Confirmed Signing with Link: [TOR] Roman Polak (1 year, $2.25M)

[The Thin White Duke]

So you already see yourselves as sellers and the season doesn't start for another three months.

We're going to be sellers even if we're somehow in a playoff spot at the deadline. Too many NHL bodies in the system right now, it would be stupid not to get some value back for them. There's at least 3 guys that can take Polak's spot when he's traded without missing a beat.

 

[Semantics]

If they can't beat out Polak or Marincin or Hunwick for a spot they're not good enough long term anyways. Who cares if you lose that caliber of player.

So we signed Polak to send him to the Marlies when those guys beat him out? That makes no sense. The plan is clearly to play him in the top six, even if he's the worse player.

 

[Paris in Flames]

Get a grip. All of you. It's 1 year, when we're not expected to compete or do anything, at what is probably a very low cap hit.

It's by no means dumb to sign a back end defender who will hit and fight when our team is young and soft. It's ONE freaking year.

 

[Semantics]

I'd waive Corrado. He sucks to be honest. There is a reason why Vancouver waived him.

Corrado is much better than Polak or Hunwick. Look at the stats. He'll be claimed instantly if he's put on waivers.

 

[Semantics]

What's up with those Burke moves?

First sign an awful and useless forward because he hits hard, then sign an awful and useless defenseman because he hits hard?

I thought your management was good now, Leafs. I really did.

Martin has incredible shot suppression stats. Second in the NHL over the past three years between Bergeron and Sedin. Our 4th line will spend most of their shifts in the other team's end of the ice because of him. And he'll protect our young guys.

Speaking of useless forwards, what do you think of Shawn Matthias.

 

[Semantics]

So you already see yourselves as sellers and the season doesn't start for another three months.

Of course we're sellers. Any team that's not a legit contender should be a seller. Even if we make the playoffs, we'd still be a seller. (Plus, trading Polak would be addition by subtraction - and there are plenty of GMs of good teams willing to take the bait and subtract by addition.)

 

[we like our team*]

polak is not a good defenseman lol

 

[Toronto makebeleifs]

I like this, actually. Among our current group we don't have anyone that is a crease clearing guy nor do we have a group that is going to look down low on the back check. Polak @ 1 yr is actually something I'll tip my hat to; our team just got much more aggro to play against

 

[Leaf19]

So when are we going to find out the cap hit? It's been hours since the signing lol

 

[Prominence]

Lol guys, I sincerely don't believe he was attacking the team or anything. Just his opinion.

His opinion was insulting, contradictory and adds little substance to this thread. Polak was decent with the leafs, which I can explain later.

polak is not a good defenseman lol

He should still be good enough for a draft pick and he's a right shot (premium for RHD: look at Franson for 1st round pick, Adam Larsson, Luke Schenn alebit 50% retention, justin schultz for 3rd round pick). He played on a pairing with Brendan Dillon who isn't complementary with Polak and I'll let San jose fans chime in on this since I am not too familiar with Dhillon (although I would surmise he is not an above-average puck mover). Polak looked better on Toronto because he played with Rielly in 2015 season. 2016, I can't remember who his partner was although it may have been Marincin. Marincin, even with his mistakes, is still a decent skater and can make plays when he isnt being pressured (until he was paired with rielly). One thing to look out for is that Polak has more mobile options in terms of partners. Rielly and Gardiner have nice zone breakouts and Marincin is still a mobile defensemen. Carrick has amazing wheels, but I would be surprised if two RHD are put together. Corrado unfortunately is probably going to be benched and I haven't seen Zaitsev play in the nhl. Leafs will probably prop up his value with these options since Polak is just the physical partner who can clear the crease and can defer to his partners for breakouts if need be. Worst case scenario is the AHL or waiver wire, but I'm expecting a 4th round pick and for Hunwick to get traded hopefully since I want to see Corrado develop (I like his analytics).

 

[Rayban*]

Maybe if we retain 100% we can trade for picks before the season even begins.

 

[The List Of Jericho]

So we signed Polak to send him to the Marlies when those guys beat him out? That makes no sense. The plan is clearly to play him in the top six, even if he's the worse player.

Polak is depth nothing more, if Corrado beats him for a spot, he'll get it.

 

[ThrillinPhil]

no one still knows the AAV?

 

[Pocket Hercules]

Shawn Matthias isn't great, but he's still 10 times the player Matt Martin is.

Lol, keep telling yourself that. You obviously haven't watched much of Matthias play. At least Martin provides a physical aspect that we needed without being a liability. He was also part of the best 4th line in the league. Matthias just sucks at everything. But you'll find out soon enough.

 

[hockeykicker]

no one still knows the AAV?

Nope, still not released

 

[Steve]

Polak is depth nothing more, if Corrado beats him for a spot, he'll get it.

Yup. Pretty much this. He was good for us last year, works very hard and clears the crease. Some of these signings may very well be to instill a worth ethic for the young kids (Martin and Polak) whole proving some veteran leadership and protection/grit.

Can't really go wrong with a 1 yr deal.

 

[Primary Assist]

After we lost dirty Dion we missed that punch you in the nose for no reason kid of defenseman. Hes a much needed addition to any blueline.

He literally had a more successful postseason than over 100 defensemen last year, Leafs are getting him on a steal

 

[Antropovsky]

After we lost dirty Dion we missed that punch you in the nose for no reason kid of defenseman. Hes a much needed addition to any blueline.

He literally had a more successful postseason than over 100 defensemen last year, Leafs are getting him on a steal

Don't know what dion you watched, but outside of a mean scowl there wasn't much nasty to his game anymore.

 

[Scrantonicity 2]

The Leafs will be lucky to get a bag of pucks for him at the deadline this year, unless there was a GM that wasn't paying attention to his play in San Jose (you know, other than Lamoriello). LOL @ this signing.

 

[garyturner3]

Great signing IMO. Whether he's a good d-man or not (Jury is out), they're not making the playoffs this year and somebody will give us a decent pick for him at the deadline guaranteed. It's a no lose zero risk signing so I can't understand why anybody would be upset about it.

 

[LondonKendrick]

I mean they were in last by a single point in a relatively injury filled season, half of which was played by a goalie having a historically bad year until the last month or so. Call it a hunch but I don't expect Andersen to be as bad as Sparks or first-half Bernier. They're also going to be playing high end rookies who have already shown themselves capable of scoring at the NHL level instead of Parenteau, Matthias, Spaling and co.

It's overwhelmingly likely to be a bottom-10 finish no question, but they needed a lot of things to go wrong to finish 1 point behind the Oilers last year, it's not reasonable to expect another last place finish.

Oh those mighty Maple Leafs, the misfortune of being the only team in the league that suffered injuries to their lineup. And the Leafs traded for Andersen, they're the only team that made a move to get better this off season too. When you make these claims in a vacuum of course the Leafs are better.

A whole point behind the Oilers but their best player was injured (see how that works?) and they address needs by trade, free agency and the draft (again see how that works...)

The problem is everyone else got better. Again tell me 5 teams the Leafs are better than, I'd love read some concrete examples.

 

[Masked Superstar]

love that guy

 

[LeafFever]

Leafs definitely won the Polak/Gunnarsson deal.

 

[Raging Bull]

Polak, the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[LeafFever]

What's up with those Burke moves?

First sign an awful and useless forward because he hits hard, then sign an awful and useless defenseman because he hits hard?

I thought your management was good now, Leafs. I really did.

How is Martin useless? He has good possession #'s and led the league in hits.

And Polak is a 1 year deal. I hardly remember Burke signing guys for 1 year deals. Polak will bring back more picks for the Leafs.