The Defence - Quality and Depth

[cupcrazyman]

We basically the deepest and most skilled defence I've seen in almost 30 years as a Leafs fan.

We currently, with some being injured, have..

Rielly, Brodie, Giordano, Liljegren, Muzzin, Holl, Sandin, Lyubushkin.. Thats 8 defenders that I all trust to be at a 2nd pairing at NHL level.

While we have a high likelihood of losing to Tampa or Boston in round 1, its still damn impressive how Dubas has built a defence in just a few years, while not giving up on his 4 superstar forwards.

Remember.. its just 4 years ago that our defence was Rielly, Gardiner, Zaitsev, Hainsey, Polak & Carrick.

I don't know about you guys but its damn nice to see this change.

We're not losing in the first round.

 

[Tak7]

Doing it while tight to the cap and never surrendering a key prospect has been really nice.

To be fair, Durzi does look like one hell of a player in the making.

But I do tend to agree - the price seems considerably lower than what you'd expect to assemble this blueline.

 

[Tak7]

JFJ, Burke, Noni's and even Lou should be taking notes at how a competitive D core can actually be built over the course of just a couple seasons. Rielly being the only legacy building block to go off from (Lily may get there but he's not yet).

Light-years away from having a guy like Aulie play on the top pairing

We aren't a million years removed from Hainsey playing top pair AND playing the full 2 minutes on a penalty kill in playoff games...

It goes to show that things can turn around pretty quickly in this league, if you make smart decisions.

 

[Albus Dumbledore]

Feels like Boosh makes similar bone headed plays as Holl. Not nearly as much outcry. Good problem to have. Lots of competent dman on the team.

 

[therealkoho]

about what?

OK I guess

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

We basically the deepest and most skilled defence I've seen in almost 30 years as a Leafs fan.

We currently, with some being injured, have..

Rielly, Brodie, Giordano, Liljegren, Muzzin, Holl, Sandin, Lyubushkin.. Thats 8 defenders that I all trust to be at a 2nd pairing at NHL level.

While we have a high likelihood of losing to Tampa or Boston in round 1, its still damn impressive how Dubas has built a defence in just a few years, while not giving up on his 4 superstar forwards.

Remember.. its just 4 years ago that our defence was Rielly, Gardiner, Zaitsev, Hainsey, Polak & Carrick.

I don't know about you guys but its damn nice to see this change.

wait you trust Holl?

 

[Moridin]

wait you trust Holl?

Well.. I rather have todays Holl than Gardiner, Zaitsev, Hainsey, Polak or Carrick 4 years ago.

 

[Zybalto]

Whats interesting about whipping boys among the dmen is that it's not just analytics but end results that make things look screwy.

I'm not a fan of weighting it huge myself but just looking at fewest 5v5 goals against rates by Leafs defenders the last 3 seasons (among those with at least 800 5v5 minutes played with the team):

1. Brodie
2. Dermott
3. Ceci
4. Holl
5. Sandin
6. Rielly
7. Muzzin
8. Barrie
9. Liljegren

Taking usage into account, Ceci and Holl have been well above average at keeping the puck out of the net (especially Ceci with his near league-leading -0,74 REL the year he was with the Leafs)

Looking at the spilts between Holl and Muzzin the last 3 seasons:

Holl with Muzzin: 2.72 goals against/60
Holl without Muzzin: 2.27 goals against/60
Muzzin without Holl: 2.94 goals against/60

This seems to go against the grain of the mainstream thinking that Muzzin "carried" Holl and Holl somehow became a trainwreck away from Muzzin. I don't think Holl was as good away from Muzzin (there are some usage reasons here) but the exaggerations are exactly that.

I think the connecting issue really does seem to be a combination of lack of offensive numbers combined with hard usage which always gives the impression of a player whose main highlights are him going up against the other teams better players and occasionally getting beat while not having any offensive highlights (cue the current toxic sports media zooming in on whoever they can blame for a goal instead of celebrating a goal).

Holl has had his moments (remember how he frustrated the hell out of McDavid last season)the last 3 seasons but isnt as crazy good as some would make him out either.....he's just a really solid 4 and a steal of one at 2 million too. I'm happy he is back there for depth moving forward as the Muzzin injury horribly exposed us at the back the last couple of playoffs and its nice to have that d depth for once, even if Muzzin isnt going to be a huge part of it I dont think.

 

[brianok]

Of the top 8 in the east; the Leafs have the most goals against.

 

[banks]

Of the top 8 in the east; the Leafs have the most goals against.
View attachment 535734

No one is saying the defence is tops in the league. Plus the goals against also have a lot to do wuth injuries to Campbell and Mrazek. I don't doubt that the Rangers would have a lot more goals against if they had to play Kallgren for 10 games.

 

[Dreakmur]

No one is saying the defence is tops in the league. Plus the goals against also have a lot to do wuth injuries to Campbell and Mrazek. I don't doubt that the Rangers would have a lot more goals against if they had to play Kallgren for 10 games.

Kallgren has’t been much worse then Gorgiev, who’s played like 30 games for the Rangers.

 

[ACC1224]

Defense is 'elite'. In fact, some believe the team has 8 top 4 defensemen.

 

[zeke]

Defense is 'elite'. In fact, some believe the team has 8 top 4 defensemen.

Nah, nobody believes Boosh is a top 4 dman.