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Our D-core is FINE

Created by: SammyT_51
Team: 2018-19 Toronto Maple Leafs
Initial Creation Date: Sep. 19, 2018
Published: Sep. 19, 2018
Salary Cap Mode: Basic
Description
We have zaitsev who is coming off horrible season and he is actually very good defensively, we have stay at home guy Hainsey who is reliable in his own zone playing RD and we have Ozhiganov who is going to be a beast. And in just his first game he was just that. Defensive beast. Many people dont realize that we were 11th in GA in the whole league with Polak and the-worst-year-of-his-career Zaitsev with pure offensive 50 point D Gardiner on one pairing.. we are going to be fine.
Free Agent Signings
RFAYEARSCAP HIT
6$6,500,000
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1.
2.
TOR
  1. Pollock, Brett
  2. 2020 6th round pick (CGY)
Retained Salary Transactions
DraftRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Round 7
2018
2019
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2020
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2021
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ROSTER SIZESALARY CAPCAP HITOVERAGES TooltipBONUSESCAP SPACE
23$79,500,000$68,045,000$2,550,000$5,582,500$11,455,000

Roster

Left WingCentreRight Wing
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$2,250,000$2,250,000
RW, LW
UFA - 3
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$11,000,000$11,000,000
C, LW
NMC
UFA - 7
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$894,167$894,167 (Performance Bonus$850,000$850K)
RW
UFA - 1
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$6,250,000$6,250,000
LW, C
NMC
UFA - 2
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$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$2,850,000$3M)
C
UFA - 1
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$6,500,000$6,500,000
RW
UFA - 6
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$650,000$650,000
LW, RW
UFA - 1
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$4,500,000$4,500,000
C
M-NTC
UFA - 4
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$2,100,000$2,100,000
RW, LW
UFA - 2
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$787,500$787,500
LW, RW
UFA - 1
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$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$850,000$850K)
LW, C
UFA - 1
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$863,333$863,333
RW
UFA - 1
Left DefenseRight DefenseGoaltender
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$5,000,000$5,000,000
LD
UFA - 4
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$4,500,000$4,500,000
RD
UFA - 6
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$5,000,000$5,000,000
G
M-NTC
UFA - 3
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$4,050,000$4,050,000
LD
UFA - 1
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$3,000,000$3,000,000
RD
M-NTC
UFA - 1
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$675,000$675,000
G
UFA - 1
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$863,333$863,333
LD/RD
UFA - 2
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$925,000$925,000 (Performance Bonus$850,000$850K)
RD
UFA - 1
ScratchesInjured Reserve (IR)Long Term IR (LTIR)
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$686,667$686,667 (Performance Bonus$182,500$182K)
C
UFA - 1
Logo of the Toronto Maple Leafs
$5,300,000$5,300,000
RW
M-NTC, NMC
UFA - 2
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$650,000$650,000
C
UFA - 1
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$1,300,000$1,300,000
RD
UFA - 1

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Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:04 p.m.
#1
Canes Baby
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:')
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:04 p.m.
#2
Bcarlo25
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nahhhh it kinda sucks
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:04 p.m.
#3
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GM Hockeysaurus Rex
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Quoting: jslongo
:')


cool
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:05 p.m.
#4
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GM Hockeysaurus Rex
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Quoting: Bcarlo25
nahhhh it kinda sucks


It doesnt. No falshy names tho, which sucks.. this is one good working d core. Nothing special, but fine defence. We wouldnt have D-core like Boston, Nashville or Carolina, the teams with great D-cores but ours is functional and fine. Of course I would love Ekblad or Doughty on this team lol but if it works its fine.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:11 p.m.
#5
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I’d say this D core is just a step below when pens won the cup in 2017. So yeah it’s definitely solid but they need A LOT of production out of their forwards and goalie like pens received
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Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:13 p.m.
#6
Jangle29
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Key will be no injuries
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Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:13 p.m.
#7
Bcarlo25
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Quoting: SammyT_51
It doesnt. No falshy names tho, which sucks.. this is one good working d core. Nothing special, but fine defence. We wouldnt have D-core like Boston, Nashville or Carolina, the teams with great D-cores but ours is functional and fine. Of course I would love Ekblad or Doughty on this team lol but if it works its fine.


I'm a bruins fan. I watched all 7 games with great attention. The leafs d core is HORRIBLE. Reilly is good. He's a really good number two. He isn't a one. Gardner is a sick top pairing d man in the AHL. Zaitsev had a reallllly tough year. I love Hainsey, but, c'mon. Dermott has upside, but not sure I have him anywhere but a bottom pairing d man at this stage. It's a collection of bottom 4 d, and one decent number 2. It's trash, and any team with a really good top line will eat them alive in the playoffs. Let's see, who does that sound like? oh ya, Boston and Tampa.
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Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:14 p.m.
#8
Pass it to Lucic
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This dcore is manageable for sure, but i would compare it to a very poorly made boat back in the 1600.
Lots of Leaks and will always need to be bailing water out to stay afloat.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:16 p.m.
#9
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Quoting: SammyT_51
It doesnt. No falshy names tho, which sucks.. this is one good working d core. Nothing special, but fine defence. We wouldnt have D-core like Boston, Nashville or Carolina, the teams with great D-cores but ours is functional and fine. Of course I would love Ekblad or Doughty on this team lol but if it works its fine.


Its certainly not elite but it doesn't suck either.

I thought both Orzhiganov and Holl both looked really good on the right side last night. Holl is a guy who just seems smooth out there. Skates very well, is big and uses his body positionally very well and he keeps his head up. He's a guy I think you'd have in the lineup and never year anything about. Just goes out, does his job without mistakes and calls her a day.

I would say that I am not sure the Dermott has a lock on the 3LD, his skating is elite, could be the best on the blueline (until Liljegren gets here). Borgman looked great last night and I wouldn't count out Rosen either. Borgman could be a PK guy and that could move him ahead of Dermott to start the season.

It'll be interesting to see Rosen, Carrick, and Marincin play tonight. Rosen was the best marlie in the playoffs last year so he could impress as well.

I think there is a very good chance Gardiner could be moved in the near future, he'll be too expensive next season and may as well get something for him if Dermott/Rosen/Borgman all deserve playing time.
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Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:20 p.m.
#10
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Quoting: mhockey91
I’d say this D core is just a step below when pens won the cup in 2017. So yeah it’s definitely solid but they need A LOT of production out of their forwards and goalie like pens received


Justin Schultz was the best they had that year. Rielly is significantly better than Schultz. Top to bottom, the Leafs d is at least as good as that Pens team had, but I would say its better than that. However, that Pens team played a way tighter style than the Leafs did last year which puts more pressure on the d. I really think a more concerted effort from the forwards will make a huge difference this year.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:23 p.m.
#11
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GM Hockeysaurus Rex
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Quoting: Bcarlo25
I'm a bruins fan. I watched all 7 games with great attention. The leafs d core is HORRIBLE. Reilly is good. He's a really good number two. He isn't a one. Gardner is a sick top pairing d man in the AHL. Zaitsev had a reallllly tough year. I love Hainsey, but, c'mon. Dermott has upside, but not sure I have him anywhere but a bottom pairing d man at this stage. It's a collection of bottom 4 d, and one decent number 2. It's trash, and any team with a really good top line will eat them alive in the playoffs. Let's see, who does that sound like? oh ya, Boston and Tampa.


That playoff series was brutal from Leafs D core.. only one that looked ok was Rielly. I painfully watched it get eaten alive by that monstrous line you had and you deserve every bit of getting past us. WE SUCKED in playoffs last year. Gardiner is basically forward playing D. But this is new year, we look more complete out there and I think that we would be better this year and we can get past team or two in playoffs.. we should see right?
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:31 p.m.
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It'll be interesting to see how the dgroup works out. Nothing special but that forward group has the potential to be. If the forward group can push the pace and keep other teams hemmed in their own zone then the dgroup doesn't need to be anything special to get by. The question always remains what do you do next season when Hainsey and Gardiner go UFA? Will the d group be ok then and can the young players step up.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:33 p.m.
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Quoting: Bcarlo25
I'm a bruins fan. I watched all 7 games with great attention. The leafs d core is HORRIBLE. Reilly is good. He's a really good number two. He isn't a one. Gardner is a sick top pairing d man in the AHL. Zaitsev had a reallllly tough year. I love Hainsey, but, c'mon. Dermott has upside, but not sure I have him anywhere but a bottom pairing d man at this stage. It's a collection of bottom 4 d, and one decent number 2. It's trash, and any team with a really good top line will eat them alive in the playoffs. Let's see, who does that sound like? oh ya, Boston and Tampa.


Settle down there bud. Toronto really played awful at times in that series and I think they struggled with the pressure that comes from being a young team people think should do some damage. Its way easier to play when everyone says you have no chance than when you are playing a very good team that people say you should beat.

As for the Leafs defenceman.

Rielly is definitely a #1 but he also needs the right partner to make that happen. Someone like a Chris Tanev who will cover up when Rielly takes off on an adventure, he needs his one Methot, Hainsey isn't that guy.
Hainsey is great but should be 3LD and PK specialist
Gardiner is a flawed but talented player, he is one of the better offensive guys from the back end but he's soft in front and along the boards and thats were Boston destroyed him last year.
Zaitsev was injured and then got so sick he lost over 20 lbs of muscle in the middle of the season. He was not healthy enough to play but he did improve towards the end of the playoffs (Much of what he got blamed for was Gardiners fault)
Dermott has a nice skill set and skates like the wind he'll be an intriguing guy to watch in the coming years. He doesn't have the lock on the bottom pair though.
Carrick Is a guy who babs doesn't want to give a real chance, but he does have the best shot suppression numbers on the team and I think he could be a servicable defenceman if given a proper chance.
Borgman, Rosen, Ozhiganov, and Holl all could be guys who won't hurt you and could develop into really solid players.

Really though the biggest problem for TO last season was the defensive play from the forwards. The wingers were always flying up the ice looking for stretch passes which caused the centres to be out of position covering for them and that left the slot open way too much. A more committed effort from them to pick their spots to rush up the ice will go a long way to making this defence look a lot better.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:37 p.m.
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Quoting: LoganOllivier
Justin Schultz was the best they had that year. Rielly is significantly better than Schultz. Top to bottom, the Leafs d is at least as good as that Pens team had, but I would say its better than that. However, that Pens team played a way tighter style than the Leafs did last year which puts more pressure on the d. I really think a more concerted effort from the forwards will make a huge difference this year.


schultz that year was certainly better than rielly. top 10 in Norris votes. he was fantastic that year. that D core consisted of:
dumo-hainsey
Cole-schultz
maatta-daley

that is a MUCH deeper D core and more defensively responsible. Hainsey was also better that season than he was with the leafs
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:39 p.m.
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Bcarlo25
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Quoting: SammyT_51
That playoff series was brutal from Leafs D core.. only one that looked ok was Rielly. I painfully watched it get eaten alive by that monstrous line you had and you deserve every bit of getting past us. WE SUCKED in playoffs last year. Gardiner is basically forward playing D. But this is new year, we look more complete out there and I think that we would be better this year and we can get past team or two in playoffs.. we should see right?


Hey, cheers to that. That's always a good way to look at things, and for the sake of any rivalry, I hope your right. I just think that the leafs haven't allocated their resources properly, and I would have already traded Nylander for a big gun or two on the back end.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:41 p.m.
#16
Bcarlo25
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Quoting: LoganOllivier
Settle down there bud. Toronto really played awful at times in that series and I think they struggled with the pressure that comes from being a young team people think should do some damage. Its way easier to play when everyone says you have no chance than when you are playing a very good team that people say you should beat.

As for the Leafs defenceman.

Rielly is definitely a #1 but he also needs the right partner to make that happen. Someone like a Chris Tanev who will cover up when Rielly takes off on an adventure, he needs his one Methot, Hainsey isn't that guy.
Hainsey is great but should be 3LD and PK specialist
Gardiner is a flawed but talented player, he is one of the better offensive guys from the back end but he's soft in front and along the boards and thats were Boston destroyed him last year.
Zaitsev was injured and then got so sick he lost over 20 lbs of muscle in the middle of the season. He was not healthy enough to play but he did improve towards the end of the playoffs (Much of what he got blamed for was Gardiners fault)
Dermott has a nice skill set and skates like the wind he'll be an intriguing guy to watch in the coming years. He doesn't have the lock on the bottom pair though.
Carrick Is a guy who babs doesn't want to give a real chance, but he does have the best shot suppression numbers on the team and I think he could be a servicable defenceman if given a proper chance.
Borgman, Rosen, Ozhiganov, and Holl all could be guys who won't hurt you and could develop into really solid players.

Really though the biggest problem for TO last season was the defensive play from the forwards. The wingers were always flying up the ice looking for stretch passes which caused the centres to be out of position covering for them and that left the slot open way too much. A more committed effort from them to pick their spots to rush up the ice will go a long way to making this defence look a lot better.


I appreciate that, I honestly didn't know Zaitsev lost that much weight. I just can't call Reilly a number one. A true number one doesn't need someone to cover for him. I think the leafs need a 1 and a 3. That's a tough thing to get.
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Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:50 p.m.
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Quoting: Bcarlo25
I appreciate that, I honestly didn't know Zaitsev lost that much weight. I just can't call Reilly a number one. A true number one doesn't need someone to cover for him. I think the leafs need a 1 and a 3. That's a tough thing to get.


I dont think the leafs need a #1. as mentioned in the previous comments adding a guy like tanev would do wonders for the D core.
reilly-tanev
gardiner-zaitsev

that certainly isnt one of the best D cores in the league but its very solid
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:51 p.m.
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Quoting: mhockey91
schultz that year was certainly better than rielly. top 10 in Norris votes. he was fantastic that year. that D core consisted of:
dumo-hainsey
Cole-schultz
maatta-daley

that is a MUCH deeper D core and more defensively responsible. Hainsey was also better that season than he was with the leafs


I think their performance was also a result of the style they played. The leafs were way more run and gun than Pittsburgh was that year. That is the area that needs way more improvement over the defence. Team Defence. If you look at a lot of Leaf unblocked shot charts for the defence, the hashmarks and the points are where all the damage is getting done. Not too many from really close, which points to the centre and wingers not being in position. Crosby never makes those kind of mistakes.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 3:56 p.m.
#19
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Quoting: Bcarlo25
I appreciate that, I honestly didn't know Zaitsev lost that much weight. I just can't call Reilly a number one. A true number one doesn't need someone to cover for him. I think the leafs need a 1 and a 3. That's a tough thing to get.


Only time will tell, but I think you are selling Rielly short. Its very easy for people to crap on the Leafs D but they did allow the 12th fewest goals last year and had one of the best goal differentials in the league. (6th) and did have 2 defenceman finish with 50 points. All of those numbers aren't anything to ignore.

They did allow a tonne of shots, but even that is a tad misleading. They almost always had the edge in high danger scoring chances. Often they were operating at a 2-1 rate on those, which points to many shots coming from the perimeter.

The Leafs defence isn't elite but its not terrible.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 4:06 p.m.
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Zaitsev has been in the league 2 years so saying one year is his true ability level is insane. his first year wasn't that great either.

Gardiner is awful no matter how you look at it. ya he puts up points on very offensive minded team.

Dermott and Ozhiganov are both t young. Ozhiganov is big and has a good first pass but prone to bad penalties and never played in the nhl level.

Dermott has good potential to be a solid number d man needs a little more muscle and nhl experience.

Hainsey is old and slowing down he ant play top 4 minutes or be the penalty killing guy he was.

Rielly is a good offensive d man with room to improve still. on the defensive side he is ok but needs to be great. he is young and still has ability and time to become true stud number 1 d.

dumo-hainsey
Cole-schultz
maatta-daley
this group of d men for the pens is worlds better than what the leafs will ice THIS year. Dermott and Rielly continue to develop and Ozhiganov is able to adjust to nhl game and stay out of the penalty box. the leafs d should be just fine.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 4:17 p.m.
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Quoting: t2a2e9j12k2
Zaitsev has been in the league 2 years so saying one year is his true ability level is insane. his first year wasn't that great either.

Gardiner is awful no matter how you look at it. ya he puts up points on very offensive minded team.

Dermott and Ozhiganov are both t young. Ozhiganov is big and has a good first pass but prone to bad penalties and never played in the nhl level.

Dermott has good potential to be a solid number d man needs a little more muscle and nhl experience.

Hainsey is old and slowing down he ant play top 4 minutes or be the penalty killing guy he was.

Rielly is a good offensive d man with room to improve still. on the defensive side he is ok but needs to be great. he is young and still has ability and time to become true stud number 1 d.

dumo-hainsey
Cole-schultz
maatta-daley
this group of d men for the pens is worlds better than what the leafs will ice THIS year. Dermott and Rielly continue to develop and Ozhiganov is able to adjust to nhl game and stay out of the penalty box. the leafs d should be just fine.


Zaitsev was pretty good in his first season, but he struggled when he came back from a concussion. In his second year he had trouble coming back form a foot injury and also got sick where he lost 20lbs of muscle! That really should be mentioned a lot more. Imagine being in midseason form, then a week later you are 20 lbs lighter and weak as hell. No you have to get back into the lineup and play against guys who are in mid season form. No wonder he looked bad last year. Also every seems to forget that to star the year he looked great! Most people in the first half of the season were saying he was better than Gardiner and some were saying he could possibly improve to top pair status. Then he got hurt and sick and things went of the rails.

Unfortunately for him, the media ignored all of that and just said he struggled and fans are idiots who believe everything they read and dump all over him.

I'm not saying he's an elite defenceman but he's solid and worth his contract, I just hope he doesn't get hurt or sick again.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 4:21 p.m.
#22
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WOW, Zaitsev had the worst year of his 2 YEAR career!
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Sep. 19, 2018 at 4:26 p.m.
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Bcarlo25
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Quoting: LoganOllivier
Only time will tell, but I think you are selling Rielly short. Its very easy for people to crap on the Leafs D but they did allow the 12th fewest goals last year and had one of the best goal differentials in the league. (6th) and did have 2 defenceman finish with 50 points. All of those numbers aren't anything to ignore.

They did allow a tonne of shots, but even that is a tad misleading. They almost always had the edge in high danger scoring chances. Often they were operating at a 2-1 rate on those, which points to many shots coming from the perimeter.

The Leafs defence isn't elite but its not terrible.


After further contemplation....dude, Zaitsev sucks. Bottom pair d man.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 4:31 p.m.
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Quoting: Bcarlo25
After further contemplation....dude, Zaitsev sucks. Bottom pair d man.


Maybe, this year will be telling but he certainly doesn't suck. If he was on any other team other than Toronto, (well everyone hates Montreal as well) he'd just be a decent right handed defenceman. Nothing spectacular but reliable and worth having around.
Sep. 19, 2018 at 4:33 p.m.
#25
Bcarlo25
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Quoting: LoganOllivier
Maybe, this year will be telling but he certainly doesn't suck. If he was on any other team other than Toronto, (well everyone hates Montreal as well) he'd just be a decent right handed defenceman. Nothing spectacular but reliable and worth having around.


Reliable? In the year that was allegedly his career year he was -22 on a playoff team.
 
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