On the cap, BoG and NHLPA have said this is the likely minimum (81.5 + guaranteed 1.25% inflation)
Chart for player classes:
Superstar
#1 Dman
Top 2
Top 4
Middle 2
Bottom 4
Bottom pair
There are a few ways to build a defensive core:
The Loaded D model:
Have superstars for your top 2 (note: doesn't actually need to be superstars, just two #1 D), three other top 4 guys and a middle 2 guy to round it out (Nashville, Winnipeg, Anaheim). - Very,very expensive unless you are Jesus (Nashville).
The Top 2 Model:
Maybe you go with an amazing top 2 (at least one #1 D, and a top 2 D) with adequate bottom 4 (a middle 2 and three bottom 4 guys) (Philadelphia, Boston (although Chara is ageing), St. Louis). - Teams lucky enough to get 2 superstars but need to be more cost efficient than the Loaded D model.
The Top 4 Model:
You could have a #1 guy or a Top 2 D (not necessarily a superstar), three solid top four guys with decent bottom 2 (Washington, Tampa Bay, LA). - Most teams goal, cost efficient, solid D core.
The Depth Model:
Or you can run four top 4 guys with two bottom 4 guys. (Carolina, Colorado). - A cheap way to get effective defence, What teams with no real superstars/#1 strive for.
If I did not mention your team, don't worry, I am just lazy.
So where does that leave Toronto next year? The way I see it our D core breaks down like this as of right now (will include Gardiner, even though he likely does not come back):
Rielly - #1/Top 2
Gardiner - Top 4
Zaitzev - Middle 2
Dermott - Bottom 4 (Potential to be top 4)
Liljegren - Bottom 4 (Potential to be top 2)
Ozhiganov - Bottom 4
Sandin - Bottom pair (Potential to be top 4)
Rosen/Borgman/Marincin/Holl (The extras) - Bottom pair
So what can we do with this? If Liljegren, Dermott and Sandin all pan out to full potential, then we could go with the Loaded D model, but that is years away at best, and relies on everyone hitting their absolute ceiling. (Rielly - Liljegren (top 2)|Dermott - Sandin (top 4)|Zaitzev (middle 2)|Ozhiganov (bottom 4)
So what is realistic within the next year or two? Well we only have one top 2 guy, so that also eliminates the top 2 model, but Rielly is too good to get lumped into the Depth model. That leaves us with the Top 4 model, which fits our cap constraints, coach and play style.
Rielly is a top 2 and Dermott will be either a middle 2 or top 4 by then. Babs is clearly trying to transition to this pair anyway.
Ozhiganov is a bottom 2 while Zaitzev is a middle two. It is a weaker than normal 2nd pair for this model, but not by a huge amount. It is also temporary. A quick note: Oz and Zaitzev were a pair in the KHL before coming over, and they tore it up there. Not sure who played left, but I assume Oz because of his wicked shot.
This is a decent bottom pair, with the bottom 2 guy and the (currently bottom 4) prospect.
So all we have to do is wait, and we will have a solid D core built upon the Top 4 model. No trades, no signings, just patience (which Leafs fans are renown for /s).
Near future lines could look like this:
Rielly - Liljegren
Dermott - Zaitzev
Sandin - (Extra)
I applaud you for your effort as this must’ve taken a lot of time. However, I just don’t like that 2nd pairing at all. That’s banking on Igor becoming a top 4 D by next season, possible, but unlikely. I mean, if everyone reaches their ceilings it’s possible, but everything would have to go perfect. Realistically next year I see:
Reilly: #1LHD
Dermott: Top 4/5LHD
Zaitsev: Top 4/5 RHD
And then the rest of those guys as extras/bottom pair guys. If lidgren can step up big time this makes it much more doable.
Reilly-Z
Dermott- (Top 4) lidgren
But it’s still banking on quite a bit. The only “proven” D you really have is Rielly. Zaitsev was inconsistent last season and dermott hasn’t this far proven he’s a top 4D (but I believe he will be)
It seems like a risky move. Maybe towards the end of this season if dermott and Z are both playing solid top 4 minutes then it’s doable
I applaud you for your effort as this must’ve taken a lot of time. However, I just don’t like that 2nd pairing at all. That’s banking on Igor becoming a top 4 D by next season, possible, but unlikely. I mean, if everyone reaches their ceilings it’s possible, but everything would have to go perfect. Realistically next year I see:
Reilly: #1LHD
Dermott: Top 4/5LHD
Zaitsev: Top 4/5 RHD
And then the rest of those guys as extras/bottom pair guys. If lidgren can step up big time this makes it much more doable.
Reilly-Z
Dermott- (Top 4) lidgren
But it’s still banking on quite a bit. The only “proven” D you really have is Rielly. Zaitsev was inconsistent last season and dermott hasn’t this far proven he’s a top 4D (but I believe he will be)
It seems like a risky move. Maybe towards the end of this season if dermott and Z are both playing solid top 4 minutes then it’s doable
Zaitzev has been playing 22+ mins a night since he came to NA... Also he has been solid this year. Not flashy, but you don't really want to notice your 2nd pair RHD, especially when he plays next to Gardiner.
Also, I labelled them so you can see where I am at. By next year, I expect:
Rielly - #1/Top 2
Zaitzev - Middle 2
Dermott - Middle 2/Top 4 (Potential to be top 4)
Liljegren - Bottom 4 (Potential to be top 2)
Ozhiganov - Bottom 4
Sandin - Bottom pair (Potential to be top 4)
Rosen/Borgman/Marincin/Holl (The extras) - Bottom pair
I say that the middle pair is weaker than the template expects, but I am hoping that they can restart the world ending destruction that they brought upon the KHL a few years ago.
I applaud you for your effort as this must’ve taken a lot of time. However, I just don’t like that 2nd pairing at all. That’s banking on Igor becoming a top 4 D by next season, possible, but unlikely. I mean, if everyone reaches their ceilings it’s possible, but everything would have to go perfect. Realistically next year I see:
Reilly: #1LHD
Dermott: Top 4/5LHD
Zaitsev: Top 4/5 RHD
And then the rest of those guys as extras/bottom pair guys. If lidgren can step up big time this makes it much more doable.
Reilly-Z
Dermott- (Top 4) lidgren
But it’s still banking on quite a bit. The only “proven” D you really have is Rielly. Zaitsev was inconsistent last season and dermott hasn’t this far proven he’s a top 4D (but I believe he will be)
It seems like a risky move. Maybe towards the end of this season if dermott and Z are both playing solid top 4 minutes then it’s doable
Large fan of the "Let them develop/build your own d-core" scheme. There's really nobody looking to move a top pairing guy right now, and even if they were, you'd have to overpay significantly to get them. Worst case, if your guys aren't pulling it together, spend a bit at the deadline and pick up a pending UFA from a team that's out of it to fill a hole for the playoffs. The Alex Edler/Adam McQuaid's of the world aren't amazing, but they can certainly act as insurance if their teams are out of it at that point.
Zaitzev has been playing 22+ mins a night since he came to NA... Also he has been solid this year. Not flashy, but you don't really want to notice your 2nd pair RHD, especially when he plays next to Gardiner.
Also, I labelled them so you can see where I am at. By next year, I expect:
Rielly - #1/Top 2
Zaitzev - Middle 2
Dermott - Middle 2/Top 4 (Potential to be top 4)
Liljegren - Bottom 4 (Potential to be top 2)
Ozhiganov - Bottom 4
Sandin - Bottom pair (Potential to be top 4)
Rosen/Borgman/Marincin/Holl (The extras) - Bottom pair
I say that the middle pair is weaker than the template expects, but I am hoping that they can restart the world ending destruction that they brought upon the KHL a few years ago.
We will definitely have a better idea of the leafs defence situation closer to playoffs. It’s only 5 games in. If Zaitsev can play steady top 4, dermott steps it up and becomes a top 4D aswell; then they only have one top 4 hole to fill, which COULD be lindgren as he certainly has that upside
McDavid, Connor
250 000 $)
mhockey91 a aimé ceci.
CapFriendly
CapFriendly