Oh sorry my bad. But im sure you can see the confusion. Lol

Do the Ceci **** now
Sign Gards tomorrow
Tell Mitch he has until camp to decide if he is a Leaf
Flip to another team or sign when he comes to his senses. The return will still be very good even with the stalemate.

Most people think Mitch is going to go deep into the summer anyway (Ferris has a playbook, he will 'start to look for KHL opportunities' about a week or so before camp. Book it).
Don't wait on Mitch, he can wait on the Leafs.

not really.. James REIMER.. or RYMINISTER.. different spelling. My first name is Ryan.. it was a nickname I was given as a kid.

I can see someone listens to a lot of the SteveDangle podcast. Lol

Yeah but Reimer used to be called the ryminister, maybe the spelling is different but that's what i thought you where going for

no, he was called Optimus Reim.. it was a nickname based on the Transformer series

Nvrmnd

They used to call hom the ryminister of defense.

I stole his words but I was thinking much of the same.

I like Jake but don't see the fit anymore.

I'd pair Rielly with Ceci to start...let Ceci play a simple defensive game and be the Seabrook to Rielly's Duncan. No...I don't think he's a top pairing guy..but I'd see if they can work out some chemistry.

Then do Muzzin with Barrie.

Barrie is essentially a better, right handed version of Jake. We can probably get ready to get frustrated at his turnovers or poor decisions to pinch just like jake...but he'll make up for it (hopefully) with some wizardry moving the puck.

Once Dermott comes back, the left side is set unless Babs wants to give him a go on the Right side (maybe up with Rielly instead of Ceci). I just don't see the need to even spend $5m in cap space on Jake given the options we have at LD.

I'd like to see Dubas find a big beefy RHD guy at league min. who will be better to sit in the pressbox instead of Holl or Marincin and at least give Babs the option of adding size and grit to the back end. Gimme an Adam McQuaid who...worst case scenario..you send him down to the Marlies if it doesn't work out. If you can go Rielly, Muzzin and Dermott on the left with Ceci, Barrie and even McQuaid on the right...it's not perfect by any stretch..but it's more balanced.

Strong disagree that Barrie is better than Gardiner. Yes he's right-handed and a better fit for the lineup, but there's really no measure except points (which, who cares for a defenceman) by which Barrie beats out Gardiner.