You're right the Leafs have enough Dmen. The Leafs are is same position as many of teams, trying to figure out their 6/7 Dmen. Five are pretty well set, it's seeing if Carrick, Ozhiganov, Borgman, Rosen and Holl are capable. Leafs managed last year with Polak/Carrick.
I don't see Gardiner/Reilly being a pairing. I think there offence has to split up over two pairings. Moving Reilly to the right side would seem to a step backwards.

Babcock won't do it because he shelters his young d-men like crazy. There's a really good Dellow article over at theathletic.com about it - behind the paywall, mind you.

They have enough bottom-4 defensemen

The hawks are literally full of 5/6 defenseman if you want any, free of charge!

the leafs have plenty of d men. they don't have nearly enough good d men.

And on the top of that one of two that are good ( not Hainsey ), leaving next year.....being called crazy cause in one past threads wanted to trade Kadri to retain Gardiner.....

The D issues start next summer...

Yeah definitely when Leafs will have: Rielly, Zaitsev, Dermott, Lilegren, Carrick, Sandin, Holl, one of Gardiner, Borgman or Rosen probably Gardiner.

the leafs have had d issues for a decade. It's what will hold them back this year.

The Leafs have had issues for 15 years due to terrible asset and cap management. I could. see the. Leafs being much better and especially on defence starting next year and in the years past that.
Don't know why so many dismiss the future of Reilly, Zaitsev, Dermot, Lilijegren, Borgman plus the 2017 second rounder Rasemum, and 2018 1st and 2nd rounders Sandin and Durzi. If nothing else the Leafs do have tradable assets at the forward position if they need help. on defence.

Rielly is what he is. 5 years int he league now, he's a very good number 2. Zaitsev has played 8 professional seasons, 2 in the NHL. He's 26. He is what he is, he's alright. The rest seem like good young players that could be very good NHLers, but I don't think any of them can be a number 1 d man. That's what the leafs have been missing, are missing, and will be needing.

Oh, these phantom # 1 or # 2 ratings that mean nothing. Nothing wrong with Reilly for what he is. It's getting an improvement from the bottom 4,5,6 that will propel the Leafs and just about any teams to the Cup.
This number illusion has something fans have latched onto for what? Karlsson check the Sens record with him,, Hedman and Burns....not. much better. Look what Vegas did last year with their no name defence. Pens win the Cup in 2017 without Letang, and Hainsey played the most minute of any Pens Dman in the playoffs. Sorry, I'm one to who is fooled by this # 1 Dman fantasy.

Yeah...

Carrick is not exactly a piece to build around. Dermott, Lilegren, Sandin, Holl, Gardiner, Borgman, Rosen, and Gardiner have a total of less than 50 NHL games experience. Nope, nothing to be concerned about at all. Not saying that some of the youth won't develop, but it's not something that you want to bank on. Especially for 4 roster positions (to fill out 7 spots).

I guess when one doesn't win a playoff round in 15 years expectations are not very high.

Pretending something is not an issue doesn't make it not an issue.

The penguins without letang are the only team, basically in the cap era, to win without a legit number one d man.

I didn't say it's not an issue right now but the prospects can definitely fill the holes. How old was Doughty, Muzzin, Martinez, Voynov when they won the cup? What about Keith, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, etc on Hawks? Letang and Shultz... that's about it for Pens... lol

I just get the logic that a this magic # 1 Dmen is the solution to the Leafs problems and will lead to instant success. I think you proved my point when you mentioned the Kings and Hawks. They had good depth on defence which helped make their team successful. Generally team with better players have more success. Now that there core has slipped even Doughty hasn't helped the Kings since they last won the Cup in 2012. I don't think they have won a playoff round.
Take the Capitals last year, Leaf had a better GAA, so it's not like the Leafs are dmen desperate. What's with "lol" comment?

This is commonly forgotten. Could the Leafs use an upgrade on defense if it came along? Absolutely. Do we HAVE to get a defenseman like everyone says? Nope. Not at all. There are pieces there, and my point in this thread was more to point out we could potentially use our pieces more effectively. I think that got lost in the (likely poor) wording of the title.

Next year ( with Gardiner gone, which i hope won't happened ) we'll be left with Rielly as only proven notable D. The rest is guessing and predicting, or even say hoping. What we would want to see doesnt always equal what will be or will turn out. Dermott show grit, true....if Zaitsev wont rebound.....if Ozhiganov is only KHL but no NHL material......seen lots of prospects that could only managed AHL even if picked in first round...you know where im going with that. And even if all those D youngsters will rise as "predicted"...still wont be in next 2-3 years, and they will claim their money after. By that time Offence players will be on verge of contracts and vicious circle will close

But as i said before....we are playing the Game here and one or another group will be able to come back and say : "Told ya"

Cause I was trying to think of the other Pens guy and I honestly couldn't think of him. (It was Maatta btw)

Hawks and Kings won cause they were balanced but what was the biggest factor? Quick formed himself into a brick wall and stopped EVERYTHING and the Hawks had reliable goaltenders. Freddy can be that! I think as long as (whoever is the backup this year) gets around 25 starts to rest Freddy he is more then capable of doing the thing!! Lol I'm superstitious and don't say.

If you're looking ahead to life with Gardiner and Hainsey......it might be Reilly, Dermot, Borgman (Rosen) on the left side. Zaitsev, Liljegren and maybe Ozhignov on the right. Is this good enough in 2019/20? Leafs will be up against the cap in 2019/20 so a big UFA is unlikely. The other option is that a signed Nylander, Kadri or a relatively high priced good forward can be traded for cap space and a relatively good/expensiive can. be acquired.
It appears that Leafs will have relatively good valued contracts so a trade is good scenario as it would be basically trading cap for one area of strength to an area of need.
Good value contracts, good drafts as cheap young NHL ready players are necessary to aid a teams cap. Leafs seem to have the pieces, now we'll have to see they breakthrough to be in the top 8, top 4 top 2 in the playoffs.

agreed...i was all about requiring two RD's from start here, tho i neglected the fact that Expansion Draft is coming and those guys wont be protected on top of 2019/2020 Cap crunch....maybe some effective moves will be made after that tho we will miss many top 50 D' available in this two years while on verge of their contracts....

Lets hope and see