I really don't understand this trade, been posted a bunch of times but literally makes zero sense for both teams. An offensive minded team trading their 70+ point dman to a defensive team trading their 1st pairing (if Pietrangelo walks) shutdown dman

This is exactly what I'd do. I'd switch Gauthier with spezza who will make league minimum but the rest is 100%

I'm currently, (and have been for a while), onboard with this idea. It makes perfect sense.

I doubt the Blues would do it though and I really don't like the idea of adding from the Leafs perspective unless it was a B prospect or lower draft capital which wouldn't move the needle much.

I also believe that the Leafs would never make this move. I think that they are dead set on their core and see Rielly as a huge part of it. (Which he is but, this addresses the need for an improved D Core IMO).

It'll never happen though.

I think you are on with your RFA valuations however I see no need for Gauthier at that salary in Keefe's system.

Thanks for posting.

Spezza is a really good add and the Leafs should go for him - BUT - he is not a 4th line player. He has never been a D-minded guy (and has some liabilities there). Unless you aren’t putting out a checking / shut down line, he belongs on 3rd line. Gauth may not be the perfect fit but he is more of a D zone guy and faceoff guy than Spez

Good thought - but feel like the speed-skill-scoring mantra of Management would favour Reilly over others. He’s half the cost of his peers right now.

Man I hate this site for this exact reason. Rielly is an elite Norris calibre defenceman and gets nothing but disrespect by non leaf fans and half of Leafs nation. Just emotional sheep who follow the mob mentality. One clown says he can't defend and now he's terrible let's trade him immediately. Parayko is very good sure. But so is Rielly. "But he's right handed" 🙃 so ****ing annoying.

Both Leafs and Blues decline, Both players are untouchable.

The leafs dont use their 4th line as a checking line. They barely even play at 5v5. Spezza would be primarily there for pp2 and hes been extremely successful on the 4th line this season. When hes been forced to play 3c hes looked quite rough. Hes never been a great skater but hes also in his late 30s so hes not suited to play with kapanen and Engvall who are both extremely fast

Why does it make no sense? It suits both teams very well. Each team is stack at one hand. So this evens it out. And for the leafs, it gives them a defensive d.

Cause the Leafs don't need to replace Rielly, they need to get him a partner. Parayko can't run a PP as effectively and this leaves the Leafs without an elite offensive dman with an offensive system. A Rielly-Parayko pairing is what the Leafs need, not to swap the two

Muzzin, Dermott, Sandin, Lehtonen, Marincin, Rosen. The top 3 guys on this list, maybe Lehtonen too, Could replace him With Parako as a partner.

Muzzins really the only top pairing LD we have outside of Rielly. Sandin eventually maybe but not yet. Marincin and Rosen aren't even NHLers. I'd much rather sign a steady RD this offseason like Demelo for example who is essentially a right shot Muzzin to play 1st pairing with Rielly where he can carry the offensive load. Muzzin and Holl can round out the top 4 leaving dermott, sandin and Lehtonen battling for the bottom 2. This is a much more competitive d core as far as I'm concerned

Leafs definitely have to add because Parayko has two years left on his contract and Rielly has only one. I'm not really sure what those pieces would be. I also think that some Leafs fans overrate Rielly and some Blues fans overrate Parayko.

I think swapping Rielly for Parayko would be a possibility as I see it helping the weaknesses of both teams. Rielly is offensive-minded and left-handed. The Blues could use an offensive defenseman and a left-handed shot. Parayko is defensive-minded and is right-handed. The Leafs could use a defensive defenseman and a right-handed shot. Even with all that said, I don't think either team is looking to change things up, especially the Blues. Both players are good leaders for their teams and are fan favorites. I also think that the plan for the Blues is to let Pietrangelo walk at this point. They should be keeping Parayko and the only reason why they should be trading him is to open up cap space. They probably still can have Rielly and Pietrangelo, but that too unlikely.

No, they both have 2 years. That why I think it is equal.

Well, Then muzzin would be our top pairing defence man then. My point exactly.

But then we have no depth.. Our second pairing turns into Dermott and Holl, not exactly a contending team 2nd pair

It makes perfect sense for the leafs. They NEED a defensive RHD. And if Petro resigns then St. Louis could run:

Rielly-Petro
Dunn-Faulk

Disrespecting Rielly would be trading him for a low value. Leafs get back the type of rock that they need. Again, it won’t happen, but it makes sense. Also Rielly isn’t a “Norris” caliber D. He had one season playing at that level

Probably are but I’m just trying to illustrate value. The description literally says “would never happen”

I think sandin is closer than you think

Doug Armstrong is not moving Parayko.

Did u read the title?

Yes. But there are still proposals for this type of deal showing up on Capfriendly.

Yes, he played a season at Norris level last year. So its hard to say if that was a "glitch" or not. Is he a Norris defence man? Hard to say, Probably not.