Hope so.

Phaneuf Gunnarsson
Gardiner Schultz
Liles Franson/Holzer/Komisarek

That's a pretty solid looking D.
- gravyface

It has looked solid the last 2 seasons. On paper

Gardiner has called Schultz, urging him to join the Leafs, one of five teams Schultz identified on a short list. The Rangers, Senators, Canucks and Oilers were the others.

“I’ve talked to him a little bit, but he really didn’t give me anything,” said Gardiner, who said he’d love to be teammates with “Schultzy” again. “As his friend, I definitely want him to come here. The whole city does.

“It’d be awesome. Hopefully it works out. There’s a lot of teams after him.”

It’s the time of year tea leaves need to be read. The fact that Schultz didn’t tell his friend much either means he’s playing his cards close to his chest and hasn’t made up his mind, or he has made up his mind that it won’t be the Leafs and didn’t want to disappoint his friend.

The player Schultz is most often compared to is none other than Gardiner — fast-skating, tall, puck-moving defenceman.
- gravyface

I like how the reporter doesn't even entertain the possibility that Gardiner might be lying about how much they talk and what he knows...

Hope so.

Phaneuf Gunnarsson
Gardiner Schultz
Liles Franson/ Holzer/Komisarek

That's a pretty solid looking D.
- gravyface

riiiight... let's just hope nobody ever takes any penalties... Seriously. Leafs went form having too many shut-down guys to having NONE in their top 6.

Komi better have one hell of a bounce back year...

I like how the reporter doesn't even entertain the possibility that Gardiner might be lying about how much they talk and what he knows...
- Big_Lightnin

but reporters know everything dont ya know?

I like how the reporter doesn't even entertain the possibility that Gardiner might be lying about how much they talk and what he knows...
- Big_Lightnin

Ya I like the part where Gardiner says he has talked to him a little bit

These two were roommates in college. Two teenage boys. Schultz listened to Gardiner by returning to Wisconsin and not turning pro.

Ya, they talk a little bit

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight

riiiight... let's just hope nobody ever takes any penalties... Seriously. Leafs went form having too many shut-down guys to having NONE in their top 6.

Komi better have one hell of a bounce back year...
- Big_Lightnin

If the speed on the back end can play a good system it should be a huge boost.

but reporters know everything dont ya know?


- Dozzer

and everyone always feels obligated to tell them everything they know, even if doing so would open them up to tampering charges...

riiiight... let's just hope nobody ever takes any penalties... Seriously. Leafs went form having too many shut-down guys to having NONE in their top 6.

Komi better have one hell of a bounce back year...
- Big_Lightnin

The Leaf defense improved the moment they traded Schenn.

The Leaf defense improved the moment they traded Schenn.
- faceto27

that remains to be seen.

and everyone always feels obligated to tell them everything they know, even if doing so would open them up to tampering charges...
- Big_Lightnin

You know that if Schultz picks Toronto, that the Ducks more than likely will claim foul and attempt to file tampering charges

this saga may play out for awhile

that remains to be seen.
- Big_Lightnin

Schenn was not going to be part of Carlyes D........ he was already relegated to 6th man minutes and was even sent to the press box

Carlye did not like what he saw from him.......... Schenn aside from being slow afoot, had serious brain cramps while on the ice

riiiight... let's just hope nobody ever takes any penalties... Seriously. Leafs went form having too many shut-down guys to having NONE in their top 6.

Komi better have one hell of a bounce back year...
- Big_Lightnin

he will.. however it will be in Vancouver.

Hope so.

Phaneuf Gunnarsson
Gardiner Schultz
Liles Franson/Holzer/Komisarek

That's a pretty solid looking D.
- gravyface

Yeah..."looking" but this is Toronto we're talking about...

Schenn was not going to be part of Carlyes D........ he was already relegated to 6th man minutes and was even sent to the press box

Carlye did not like what he saw from him.......... Schenn aside from being slow afoot, had serious brain cramps while on the ice
- faceto27

and having brain cramps differentiated him from PHaneuf, Komisarek (permanent brain cramp) and Franson by exactly what?

he will.. however it will be in Vancouver.
- BorjeFan4Ever

For Luongo, Kassian and a 2nd rounder??

riiiight... let's just hope nobody ever takes any penalties... Seriously. Leafs went form having too many shut-down guys to having NONE in their top 6.

Komi better have one hell of a bounce back year...
- Big_Lightnin

Why? Because we need big slow "shutdown" d-men to take additional penalties? That's what we thought looked good on paper... maybe in 2002.

and having brain cramps differentiated him from PHaneuf, Komisarek (permanent brain cramp) and Franson by exactly what?
- BorjeFan4Ever

Phaneuf brought something to the table...... Komi, I agree, and more than likely he is gone as well

Your off base on Franson

The Leaf defense improved the moment they traded Schenn.
- faceto27

That's idiotic. I get that you're on the "Schenn sucks" bandwagon but there's no such thing as addition by subtraction unless the guy is a lockeroom issue and there is literally zero evidence to show that, on the contrary Schenn looked like he was well liked and even had some leadership skills as well.

Schenn was slow footed but he's a defensive dman, he's not Drew Doughty skating up the rink and putting up points (although he did have more points than Gunnarson who is an offensive dman), he's a big crushing hitting dman (was among the league leaders in hits for every year of his career so far), he was second in the team in PIM and in fighting majors (tied with Rosehill and behind Brown) and his plus minus was -6, which isn't great but when you look at the rest of the dmen it's not that bad.
Franson: -1
Gardiner: -2
Schenn: -6
Gunnarsson: -9
Phaneuf: -10
Komisarek: -13
Liles: -14

I know I'm not happy about the prospect of going up against him when we play Philly. Hopefully now that he's playing on another team when we go up against him you'll be able to realize what he's capable when he's pounding our forwards into the boards.

That's idiotic. I get that you're on the "Schenn sucks" bandwagon but there's no such thing as addition by subtraction unless the guy is a lockeroom issue and there is literally zero evidence to show that, on the contrary Schenn looked like he was well liked and even had some leadership skills as well.

Schenn was slow footed but he's a defensive dman, he's not Drew Doughty skating up the rink and putting up points (although he did have more points than Gunnarson who is an offensive dman), he's a big crushing hitting dman (was among the league leaders in hits for every year of his career so far), he was second in the team in PIM and in fighting majors (tied with Rosehill and behind Brown) and his plus minus was -6, which isn't great but when you look at the rest of the dmen it's not that bad.
Franson: -1
Gardiner: -2
Schenn: -6
Gunnarsson: -9
Phaneuf: -10
Komisarek: -13
Liles: -14

I know I'm not happy about the prospect of going up against him when we play Philly. Hopefully now that he's playing on another team when we go up against him you'll be able to realize what he's capable when he's pounding our forwards into the boards.
- deerow84

No question Schenn has some very good qualities, and I have no doubt he's going to level a Leaf or two in his career, but with no offensive upside, and terrible foot speed, his ceiling is pretty low. His best bet is if he's paired with a PMD on the Flyers like when he was playing his (I think) best hockey with Kaberle.

No question Schenn has some very good qualities, and I have no doubt he's going to level a Leaf or two in his career, but with no offensive upside, and terrible foot speed, his ceiling is pretty low. His best bet is if he's paired with a PMD on the Flyers like when he was playing his (I think) best hockey with Kaberle.
- gravyface

Gunnarsson

That's idiotic. I get that you're on the "Schenn sucks" bandwagon but there's no such thing as addition by subtraction unless the guy is a lockeroom issue and there is literally zero evidence to show that, on the contrary Schenn looked like he was well liked and even had some leadership skills as well.

Schenn was slow footed but he's a defensive dman, he's not Drew Doughty skating up the rink and putting up points (although he did have more points than Gunnarson who is an offensive dman), he's a big crushing hitting dman (was among the league leaders in hits for every year of his career so far), he was second in the team in PIM and in fighting majors (tied with Rosehill and behind Brown) and his plus minus was -6, which isn't great but when you look at the rest of the dmen it's not that bad.
Franson: -1
Gardiner: -2
Schenn: -6
Gunnarsson: -9
Phaneuf: -10
Komisarek: -13
Liles: -14

I know I'm not happy about the prospect of going up against him when we play Philly. Hopefully now that he's playing on another team when we go up against him you'll be able to realize what he's capable when he's pounding our forwards into the boards.
- deerow84

Same ole crap.... league leader in hits. Which always put him out of position.

Second in fighting majors....... First in getting his ass handed to him

First in bone head plays!!!!!!!!

Gunnarsson
- Boosinicka

Yup, him too. Think everyone plays better with Gunnarsson. Really hope we don't trade that guy.

No question Schenn has some very good qualities, and I have no doubt he's going to level a Leaf or two in his career, but with no offensive upside, and terrible foot speed, his ceiling is pretty low. His best bet is if he's paired with a PMD on the Flyers like when he was playing his (I think) best hockey with Kaberle.
- gravyface

You know, as a 22 year old defensive Dman, getting few offensive zone starts, and no PP time, he put up 22 points, an increase in pace over his last season, despite reduced ice time. He's shown year over year offensive improvements since being drafted, and he's got a very good first pass.

The reason he was drafted so high was because he had more offensive potential than your average shutdown Dman. Don't be surprised in a few years if he's in the mid-to-high 30s.

Yup, him too. Think everyone plays better with Gunnarsson. Really hope we don't trade that guy.
- gravyface

big time, did you see how horrendous the defense was when he got injured? we only thought our D was bad up until that point.

Same ole crap.... league leader in hits. Which always put him out of position.

Second in fighting majors....... First in getting his ass handed to him

First in bone head plays!!!!!!!!
- faceto27

The Dion Phaneuf School of Defense. Yup.