Confirmed with Link: TOR sign RD Zach Bogosian [1 year, 1M]

[seanlinden]

I REALLY like this signing. He's the perfect guy to draw into most games on the 3rd pair, and help complement a Dermott, Sandin, or Lehtonen.

While in a perfect world you'd like to have a bruiser that is top4 capable, for $1m its hard to go wrong.

That being said, the Leafs need to cash out on Liljegren. They cannot have him go back to the AHL.

 

[Bluebear]

I like the adjustments and think it will result in modest improvements. But worth noting that our D wasn't that bad last year.

It was the goaltending that killed us. Very bad goaltending.

They weren't bad in the playoffs....I seem to recall several games in the reg. season where the Leafs were taking it to the opposition, but couldn't score, then the D made a couple of bonehead plays, and poof, ass kicked.

 

[therealkoho]

Averaged 17:40 in 20 games for Tampa in the playoffs. He'll be fine as a #6.

easily, but if he's healthy he could play with Muzz in the 2 pairing

 

[biotk]

easily, but if he's healthy he could play with Muzz in the 2 pairing

He probably will play up the lineup, with Muzzin when the Leafs are protecting a lead.

 

[Cpt Maple Leaf]

Like some others, I thought the Leafs should have signed him last year. Local boy from my hometown, wishing him the best in TO!! He will definitely bring some sandpaper to our game!!

 

[Leafs1991]

Ok, cool!

To be honest, I don't care much for your rant.

Because he's right? There's a chance he could turn out to be good but to act like he is already better than Dermott and is a top 4 defenseman is ludicrous. Lehtonen hasn't proven a thing.

 

[therealkoho]

He probably will play up the lineup, with Muzzin when the Leafs are protecting a lead.

TBH with the first two lines and the 1st d pairing the Leafs will be scoring first and probably second all year, I'd expect the 1st pair sees 25-7 mins a night, the team should be protecting leads most games

Bogosian hasn't been a bad defender and he can still skate really well as seen most recently in the SC final, his problems were health related not an inability to play at this level

I'm in no way saying to just hand him the second pair, he needs to earn it, that said considering his talent, his size, and strength, the nasty he brings to bear on forwards who get a little to close to the blue paint not to mention experience he has a fairly big advantage over both Dermott and Sandin.

Who knows though maybe they get to camp and Sandin is looking like he was hypnotized and believes he's Bobby Orr incarnate

 

[Cpt Maple Leaf]

Just have to solve up the depth so that we don't have Marty playing any games this season.

I think he signed with the notion that he will get the opportunity to play more than a callup situation. You don't spend a million on a benchwarmer imho.

 

[darrylsittler27]

The Leafs can expose Brodie. Kraken won't take him. That's the point of that contract. It's Reilly, Muzzin plus? If Kraken take Brodie it becomes a one year contract.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Concerned this leads to a Dermott trade

 

[biotk]

I'm in no way saying to just hand him the second pair, he needs to earn it, that said considering his talent, his size, and strength, the nasty he brings to bear on forwards who get a little to close to the blue paint not to mention experience he has a fairly big advantage over both Dermott and Sandin.

I don't think that there is any chance that Dermott or Sandin will win the second pair spot (especially on the right side). I think that will go to either Holl or Lehtonen. I am a big fan of Bogo. I have watched him play in Buffalo for years. I strongly wanted Toronto to sign him in February and was pissed when they didn't. I don't think that he can last in a top-4 role. I think that he is ideal in a third pairing role, mentoring a young D, playing on the PK and moving up the lineup when the team is protecting the lead.

 

[Community]

The Leafs can expose Brodie. Kraken won't take him. That's the point of that contract. It's Reilly, Muzzin plus? If Kraken take Brodie it becomes a one year contract.

Why would they expose Brodie?

Protect 8 players, the big 4 + Rielly/Muzzin/Brodie/Dermott.

Kraken can take Holl, Kerfoot, or Engvall as all of our other guys are UFA or exempt.

 

[Cpt Maple Leaf]

This is depth. You really need about 8 guys (maybe even 9 or 10) to get through an entire season. For example, Marincin just always finds a way to get in the lineup somehow because of injuries. I would imagine Bogosian is the #7 or 8 D who will only play some nights. He adds physicality and grit and shoots right which is nice for a depth player. He can't be any worse then Marincin and he has some great experience in that cup run which will hopefully rub off on some of the players.

This doesn't take away from the opportunity of bringing in a better RD either. It makes it even more likely. The guys who are in that 6-9 range (Lilly, Dermott, Holl) are a bit more tradeable if we needed to add them in the deal and we would still have 8 capable NHL defensmen with the addition of Bogosian.

I have no idea what could happen but any trade for a top 4 D would likely need to include Kerfoot (cap) and on D we would have to add Liliegren (our top prospect) or Holl (cap) in the same deal or a different deal for cap. So Bogosian is cover for RD depth should we have to move Lilly or Holl.

A Savard/Weegar type trade is still a possibility.

Bogo will be in the lineup throughout the season. Book it.

 

[Jeffrey Pedler]

Why would they expose Brodie?

Protect 8 players, the big 4 + Rielly/Muzzin/Brodie/Dermott.

Kraken can take Holl, Kerfoot, or Engvall as all of our other guys are UFA or exempt.

According to capfriendly, Brodie has a No Movement Clause, so they can't expose him.

 

[nonikhanna]

I love this signing. We can try Bogo or Bodie with Rielly and Muzzin. Or rotate them through the lineup and find the best chemistry for all 3 lines. We finally have the option to do that instead of slotting players based on skill level. We can have a balanced D-core. Rielly, Muzzin, Bodie are top 4 Dmen. Dermott is developing nicely to be a top 4, Bogo can be a reliably steady dman that can play PK so can Holl. With the right partners, our D looks to be good.
We have Sandin, Lehtonen, Liljegren and Calle Rosen fighting for any opening that shows up. This is a good problem to have. Rielly, Muzzin, Bodie are protected next year's draft. If Holl is gone, Liljegren will likely replace him. If Dermott is gone, Sandin can replace him

 

[BrainyBomber]

Perfect. Righting a missed opportunity in February. Think he slots into the 7th spot and tags in on matchups. What was wrong wit him last year? If he doesn’t need the load management maybe he can play a larger role.

Eh we tried to get Bogo in Feb but he chose a better team not surprising

 

[BrainyBomber]

Too many dmen. You can't carry 8. Sandin & Lehtonen do not belong in AHL. I would guess Dermott is traded?

We lost Reilly and Muzz for months last year and Gard's and Derm the year before. You need 7-8 good Dmen especially with a condensed sked next year.

Finally we have some depth back there let's bloody well keep it

 

[Rielly4]

yeah i dont think Bogo will be playing much tbh. Especially given that Brodie and Holl can both Pk right side.

I think he will draw in when we need more of an edge back there but wont be able to stay in consistently unless there is an injury.

The depth is a nice add and he brings veteran grit that we lack.

 

[Cpt Maple Leaf]

yeah i dont think Bogo will be playing much tbh. Especially given that Brodie and Holl can both Pk right side.

I think he will draw in when we need more of an edge back there but wont be able to stay in consistently unless there is an injury.

The depth is a nice add and he brings veteran grit that we lack.

Disagree. He will get a look at top four minutes this year.

 

[Muston Atthews]

Muzzin and Bogosian pairing would be slooooooow

 

[LeafsNation75]

I found this video of a game between the Leafs and Sabres from the 2018-19 season when Bogosian did a big hit on Nic Petan and now he's playing in Toronto.

 

[613Leafer]

We lost Reilly and Muzz for months last year and Gard's and Derm the year before. You need 7-8 good Dmen especially with a condensed sked next year.

Finally we have some depth back there let's bloody well keep it

We still need to clear capspace. I think one of Dermott or Holl move.

The alternatives are Kerfoot, Hyman, or Mikheyev. Our LW position is already very thin, and Spezza really shouldn't be relied on to be a 3rd line C for 82 games. UFA options for 3C aren't very good either.

It's unfortunately not as simple as saying lets keep our depth. The cap is going to force us to take a hit somewhere.

 

[BrainyBomber]

We still need to clear capspace. I think one of Dermott or Holl move.

The alternatives are Kerfoot, Hyman, or Mikheyev. Our LW position is already very thin, and Spezza really shouldn't be relied on to be a 3rd line C for 82 games. UFA options for 3C aren't very good either.

It's unfortunately not as simple as saying lets keep our depth. The cap is going to force us to take a hit somewhere.

We don't have to clear anymore capspace if we run 21

 

[613Leafer]

We don't have to clear anymore capspace if we run 21

If we keep Dermott + Mikheyev to a combined ~2.6M, that could work. I don't know how ideal running a 21 man roster is for an entire season though. Seems like very limited flexibility. You pretty much couldn't scratch or sit a player with a minor injury for a game unless they could go on LTIR or be sent to the minors without waivers.

 

[Warden of the North]

I like our D a hundred times better then I liked our D going into last season

Some of that is likely hindsight