I'd like that a lot. Gardiner normally plays left D though doesn't he? Gunnar and Gardiner would be solid. Similar to Gunnar and Phaneuf. Carl plays sound defense and Gardiner can take chances offensively on the rush.
I see some people saying we need 1 and some people saying we don't need 1.
What are your guys thoughts?
If they want to make the playoffs it wouldn't be a bad thing to have. Phaneuf and Gunner do that job decently, but not greatly, and it would be nice to free them for more offence 5-5.
We certainly won't bring in anymore purely "defensive dmen" like Schenn or Komi. Lack of mobility on the back end has been the Achilles heel of this team for the past few seasons.
Mobile defenseman that are willing to jump in the play and take control with the puck are what we are going to keep seeing more of. Skating and puck handling combined with good defensive play are the skills we'll keep seeing Burke and Co bring in.
the problem is the left side of our defense is too soft/not great defensively.
Gunn Dion
Gardiner Holzer
JML Komi
I said this before that Gardiner and JML on the left side is problematic. we can only have one or the other. JML is paid too much to just keep him in the press box and Gardiner has an upside that could be potentially better than JML.
i suggested we get a veteran shut down D on the left side with Dion and send Gardiner to the Marlies for the start of the season:
Shutdown D-man Dion
Gunn Holzer
JML Komi
Franson
trade JML
Shutdown D-man Dion
Gunn Holzer
Gardiner Komi
Franson
I think the days of a stictly shut down dman are over.
I say no, a shut down dman is not needed. Someone to play with Phanuef is needed.
Every good team has shut diwn dmen.. U think doughty was able to freewheel without a purely stay at home dman paied with him.. Lots of good teams use a shut down dman ....
Every good team has shut diwn dmen.. U think doughty was able to freewheel without a purely stay at home dman paied with him.. Lots of good teams use a shut down dman ....
Good teams have good defenseman. Who are all these "purely stay at home dman" that "every good team" has?
Leafs biggest weakness is its high goals against as Toronto were 29th in most goals surrendered, with a large -33 goal differential, which is a good indicator that better defensive players are needed.
Therefore a shutdown Dman would go a long way to preventing goals against and addressing the problem.
Hard to win games consistently when you surrender more goals, than you score on average game in and game out.
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Leafs biggest weakness is its high goals against as Toronto were 29th in most goals surrendered, with a large -33 goal differential, which is a good indicator that better defensive players are needed.
Therefore a shutdown Dman would go a long way to preventing goals against and addressing the problem.
Hard to win games consistently when you surrender more goals, than you score on average game in and game out.
Goalies who can stop the puck will go along way to preventing goals against, at least in theory.
looks fine to me. I also thought we stole fanson from nashv.
have a guy on each line that can throw down if any forwards get picked on.
puck movers on the left. big bodies on the right.
Goalies who can stop the puck will go along way to preventing goals against, at least in theory.
Yes of course, however the players that play in front of the goalie and the style of play of the system also determines the quality and quantity of shots a goalie must face.
Odd man rushes against surrendering high quality scoring opportunities even if its only a limited amount a game are still often not the goalies fault when it comes to goal prevention. Only so much a goalie can do facing 2 on 1 or breakaway situations or numerous odd man PK situations.
Even if a goalie has a respectable ~ .915 sv% in a game its the amount of shots that will factor into the teams goals against and wins/losses.
ie. stopping 33 of 36 shots against = very respectable .916 sv%, but still a is 3.0 GAA and will still require your own team to score 4 goals themselves in order to win the game.. While a goalie stopping a reduced 20 of 22 shots is only a .910 sv%, but giving up on 2 goals against in the process increases winning opportunities as now our team needs 3 goals to allow victory.
A shutdown dman that blocks shots and clears traffic in front of the net and ties up opponents, allowing the goalie to see and defend the net better, goes a long way in both shot reduction and team winning potential.
Yes of course, however the players that play in front of the goalie and the style of play of the system also determines the quality and quantity of shots a goalie must face.
Odd man rushes against surrendering high quality scoring opportunities even if its only a limited amount a game are still often not the goalies fault when it comes to goal prevention.
Even if a goalie has a respectable ~ .915 sv% in a game its the amount of shots that will factor into the teams goals against and wins/losses.
ie. stopping 33 of 36 shots against = very respectable .916 sv%, but still a is 3.0 GAA and will still require your own team to score 4 goals themselves in order to win the game..
A shutdown dman that blocks shots and clears traffic in front of the net and ties up opponents, allowing the goalie to see and defend the net better, goes a long way in both shot reduction and team winning potential.
Agreed, they need an upgrade to partner with Phaneuf.
Agreed.
