Edited Nov. 9, 2020 at 11:39 p.m.
Quoting: Jamiepo
Here’s the leafs issue though... defensive depth chart:
Rielly
Muzzin
Brodie
Dermott
Holl
Lehtonen
Bogasian
Sandin
Liljegren
Marincin
Rosen
Who are all nhl ready...
and a list of prospects twice that size that will be trying to prove they are next in line.
Yep, I’m familiar. Marincin and Rosen are depth 7th-8th defenders, organizational depth.
Sandin and Liljegren will play in the AHL this year. But yes, I agree. Both could see time in the NHL for a worse team. Liljegren has lost a little shine as a prospect too.
Lehtonen, although highly touted signing and I’m a fan!! I think he will be good IMO. But really he has never played a NHL game. The smaller ice , although a huge difference, isn’t even the biggest difference in NHL/Russian hockey. Russia is all about speed. It’s a lot easier on Defenders, not as physical or as big of players. And they have more room, bigger Ice, so if u are fast, it’s a huge advantage. And Defenders in Russia don’t use the boards nearly as much as we do in the US. CauE the ice is bigger. They don’t have too. More room to skate and pass around players without using the boards. So the PP and everything is so different for D. Keeping the puck in along the boards, all the time. And all The fighting for the puck along the boards. Not nearly as much of that in Russia. Barely any, it’s just a Different game all 2gether. And Defenders take the most time to adjust.
But with that said, I still think Lehtonen will be good..lol. I don’t know about a top 4 and 18-20 minutes a night good. But maybe the 3rd pairing, Dermott/Lehtonen or Lehtonen/Bogs. And playing 10-14 minutes a night.
And list of prospects twice that Long? Lol?? Sandin and Liljegreen are the only D prospects Toronto has besides Players that were drafted this year or last year. And maybe 2 of them are of significance. Topi N.(2020 draft) and Mikko Kokkenon(drafted 2019). E.Rasanen has very little potential. A “C” prospect. So a list twice as long is a big, big exaggeration buddy!! Lol. But Sandin, Liljegreen, Mikko Kokkenon and Topi are a good young Prospect pool of D.