Leafs address the 6 out of 7 Defenders as Lefties situation [2014-2024]

[johnny_rudeboy]

Thanks. Noted.

The Hockeysfuture.com site says he shoots right.
http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospects/stuart_percy/

Well better then shooting wrong.





....Taxi

 

[Gallagbi]

Right handed defenseman are at a premium in the NHL right now. It's one of the reasons Philly overpaid for Schenn.

Chicago usually goes with 4 LH and 2 Rh.

Since Phaneuf prefers the right side, the Leafs had two RD on the roster all year.

 

[jmart21]

Phaneuf actually plays RD because he prefers that, not because we need people for RD.

This. He's played this way his entire career (comes from his 1-timer).

 

[Guy Boucher]

Phaneuf actually plays RD because he prefers that, not because we need people for RD.

Just because he prefers it, doesn't mean he's better on the right side.

He likes it for the one-timers, but when you play the wrong side it's so much harder to make a good breakout pass.

There's a reason all the good teams ensure they have equal (or close to) rights and leftys on Defense.

It's SO easy to cause turnovers over a team whose defense is all similarly handed.

 

[ULF_55]

Righties

Granberg
Nilsson

 

[Atomos2]

You work on handedness after you find defencemen who can play the position well. No point having defencemen on their proper side if they still suck.

 

[Joey Hoser]

He likes it for the one-timers, but when you play the wrong side it's so much harder to make a good breakout pass.

On the PP, sure, but I can't see how that would be a motivating factor at ES.

 

[Cap'n Flavour]

On the PP, sure, but I can't see how that would be a motivating factor at ES.

If the puck is along the boards in your own zone at the right side, and you shoot left, your options are to backhand it off the boards (not easy), pump it behind the net to the other side, or pull it to your forehand. If you shoot right, you can immediately pass it off or skate out of the zone on your forehand, no delay is necessary.

It's a huge deal, some games it doesn't make a difference at all but there's times here and there where it totally prohibits you from making what seems to be a standard play. Keeping the play in the O zone when the puck is coming around the boards is especially hard on your off hand.

So you'd think Franson shooting right would make things easier for him, and he wouldn't cause so many breaks when pinching/stepping up to keep the puck in... which goes back to this:

The quality of the defenseman is much more important than their handedness. Exhibit A: Cody Franson.

 

[Faltorvo]

for the life of me - I never knew this was such a thing, until Babcock made it into this whole I NEED to have left/right, and all of a sudden Cody Franson will get money because he's a righty and puts up powerplay points.

It's one of the reasons why LS was such a valued pick, RHS D are the rarer animal.

It's the RHS element as one to the key reasons why I posted a trade for Gudbrandson and flo #1= Echblad, both RHS D.

 

[LeafSteel]

I agree that we should have more Left/Right balance, particularly if we are asking players who, from the time they were kids were playing the left side, now to slot into the right side. If they have played all their junior/minor hockey on the right side, then I'm not sure it's as a big of a deal as it is to ask someone to play their "wrong" side for the first time.

I do think Nonis buys into the left/right balance, as does Carlyle, and I would put money down that if Brennan was a right handed shot, he would have been called up during the season, and probably would have stayed on the Leafs roster for the remainder of the season. That Granberg is a right handed shot helps move him up on the depth chart, and gives him some consideration that he ordinarily may not merit if he were a lefty like the rest of them.

Too bad Reilly isn't a righty, but...............

BB

 

[Mess]

Team Canada at the Olympics purposely tried to assemble a team with both RH and LH shots as Babcock thought balance was important.

Dmen usually play better on their strong side.

Ideally it would be nice to have a mix of both.

 

[Gallagbi]

Team Canada at the Olympics purposely tried to assemble a team with both RH and LH shots as Babcock thought balance was important.

Dmen usually play better on their strong side.

Ideally it would be nice to have a mix of both.

Kind've funny that Babcock has all lefties in Detroit. They had 2 total GP by RH defenseman all year.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

2 out of 3 NHL Dmen are lefties. The left/right issue isn't unique to just our team. However, it is a problem for us but it can be fixed with just one trade or signing down the road.

Toronto is still very much a work in progress and isn't winning anything next year so the focus needs to be on a 2 but more likely 3-5 year retool plan. The fact that we have Gardiner + Rielly plus many other left side options long term just further supports why we need to trade Gunnarson for a pick/prospect between now and next deadline unless of eventually letting him become a UFA or to expensive for the role he'd play for us in 3 or 4 seasons from now.

Franson simply can't play D which is a bigger problem than which way he shoots. He has a wicked shot from the point but to bad he sucks at every other element of playing D.

This lack of right side options is a major reason why Carlyle kept playing Kostka like he did last season. Dion played a much more simple but effective game when he was placed on the left side.

In our prospect pool Granberg, Nilsson are righties.

On the free agent front right shooting Dmen are: Boyle, Stralman, Robidas, Zidlciky, Greene, Morris, Niskanen, Gilbert, Fayne.

 

[Al14]

Lefty, righty, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN, as long as they can actually play some DEFENSE!

We NEED to acquire some actual DEFENSEMEN!

 

[Guy Boucher]

Kind've funny that Babcock has all lefties in Detroit. They had 2 total GP by RH defenseman all year.

Yes and he knows it's a big handicap.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

Lefty, righty, I DON'T GIVE A DAMN, as long as they can actually play some DEFENSE!

We NEED to acquire some actual RIGHT HANDED DEFENSEMEN!

added for clarity.

 

[ULF_55]

In our prospect pool Granberg, Nilsson are righties.

On the free agent front right shooting Dmen are: Boyle, Stralman, Robidas, Zidlciky, Greene, Morris, Niskanen, Gilbert, Fayne.

Since the Leafs are still in the rebuild stage might as well use the RHD already in the system.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

Since the Leafs are still in the rebuild stage might as well use the RHD already in the system.

Granberg should be slatted as the 8th or 9th Dman in the depth chart out of training camp. He just completed his first year in the minors. Injuries always happen which will allow him to be called up. If he truly deserves he belongs in the NHL then a spot can and will be created for him but there is the distinct possibility he might need more AHL time next year or his play might even regress from this season.

Nilsson hasn't even played on North American ice yet.

No need to rush either of these youngsters.

Leafs also simply need assets. Bringing in a vet on a 1 or 2 year deal allows the possibility to retrade that player for additional assets (or for the trading of another Dman due to depth).

 

[613Leafer]

If Nashville was at all interested in a Seth Jones+ for Kessel trade, I'd be all over that.

Big physical all-around RHD that we could pair with smooth skating Rielly LHD for the next 10+ years?

Talk about building from the net out with Bernier and those two. Right now, Granberg is our top RHD prospect, and really the only one that is close.

 

[Purity*]

If Nashville was at all interested in a Seth Jones+ for Kessel trade, I'd be all over that.

Big physical all-around RHD that we could pair with smooth skating Rielly LHD for the next 10+ years?

Talk about building from the net out with Bernier and those two. Right now, Granberg is our top RHD prospect, and really the only one that is close.

I am not a fan at all of gamble trades for potential, but I would totally do that But I'm also a big fan of Seth Jones so yeah..

 

[Banic]

I guess go for Niskanen or Fayne if we can get for a reasonable price?

 

[The Great Gazoo]

Not that many right handed defenseman out there. Even fewer who are any good.

 

[ULF_55]

Granberg should be slatted as the 8th or 9th Dman in the depth chart out of training camp. He just completed his first year in the minors. Injuries always happen which will allow him to be called up. If he truly deserves he belongs in the NHL then a spot can and will be created for him but there is the distinct possibility he might need more AHL time next year or his play might even regress from this season.

Nilsson hasn't even played on North American ice yet.

No need to rush either of these youngsters.

Leafs also simply need assets. Bringing in a vet on a 1 or 2 year deal allows the possibility to retrade that player for additional assets (or for the trading of another Dman due to depth).

From the one game I saw he should be slated as the #1 RHD.

Nilsson will audition in the fall with all the other prospects.

 

[Ricky Bobby]

From the one game I saw he should be slated as the #1 RHD.

Nilsson will audition in the fall with all the other prospects.

Similar to how AHL all-stars like Holzer, Ranger were going to immediately make an impact as soon as they got promoted to the big club?

It is a mistake to enter training camp counting on Granberg to be ready for the big club. If he does prove he's ready for the big club then a spot can and will be created for him.

Granberg should be slatted to be the 1st call up and how many games he gets depends on injuries but more importantly how much he shows he deserves a promotion.

Granberg is still young and having him play lots of minutes in the AHL will only help him further develop. Better to have him come along a date late then a day early.

 

[Faltorvo]

I am not a fan at all of gamble trades for potential, but I would totally do that But I'm also a big fan of Seth Jones so yeah..

ok ,I'm going to say this just one more time so some of the more astute and understanding people finally get it.

Kessel has a limited NTC , if you think Nashville in on kessels short list, good luck with that.

So keep that in mind, you have a better chance of kessel adding a team to that list if Bozak is going with, just sayen.