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Member Since
May 14, 2017
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Toronto Maple Leafs
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Forum: NHL SigningsOct. 17, 2020 at 4:37 p.m.
Thread: Pittsburgh Penguins signed Cody Ceci (1 Year / $1,250,000 AAV)
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>rangersandislesfan</b></div><div>Cody Ceci is a good defenseman. Is he a top 4 guy? No. Is he worth his previous contract? No. But as a 3rd pairing guy (or an extra) he's a useful player. 1.25M is reasonable.</div></div>

I was going to write: At least Ceci won't have to deal with fan harassment in Pittsburgh. It seems I was wrong.

Your comment is spot on. He doesn't have the offensive production for a 4M contract, and the problem is that most people focus only on offense when evaluating defensemen. But he is very good in his zone. He was trusted by both Babcock and Keefe to defend a lead at the end of a game, which is more telling than the social media crowd. He literally saved a few wins on his own for the Leafs last year with last minute defensive plays - I wish I could post them all here, including the one where he blocked a shot at 5 vs 6 with just a few seconds left.
Forum: Toronto Maple LeafsOct. 8, 2020 at 5:55 p.m.
Thread: TML draft class since Dubarelli in charge
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>Daryl</b></div><div>You don't draft gritty players. Look at the Lightning. They drafted strictly by talent and then through free agency and trades brought in bigger and more rough players (Maroon, Goodrow, Bogosian, etc). Biggest story of the playoffs is how stupid every GM was for passing on Brayden Point at the draft. The NHL isn't about big zero-talent players that can hit; its about fast, high IQ, and skillful players that can produce. Always draft on talent, then bring in the bottom six plugs in free agency to beat up the other teams stars.</div></div>

I think you nailed it. I feel that Dubas is closely following the Tampa Bay model of years past and trying to snatch the Point/Palat/Kucherov type of players. This draft is the perfect example. We'll see how well it worked four-five years from now.
Forum: Toronto Maple LeafsOct. 6, 2020 at 10:43 p.m.
Thread: Rodion Anirov
<div class="quote"><div class="quote_t">Quoting: <b>aadoyle</b></div><div>not really Amirov actually was a good choice. He plays a good 2-way game, can create plays (borderline playmaker), is very good at skating, is good at both ends of the ice, and is a wizard with the puck having a completed pass percentage higher than Byfield/Stuzle/Lafreniere.

Heck many scouts were calling him a potential steal so Dubas wasnt risking it. Cause Montreal or Chicago would have grabbed him.</div></div>

I disagree with your assessment when you compare him to Hyman. He has much more offensive potential than Hyman, for starters. From puck control to passing and shooting. And in terms of agility.
The kind of natural talent that you either have young, or not. And he is not nearly as physical. Similarity with Hyman maybe in terms of hockey IQ. Mind you, I'm basing that on scout reports, but Will's video you posted above makes the point about the lack of physicality - and he's someone who was really high on Amirov.

I view Amirov as high risk, high reward. He has a very high ceiling, even star potential. But he might also never make the transition to NA successfully. The safe choices at that rank would have been Guhle, Schneider or Mercer. Probable NHLers, but not nearly as high a ceiling.

Leafs had hits and misses (and many misses) with Russian players in the past, which is why I'm prudent with setting expectations.