Dream of finally filling our biggest need, which is a franchise center to play LW with Marner and Matthews? That defense hasn't changed and still looks awful...

Thinking the Leafs issue is on the back end is a great litmus test for whether you actually pay attention.

We need more defensively responsible forwards - Sid does everything and plays a grinder style with star level skills. The fit is excellent

The defence needs work as well though. However fixing that is not going to be easy or permanent

I'm pretty fine with it honestly. Leafs defence could use an upgrade - and this trade does help that, but the D core is perfectly adequate

Is that joke? After the amount of losses we've suffered on the backend in the last year alone and the very apparent decline of Brodie and Gio, as well as the inadequacy of Liljegren and at times McCabe, you still can't see the glaring issues on our backend that everyone and their dog can see?

I watch every game and regardless of whether you subscribe to the eye test or analytics, both show that you're laughably out to lunch here. Thanks for filling me in on this Crosby guy; you must be a professional scout because I'd never heard of him before! Even if Crosby was the acquisition to make, the fact you think we need an elite franchise CENTER to play LW with two franchise forwards who are both elite defensively already, rather than playing him at CENTER when we have Domi at 3C and Robertson on his wing, truly shows how delusional you are.

In your head, you think you're some sort of genius for recognizing the value of SIDNEY CROSBY... While completely failing to recognize this team's needs.

If you want the leafs to be better defensively, you need to address the defensive issues.

That's the forwards.

It's not a coincidence that we subtracted the dubas era defensive forwards for Trev era offensive forwards and got much worse defensively even while retaining the same D core.

If you don't understand that - you simply aren't paying attention. Our D core could use another offensive D to qb the PP2 since McCabe, Lily, Gio, and Timmins are useable at best on it - but if you want better defensive results specifically, you need to upgrade the forwards

Always gotta chase the shiny toy. 🙄

Crosby isn't available.

What's next? Fantasize about trading for Stamkos?

You say that like it's a bad thing

They certainly are not and the numbers say so as well. They are not very good at preventing controlled zone entries and aren't very good at regaining possession. Most of them also aren't good at getting the puck in the hands of our forwards with speed to allow controlled zone entries. The defence apart for Rielly (been very good all year), Liljegren and McCabe (since he's returned he's been better but still isn't a shutdown defender). Brodie has been fine but far less than he used to be and Gio is showing his age. The fill ins have been treading water but both Lagesson and Benoit shouldn't ever be in the lineup. Timmins had been good though.

They need better skaters on the back end as really only Rielly, Liljegren and Timmins are strong skaters. McCabe is fine but he's not very bright and puts himself out of position too much. Yes smarter forwards would help but it still leaves holes on the back end.

I simply disagree with your assessment. Our D core isn't elite by any means but the issues all stem from the forwards. Look at the results from last year vs this despite the same d core.

They're fine and we should lean into our teams ability offensively while adding another tool that allows us to be flexible defensively

Retaining the same D core? We had Gio, Holl, Muzzin, Sandin, Schenn and Brodie all playing in our top 4 at different times LAST season. Lily, Brodie and Gio have not been good whatsoever this year. McCabe has been wildly inconsistent. It is well known that we needed to address the defense, because we didn't retain the same defense whatsoever. That only takes common sense and awareness to recognize.

Now that said, I would still upgrade on Robertson with a more defensive-minded winger, and seek out a more defensively competent center to replace Domi at 3C. The fact you think spending that amount of assets to add FRANCHISE CENTER SIDNEY CROSBY to the WING of TWO FRANCHISE FORWARDS WHO ARE BOTH ELITE DEFENSIVELY is an absolutely embarrassing take, especially when the only guy you can come up with is Sidney Crosby.

Who else do you know, McDavid maybe? MacKinnon? You should check out Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, they're actually playing on your favourite team as we speak....

OUR BACKEND IS AWFUL, understanding that is a litmus test for things as simple is being able to read, tie your shoes, or brush your teeth...

I appreciate the confidence nonetheless!

Always thought your takes were evidentiary based RIP, so where's the evidence? Brodie and Liljegren have been awful, Benoit and Lagesson have been fantastic in their roles. Unless there's some new branch of advanced analytics I'm not privy to?

Schenn wasn't influential, Muzzin played 4 games, and Sandin was a 3rd pair puck moving D.

If you think subtracting them has any meaningful effect you simply can't eval properly.

Lily and Brodie are also perfectly fine.

And again if you think our back end is awful - you simply cannot eval. My advice would be to turn off the intermission panels.

This was a very predictable outcome. We subtracted massive defensive forwards in engval and kerfoot and replaced them with total defensive liabilities in Bert, Domi, and Robbie.

People who can't eval always blame the D for defensive issues, but defense is a team commitment and our forwards aren't making the same commitment this year as they were last - hence much worse results.

This would be awesome but as you acknowledged it won’t happen so yah, this is just a dream

Schenn wasn't influential? He was our 2nd best defenseman in the playoffs. That alone should tip you off to our weaknesses on the backend even then, weaknesses that have been further exacerbated sense. You're also completely missing the point when it comes to Muzzin and Sandin here as well, while seemingly failing to understand why we've had to add 2 top 4 defenseman at each of the past 2 TDLs, all of whom were asked to play above their typical roles, with 2 who immediately walked to FA after playing top pair minutes despite being career bottom pairing defensemen (Schenn, Lyubushkin), one who is now replacement level as the oldest defenseman in the league(Gio), and McCabe who was never close to being the Muzzin replacement he was brought in to be.

Also, Brodie has been objectively, unequivocally AWFUL. Liljegren less so, but that is not saying much at all. I know you've gotten caught up in the narrative from years past that the Leafs' D is underrated, and that was even true in years past. As for the present reality of this team, you are completely delusional with this take and would be better off taking this as a learning opportunity instead of acting as though you're in tune with something no one else is. You're not; you're wrong, and it's not a matter of opinion. I'm embarrassed myself for having entertained this as long as I have.

Yeah I'm thinking the problem with you is your utterlack of evaluation ability

Yeah, maybe eventually I'll learn how good this Sidney Crosby guy is, a conclusion few others have come to I'm sure. Wish me luck!

That's a heck of a dream... that melatonin be hitttttin