The Leafs young defense

[yave1964]

I picked the Leafs to go to the SCF and represent the East and after the first week or so of the season I still stick to it and the main reason is the defense is catching up to the forwards.

 

  Don't get me wrong, the kid forward group led by Matthews, Nylander, and Marner with other talented youngsters such as Hyman and Connor Brown and a cast of rugged vets the forward group is the envy of the entire league. Players such as Soshnikov and Kapanen who IMHO are NHL players right now cannot even crack the team. The forward group is stacked and loaded.

 

  But the defense which has long consisted of overpaid UFAs such as Robidas or the immortal Jeff Finger or aging vets on bloated contracts playing out the string is instead is being built for right now as well as the future. Veteran Ron Hainsey was brought in as a penalty killer and defensive zone steady as you go defensive specialist, an under the radar signing and Gardiner and Reilly both bring something to the table but the talented forwards now have counterparts coming in waves on the blueline.

 

NIKITA ZAITSEV Showed excellent vision after coming over from the KHL last season, he looks even more comfortable this season running the power play and rushing the puck.

 

CALLE ROSEN is a rail thin sneaky fast defenseman in his rookie year. I studied him last night, his stick never stops moving and he knows what to do when the puck is on his stick. He and Zaitsev seem to feed off of each other.

 

ANDREAS BORGMAN another rookie, he loves to hit, he absolutely destroyed Debrincat last night against the boards. Every game this year that I have watched he has had at least one crushing hit. I watched him last night as well, he is a bit slow and tentative but that may be because he is a rookie who wants to stay in the lineup and is trying to avoid making mistakes but he looks uber talented.

 

In the minors I LOVE Timothhy Liljegren, he slipped in the first round and fell into the Leafs lap. Travis Dermott is ready or nearly so, a strong cocky kid with a boomer from the point.

 

  The long and short is these are not your parents Leafs, the defense is churning out talented kids now left and right and Babcock is putting them in the lineup and playing to their strength and the team is feeding off their vibe. Good times in Toronto.

[hobie]

A poor forward group could easily expose TO's d brigade for what it is as yet. A more involved Rielly is very encouraging, a Gardiner who appears to be given the green light is proper, they're all mobile and I love it. Defensively polished, no, possession demons who support the forwards, yes!  

[WordsOfWisdom]

On 10/10/2017 at 12:02 PM, hobie said:

A poor forward group could easily expose TO's d brigade for what it is as yet. A more involved Rielly is very encouraging, a Gardiner who appears to be given the green light is proper, they're all mobile and I love it. Defensively polished, no, possession demons who support the forwards, yes!  

 

What do you think of the group so far this season? 

 

Your report card for mid-November?  

[hobie]

TO started the year very strong and tho winning of late, I haven't liked their game.

I'm not surprised, with so many vets having career numbers  last year and so many quality rookies transitioning to their 2nd years things should be tough and they are.

 

[BluPuk]

For sure, this team will look much better next year. Another year under the belts of these young defensemen will really help. And, if the rest of the team back checks hard enough to help these guys can be a contender - but not, IMHO for the Cup.

Two of the biggest problems are Hyman and Brown, or as I like to call them "hands of stone".

They need to pot more goals, at the right time.