Tanev wasn't a free agent

Oh makes sense

The list is pretty big for D that would have been a better pick up than Kling. Columbus got a few beauties, so did Van not sure if they were FA or trades though. Maybe even Dumba would have been more suitable for the Leafs than Kling. But hopefully he proves us all wrong!!

One of the Leafs fundamental problems last year was their lack of offense from the blue line when Rielly wasn't on the ice. It was very evident in the playoffs too. Klingberg has a history have having excellent showings in the playoffs, paired with someone defensively responsible like McCabe he will be fine. He's not great defensively but he's far from a complete liability like Barrie was.

IMO Dumba was probably the only option that was better on the market this year

I really wish we still had schene

Dumba was the best fit, and then they should gotten a cheap LD who can produce (suprised they let Gustaffson go for lge minimum).

Better options than Klingberg (considering timmins adds RD offense) were Schenn, LD Gotisbehere, Dumba, maybe Peeke or Boqvist from CBS

And Rielly stinks as a PP quarterback and needs more time off the ice... Something that Klingberg and Lilly can help with

This. Leaf fans forget that Keefe doesn't like shooting from his back end. Tree might be looking to change that. Mo is a great PP QB but his shot is hot butter. Klingberg takes shots, and good ones. Toronto needed this.

I think he's fine for a PP but he doesn't shoot. Klingberg does. You need your QB to put shots on net.

I like Schenn. But the contract he got is not good at this stage of his career.

At least Klingberg is playing for his NEXT pay day, and knows he needs to have a big year in order to get payed like he wants.
He is definitely a liability defensively (which obviously isn't ideal), but he could put up big offensive & PP numbers.

Yeah, he just looks out of place on the PP whereas Klingberg looks like he fits like a glove on any PP

not at 2.75 until he is 36

Shenn woulda been a great pick up though

I would argue that’s not that bad of a contract

I don't agree with that. He's a different PPQB, much more of a passer than guys like Klingberg, Josi, Burns, Dougie, Chychrun, etc. But there are plenty of playmaking defensemen that QB 1st PP units successfully, Dunn and Morrissey were excellent at it last year and Krug has made a career out of it.

I doubt Klinger replaces Rielly on the first unit, Toronto has more than enough firepower between Matthews, Nylander, and Tavares.

Not at nearly 3M. You haven't seen a lot of Klinger play over the last few years since he's strictly played in the West. Yes he's an offensive defenseman but there's a night and day difference between him and Barrie

I love Rielly but he's missing the finest that Klingberg has on the PP and again, it would also give him a 2 minute break... Which he needs IMO