I think yes not the Holl signing tho.

The contract itself is pretty good and he could have gotten more on the open market. I'm no Leafs expert but doesn't it create a logjam on your left side especially with Sandin coming up?

Muzzin's a great defensive defenseman and a great leadership presence to have in the room and I think its also important to have guys who have won the cup in the situation the Leafs are in. If I was Dubas I would've done the same thing and I do think the contract is fair its just since the team is so strapped to the cap its gonna be difficult to fit him in especially if the cap goes down by how much they say it will.

Thats why there are so many Dermott rumors on here is because people think they won't be able to or want to keep him with Sandin coming up

Muzzen soldifys the Leafs defense for years to come and was a no brainer.

Holl signing was solid; 2M for a top 4 RHD.

I'm fine with the money and term, especially considering that this was signed before the Coronavirus situation and the cap was expected to go up. What I'm not okay with is the clause attached to his contract. NMC the first year is understandable because it guarantees he doesn't get exposed to Seattle, but what bugs me is the full NTC for the next two years after that. If they had the ability to trade him during either of those years, it would be super beneficial because of certain contracts that come up. Again, though, with the expected cap increase this wouldn't have been as big a deal.

Great signing, good AAV and term. Front loaded too so they can move him after year 3. I agree with 3 years for Dermott, Johnsson is gone before Engvall, he was top/lead the league in multiple zone exit stats. Mikheyev is probably another one year deal at low value since he got hurt and the cap isn't going up then he'll sign a big payday elsewhere

I think they've decided that Dermott can play the right side if they aren't going to move him.

only issue is our RD wont be that impressive if they go Rielly-Dermott, Muzzin-Lehtonen, Sandin-Holl Anderson is gonna be having fun again. Would rather see dermott go in a package for a true RHD who can play with Rielly

It does a bit, but nothing too serious. Multiple of their LD's are comfortable playing the right side and there's no harm in letting Sandin get a little extra seasoning in the minors. Plus there's always the option of trade(s)

I could see Dubas using Dermott and some other pieces to acquire a RHD. question is who

That leaves you only one RD though, assuming no trades/signings are made

Yes.

Someone who has never seen holl play

The Muzzin signing was flat out fantastic. The money is a steal for what he would have seen on the open market and the term is very reasonable.

I will challange whether it creates a logjam on the Right Side though. ALL of Dermott, newbie Lehtinen and even Sandin have had some experience playing their wrong side. Given this, does it really create a log jam?

I think the larger question to ask is whether the Muzzin signing (as good as it is) has effectively handcuffed the Leafs in obtaining a partner for Reilly that we all can live with - because as it sits, none of us will say Holl, Dermott, Sandin or Lehtonen inspire the much confidence in being "that guy". Proof: how many effin' Manson and Pesce deals can we come up with?

And let's say a deal is made to find a legit partner for Reilly. Then the real cost is gutting one of the best 3rd lines in the NHL and filling it with rookies who are not ready, reclamarton projects that may or may not work out, or players that simply would be playing above their true role.

This people is a cause and effect of the flat cap, as the Muzzin contract was signed prior to the lockdown. If we go with the original forecast of $83.5 million, yes, Johnsson was moving (Engvall plays 3rd line LW afterwards just for his possession numbers), but that gave the organization about $5 million to find a more suitable partner for Reilly. With the cap being flat, this blueline is what it is. We as Leafs fans may want to accept that barring a white rabbit being pulled out of Dubas' a$$.

But to question the signing is an error in thought process. Under normal circumstances it's not even a debate. Deal Johnsson to garner a RD for Reilly, or hit the UFA market with the $5 million that would be there. Under those circumstances, I say all of us were ok with Dermott and Holl on the right side in the 2nd and 3rd pairing, but recognized a need to a better stay at home guy for Reilly. COVID19 has created this situation, not bad management.

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If we can get a RHD for a fair price then we should jump on that. But I feel okay running what we have now. It's not ideal but I'm not gonna throw the kitchen sink at overpaying for a RHD.

Maybe if we get a piece like Faksa that would work too.

Very. He is the perfect defensive dman that this team has, and he can put up a few points too. All for a very good AAV with decent term, especially with what guys like Tyler Myers got. If Muzzin hadn't resigned, Justin Holl would be the #1 shutdown guy. Yikes

Agreed:
Rielly-defensive RHD
Muzzin-Lehtonen
Sandin-holl

Could be a really decent d core for the leafs

Obviously that would be ideal but who is trading a 1st pairing shutdown RD for Dermott + ? Theres only a handful of suitable players and Dermott would just be an throw in as a part of a much bigger deal. He has a lot more value staying and playing in the top 4 than as a trade peice at this point in his career

A lot harder to get that perfect 1st pairing RD though, no one is handing Paraykos out especially on a deal that would fit the Leafs salary with a flat cap. In a perfect world, the Leafs find that guy to play with Reilly allowing Lehtonen or Sandin to play alongside Muzzin and the other plays with Holl on the 3rd pairing but doesn't seem realistic

Agreed. His trade value should be a lot higher than what it seems to be. He was playing injured...

It would be like trading Nylander after last season.

I think his trade value is a lot higher among actual NHL teams than the posts we see on here. 34th overall pick, major part of the Marlies Calder Cup, smart puck moving dman who can also play defense. A lot of teams would kill for a guy like him

It's funny. If he was a RHD on another team Leafs fans would be throwing the kitchen sink at him (1st+)