Chat Do the the Leafs really need Alex Pietrangelo?

[snoopdoggie]

My answer would be no. If they need to make their team worse in order to sign him, like they did when they signed John Tavares, then it isn't worth it. They already have Morgan Reilly. What they need is more rugged and tougher defensemen like Dustin Byfuglien. Dustin is also a versatile player, as he has played as a forward in the past. He also has a certain connection to the Leafs, as his step father played a few games for them in the early 70's.

 

[Hornet]

He’s good and can control the puck but the buds need a gritty D and a stay at home RHD (not necessarily the same guy) and they need to dump the soft Nylander.

Byfuglien is old and injury prone. For a $1m deal sure but otherwise no.

 

[snoopdoggie]

I agree. The Leafs need to build for the playoffs. It's a different animal than regular season. The last time they won a series was way back when Tucker was on the team. Dubas is too young and naive to realize this. If they can play Byfuglien limited minutes on a 700,000 deal, and keep him ready for the playoffs, they can finally turn this thing around. Remember, next season will be a short one. It probably won't start till Christmas. Teams will probably NOT be able to cross the border. Canadian teams will only play against each other in Canada only, and American teams will do the same, respectively.

 

[Hornet]

Darft is Oct 6-7
Free Agency Oct 9th
2020/2021 Season start is Dec 1st and the plan is for a full 82 game season

yes, there is likely going to be a Canadian Division then Divisions in the US without crossing the border. Not sure if the US teams stay with this region like a Canada would or play all over. Also not sure if they do a bubble again or travel. If wave 2 hits it’s likely a bubble again.

 

[2thick]

It’s interesting times. I think it would be great. Who do you move out is the question to make way for the cap.

 

[imyourpuppet]

Ideally yes a rugged defensive minded d man would be ideal but Pietrangelo checks many of the boxes that we need. He's a winner. He's a right handed shot. And he's capable defensively. Just a matter of fitting him under the cap - I think we would need to move one of the big three in order to make it happen.

 

[cupcrazy]

It’s interesting times. I think it would be great. Who do you move out is the question to make way for the cap.

Anderson, Nylander. Both are inconsistent

 

[Hornet]

Anderson, Nylander. Both are inconsistent

Nylander is too soft. Andersen wasn’t helped by defence although he also didn’t rise to the occasion.

Nylander is the easiest to move of the top 4 in this flat cap situation. Tavares has a NMC so he’s not going anywhere, Matthews is their best player although Seth Jones neutralized him so you have to keep him and Marner’s cap hit is too high for teams to absorb for a winger so there won’t be a buyer unless the Leafs retain a lot of salary.

 

[snoopdoggie]

Nylander is too soft. Andersen wasn’t helped by defence although he also didn’t rise to the occasion.

Nylander is the easiest to move of the top 4 in this flat cap situation. Tavares has a NMC so he’s not going anywhere, Matthews is their best player although Seth Jones neutralized him so you have to keep him and Marner’s cap hit is too high for teams to absorb for a winger so there won’t be a buyer unless the Leafs retain a lot of salary.

Keep Marner, Matthews, Tavares. Ship out Nylander. Use Nylander's salary for Pietrangelo.

If they can find a suitable replacement for Anderson, ship him out. If not, then better hang on to him. A team needs a goalie to win.

Re-sign Zack Hyman, Travis Dermott.

Use no.15 spot to draft a goalie.

 

[Charli3]

The leafs will find a way to fuck it up and even if they are able to get alex, the other half of leafs nation will be complaining about how we dumped nylander, apparently the first few years of nylander's contract is salary heavy so he could look very enticing for other teams.
I won't hold my breath like every other year, the team layout is too soft to make a deep run, i'm not even talking about a physicality, just pucks into the corners no one is willing to fetch except hymen and no one sticks up for the goalie, yes theoretically you can win with good "puck possession percentages" but there's no percentage for "puck retrieval" or how good you are without the puck.

 

[Barney_B]

Did not read what all provided.... Sadly we are not playing EA Sports where we can load up a team. TML can benefit from Pietrangelo; however, how would the team be material better? Who's out?

 

[Hornet]

Did not read what all provided.... Sadly we are not playing EA Sports where we can load up a team. TML can benefit from Pietrangelo; however, how would the team be material better? Who's out?

Nylander would be out

 

[Charli3]

Did not read what all provided.... Sadly we are not playing EA Sports where we can load up a team. TML can benefit from Pietrangelo; however, how would the team be material better? Who's out?

if this was EA the leafs would have so many cups

 

[cupcrazy]

The leafs will find a way to fuck it up and even if they are able to get alex, the other half of leafs nation will be complaining about how we dumped nylander, apparently the first few years of nylander's contract is salary heavy so he could look very enticing for other teams.
I won't hold my breath like every other year, the team layout is too soft to make a deep run, i'm not even talking about a physicality, just pucks into the corners no one is willing to fetch except hymen and no one sticks up for the goalie, yes theoretically you can win with good "puck possession percentages" but there's no percentage for "puck retrieval" or how good you are without the puck.

it must a curse. Literally anybody comes to Toronto from trades or as free agents, they all suck. Matt Murray is a bit gamble for the Leafs given he has been struggling this season. If Anderson goes down, the Leafs is fucked, the second string goalie is shit.

 

[sy barite]

I got interested in hockey again this year after not watching it for decades.

I've watched soccer my whole life, so I don't know a lot about hockey, but some principles apply across all professional sports teams. Modern day sports teams are populated with spoiled brats for the most part...and the Leafs appear to have more than their share. If it is true Babcock was let go because the players didn't like him, then I'd wager that's symptomatic of the problem right there. A team that wins is disciplined and led by a strong coach. If the players know they can get their way by throwing a tantrum...forget it. I'd rather see the team rebuilt with young hungry players that a aching to prove themselves and put in the hard work rather than see this bunch of spoiled (though admittedly talented) prima donnas have any success. And oh yeah...sucker fans that keep buying the jerseys and worshipping these clowns are part of the problem too. Let the Leaf organization see a season or two with the tap$ turned off...and we'd see some changes.

 

[2thick]

it must a curse. Literally anybody comes to Toronto from trades or as free agents, they all suck. Matt Murray is a bit gamble for the Leafs given he has been struggling this season. If Anderson goes down, the Leafs is fucked, the second string goalie is shit.

Campbell is an excellent goalie just need a shot for #1 goalie.

 

[snoopdoggie]

it must a curse. Literally anybody comes to Toronto from trades or as free agents, they all suck. Matt Murray is a bit gamble for the Leafs given he has been struggling this season. If Anderson goes down, the Leafs is fucked, the second string goalie is shit.

Jack Campbell is a reasonable back-up goalie.
I don't think Matt Murray is a good replacement for Andersen.

 

[Toomanymiles]

I’m more of a basketball and football guy but I am canadian so I did play some hockey. Leaf got too much finesse not enough grit, not enough heart. Give up too easily. Pressure gets to them. Lacking hustle plays. I don’t even watch them and know that this is the problem. They are not a balanced team and they do not strike fear in anyone’s hearts. They need to sign more players that can throw their weight around. All finesse = soft team = early playoff exit. Build a really 3 and 4th line. You don’t need more scoring. You need to hurt the other team more. When your scoring lines can’t score get the checking line out their to get big hits and build momentum.

 

[snoopdoggie]

I’m more of a basketball and football guy but I am canadian so I did play some hockey. Leaf got too much finesse not enough grit, not enough heart. Give up too easily. Pressure gets to them. Lacking hustle plays. I don’t even watch them and know that this is the problem. They are not a balanced team and they do not strike fear in anyone’s hearts. They need to sign more players that can throw their weight around. All finesse = soft team = early playoff exit. Build a really 3 and 4th line. You don’t need more scoring. You need to hurt the other team more. When your scoring lines can’t score get the checking line out their to get big hits and build momentum.

Agreed. When the Oilers of the 80's were scoring machines with Gretzky, Kurri, Andersen, they also had grit with McClelland, Hughes, Semenko. When the top lines didn't score, the tough players chipped in.

 

[BigDare88]

Leafs need some grit, speed and toughness. Look at teams that went deep in playoffs . I’d unload Nylander - plays soft and afraid to go in corners , Engvall- AHL player , Marincin - AHL, Johnson- weak, injury prone, Barrie , Andersen if u can get a good replacement