Holl, Marincin and Rosen ALL in the top six? Hope not. They aren't NHLers now. Sorry, there is no cap room for Gardiner. And to think you can just offload Zaitsev without taking money back...probably not.

Probably can’t just offload Z your right but Rosén is proving he is a top 6 defencemen destroying the AHL right now. Marincin has proven he is a NHL caliber D and Holl appears to look like an NHL player

Babcock will not play left hand shot defensemen on the right side. Marner's, Johnsson's and Kaps deals are extremely team friendly and highly unlikely imo.

Babcock actually had a team in Detroit where everyone was a lefty, also @BillComeau on twitter looked at comparables with Marner, Kappy and Johnsson he found that their cap hits are similar to what I have.

As a bruins fan, I really hope the leafs sign gardiner

I hope you're right about Rosen. But good play in the AHL, especially at the age of 24 doesn't necessarily relate to being of NHL calibre. Holl age 25 with what 4 NHL games....seems like the classic AHLer. Marincin, who I don't mind, I don't think can hold up to be being a regular. Where is Ozhigakov, he's looking better all the time. Gotta think he stays.

Philthethrill. I think it's more important to play your best Dmen then worry about their handiness is. Hainsey plays the right side. But you're right, Babcock and all coaches would prefer 3 NHL competent RHD on their team. So I think Zaitsev and Ozhignokov stay.

Yep. Rosen's currently 4th in points, 7th in shots, and in a big tie for 16th in plus/minus among AHL defensemen. Until they start tracking hits or corsi down there, that's the best data you can go by. He probably plays in the NHL next year.

Not much to add on "Holl appears to look like an NHL player."

Ozhiganov is an NHL caliber defencemen but his gap control and skating ability is of the quality of a number 6 dman I do love his passing ability though

Marincin has put up good numbers in the nhl throughout his career I don’t see why he isn’t nhl caliber, also Holl just needs to be given a chance ik he doesn’t have the NHL resume but whatever we have seen from him is NHL caliber.

You are right with Rosén but I do notice he has all the tools of being and NHL defensemen I don’t see why he can’t be

Let's hope Ozzie continue to improves, Maybe his cap control is a little shaky as he just getting use to the smaller ice surfaces...and better players that the KHL. Plus he playing with an inexperienced guy too Dermot.
There aren't too many cheap RHD around, so cross your fingers that Ozzie shows he is NHL good.

The Leafs should not re-sign Gardiner, especially at 6.5, someone will probably pay him that but i'm sure the Leafs have seen enough of Gardiner. Dermott can replace him he's essentially the same player but much better defensively. Also, Marner's number is going to be closer to Matthews than Nylander's. I'm sure he will be asking 9 +, and the way Kapanen is looking this year his ask will be alot higher than 2.7 imo

I hope we can get them for that. Babcock seems pretty keen on keeping guys on their natural side. In an interview he rang off a bunch of reasons why it's so important.

Gardiner is an elite defencemen as Babcock has noted, he is the leafs #2 dman who essentially plays the most minutes on the team. Marner won’t get over 9.5 though because the leagues best winger kucherov just got 9.5M so I don’t see him getting any more then that. I did a comparable and found 8.5 to be a good number compared to Patrick Kane. Kapanen I’m not sure what he will get but if we look at his raw numbers before this year they really bring that number down.