defenceman Jake is. When he first came here I thought he was a hard hitting stay at home guy who could skate and occasionally chip in a goal. (Which is what you want from your top pairing guy) But this year has exposed his awful at times hockey awareness and defensive play. I think he's best served a 4th defender possibly 3rd.

This is what you get when you hire such an inexperienced GM to run your program. No doubt the was a major reason Babcock chose TO where he`s surrounded by HOFers

Hjalmarsson and Alzner are on two different ends of the spectrum. One is really good at defense
- sbroads24

I'm sure you'll sight possession numbers or whatever...
but I watch Alzner play, & I think he's pretty good defensively
Not saying he's a good pick mover,
But I also don't see him make many mistakes

If it's Alzner for 5 mil a year or Shat for 7, it's not even close. Shattenkirk is actually good
- sbroads24

Agreed

If the caps don't get going the leafs are going to score let's goooooooooo

This is what you get when you hire such an inexperienced GM to run your program. No doubt the was a major reason Babcock chose TO where he`s surrounded by HOFers
- BernardShakey

Fall down the stairs

Wow. BS Goalie interference call.

I will admit the meh playoffs so far is disappointing. But it's only 3 games.

He's the only guy that's top 2 available, we have to go after him for that alone.
- chilliard77

He's like this EVERY playoffs
Even with Alzner out he's on the 3rd pair

Shattenkirk is average defensively
That's not what we need... esp not at 7mil
Like I said,
Our PP is already REALLY good

This is what you get when you hire such an inexperienced GM to run your program. No doubt the was a major reason Babcock chose TO where he`s surrounded by HOFers
- BernardShakey

Go back to watching the Leafs lose.

I'm sure you'll sight possession numbers or whatever...
but I watch Alzner play, & I think he's pretty good defensively
Not saying he's a good pick mover,
But I also don't see him make many mistakes
- jdfitz77

One of the worst possession D men in the NHL.

I feel we had 4 good ones maybe he'd be a compliment but we don't have that yet

This is what you get when you hire such an inexperienced GM to run your program. No doubt the was a major reason Babcock chose TO where he`s surrounded by HOFers
- BernardShakey

What an absolutely horrible call. The nhl is a complete joke. Bakstrom was trying to get out of there and Anderson grabbed him. Homerism.

He's like this EVERY playoffs
Even with Alzner out he's on the 3rd pair

Shattenkirk is average defensively
That's not what we need... esp not at 7mil
Like I said,
Our PP is already REALLY good
- jdfitz77

Even leaving analytics out of the equation top 2 offensive defenseman > top 4 defensive defenseman.

And with that said I don't agree that Shattenkirk is soley an offensive defenseman or that Alzner is a great defensive defenseman

What an absolutely horrible call. The nhl is a complete joke. Bastrop was trying to get out of there and Anderson grabbed him. Homerism.
- Khmylev

Even Leaf fans were questioning it after the replay.

Even leaving analytics out of the equation top 2 offensive defenseman > top 4 defensive defenseman.

And with that said I don't agree that Shattenkirk is soley an offensive defenseman or that Alzner is a great defensive defenseman
- chilliard77

He had 56 points this year. Plus a positive player in like every metric

What an absolutely horrible call. The nhl is a complete joke. Bastrop was trying to get out of there and Anderson grabbed him. Homerism.
- Khmylev

Meh they already lost they looked gassed it's over