I fail to see any issues with having a balance of 4-5 players making premium money who are your core. Diversifying your portfolio is an excellent financial strategy and the Leafs do not have a diverse portfolio.

Pay 4-5 players, spread across the forward and defense groups, top dollars and fill the gaps on the roster with cheaper options. You can rotate those "filler" roster spots from season to season while relying on your elite core.
- mjones242

My issue with that is that's pretty much exactly what I see having been done, and the result is failure.

I don't want anything more to do with things that start and end with "filler".

Completely agree.
Holl cannot be in the top 4 on regular basis.
5-6 is perfect for now.
- Fakepartofme

Holl can play 18-20mins a night. Lehtonen might shift him down to 3rd pair if he proves to be legit.

Pretty sure Dubas will want to begin the year with both of these guys on the roster, so I'm thinking the "add two new RHD" narrative may not be in the cards. I'm betting on one major addition... not especially expecting Petro, but... someone.

Gary.. Ended 99's career.
- bixll

He was a total piece of sh!t. The cross-check from behind on Gretzky was dirty beyond words, the one on Kariya was unforgivable as well. Broke his jaw. Kariya was never the same.

My issue with that is that's pretty much exactly what I see having been done, and the result is failure.

I don't want anything more to do with things that start and end with "filler".
- joel878

Sorry, what has been done before resulting in failure?

Yes we all may have a preference. If we can get to the end goal of being able to watch a team that isn't complete and total poop defensively for the first time in a generation... We all win.
- joel878

samesies..

If we can add someone like Pesce via a trade and sign someone like DeMelo, that would better for the depth..

While adding Pietrangelo would be fantastic, it would mean that Holl is still in the top 4...
I think Holl is better suited as a 5-6 guy
- PatC80

On another team.

Even though, he'll play 30+ minutes a game, we'd still have to play two other d-pairings, and Holl would still be in the top 4.

I do really like Pietrangelo a lot, but the Leafs need defensive depth more.. If Pietrangelo signs here and gets injured, then we are stuck having the same issue, which is lack of depth.
- PatC80

Nah. He's traded in my scenario.

On another team.
- GreatGigInTheSky

Even though, he'll play 30+ minutes a game, we'd still have to play two other d-pairings, and Holl would still be in the top 4.

I do really like Pietrangelo a lot, but the Leafs need defensive depth more.. If Pietrangelo signs here and gets injured, then we are stuck having the same issue, which is lack of depth.
- PatC80

There's going to be a question of durability as well.

If the plan is to bring Pietrangelo here and go all in on him... How many of those 7 years are we expecting to get 25-30 quality minutes a night out of?

And how does it look for those years you have all that money tied up in a workhorse nearing his mid 30's that you can't get those workhorse minutes out of?

I'm getting a lot of vibes from that time everyone on these boards told me David Clarkson was the missing link because they desperately had been missing a power forward to play in the top 6... And I went yeaaaaah but there's a lot of red flags there.

Don't get me wrong, I am not calling Pietrangelo Clarkson...

Did you notice how deep the Leafs made it into the playoffs with Hainsey as his partner?
- mjones242

Supposedly we outplayed them but got out goalied and out lucked.

That’s what I’ve read in here. 😬

Sorry, what has been done before resulting in failure?
- mjones242

Relying on the core and plugging in fillers around them... And pretending that was going to lead to a parade year after year.

If your lineup has weak areas, they will be exposed when they step on the ice regardless of who your core is. Other coaches eat it up.

Holl can play 18-20mins a night. Lehtonen might shift him down to 3rd pair if he proves to be legit.

Pretty sure Dubas will want to begin the year with both of these guys on the roster, so I'm thinking the "add two new RHD" narrative may not be in the cards. I'm betting on one major addition... not especially expecting Petro, but... someone.
- mjones242

Lehtonen can play the right, but he's not a natural rightie.

If I had to guess... Lehtonen playing the right is a plan B... Not plan A.

- winsix

Even though, he'll play 30+ minutes a game, we'd still have to play two other d-pairings, and Holl would still be in the top 4.

I do really like Pietrangelo a lot, but the Leafs need defensive depth more.. If Pietrangelo signs here and gets injured, then we are stuck having the same issue, which is lack of depth.
- PatC80

And not just Pietrangelo... If Rielly or Muzzin get injured.

We all saw how that played out this year and how not content people on here where with a guy like Dermott playing top 4 minutes.

Relying on the core and plugging in fillers around them... And pretending that was going to lead to a parade year after year.

If your lineup has weak areas, they will be exposed when they step on the ice regardless of who your core is. Other coaches eat it up.
- joel878

More than one way to win a cup. Pitts won back to back with a core and fillers.

Anyway, we should all agree that the defense needs significant upgrade(s). I really don;t care how it is done as long as it gets done.

Holl can play 18-20mins a night. Lehtonen might shift him down to 3rd pair if he proves to be legit.

Pretty sure Dubas will want to begin the year with both of these guys on the roster, so I'm thinking the "add two new RHD" narrative may not be in the cards. I'm betting on one major addition... not especially expecting Petro, but... someone.
- mjones242

im sorry no.
Imo holl cannot play 18-20mins a night well.
But yes, i expect nothing less than the addition of a right hand D. Its been a glaring issue for years. If dubi doesnt had one, hes failed.

On another team.
- GreatGigInTheSky

lol

More than one way to win a cup. Pitts won back to back with a core and fillers.

Anyway, we should all agree that the defense needs significant upgrade(s). I really don;t care how it is done as long as it gets done.
- Leafs43

and those core fillers played a great defensive game and the forwards were aligned as well.
Havent seen toronto do that consistently

He was a total piece of sh!t. The cross-check from behind on Gretzky was dirty beyond words, the one on Kariya was unforgivable as well. Broke his jaw. Kariya was never the same.


- winsix

100% agree, he was.

There's going to be a question of durability as well.

If the plan is to bring Pietrangelo here and go all in on him... How many of those 7 years are we expecting to get 25-30 quality minutes a night out of?

And how does it look for those years you have all that money tied up in a workhorse nearing his mid 30's that you can't get those workhorse minutes out of?

I'm getting a lot of vibes from that time everyone on these boards told me David Clarkson was the missing link because they desperately had been missing a power forward to play in the top 6... And I went yeaaaaah but there's a lot of red flags there.

Don't get me wrong, I am not calling Pietrangelo Clarkson...
- joel878

In 4 years when you’re not getting those minutes, if that $9M is anywhere close to the same % of the cap, we have real problems.

Maybe we can’t have the best guy available this year and just get a good guy

In 4 years when you’re not getting those minutes, if that $9M is anywhere close to the same % of the cap, we have real problems.

Maybe we can’t have the best guy available this year and just get a good guy
- Canada Cup

I am a good guy, and RHD. Do it for league mini..

lol
- Fakepartofme

He was a total piece of sh!t. The cross-check from behind on Gretzky was dirty beyond words, the one on Kariya was unforgivable as well. Broke his jaw. Kariya was never the same.


- winsix

(frank) that hit.

samesies..

If we can add someone like Pesce via a trade and sign someone like DeMelo, that would better for the depth..

While adding Pietrangelo would be fantastic, it would mean that Holl is still in the top 4...
I think Holl is better suited as a 5-6 guy
- PatC80

Could sign Buff to a 1M/1 year

I fail to see any issues with having a balance of 4-5 players making premium money who are your core. Diversifying your portfolio is an excellent financial strategy and the Leafs do not have a diverse portfolio.

Pay 4-5 players, spread across the forward and defense groups, top dollars and fill the gaps on the roster with cheaper options. You can rotate those "filler" roster spots from season to season while relying on your elite core.
- mjones242

If one of those Elite core guys goes down, hope the Leafs have someone or two to fill those skates.