Agreed. I'm a little torn on Muzzin, I feel like he's a more obvious candidate to move on from than Holl or Kerfoot. It's hard to imagine him playing close to 82 games for the next 2 years. This is a declining asset at a high price. I don't love blocking Sandin. I love the guy, but I think it's time we develop the next wave of D.
It would be a lot easier if we had a Muzzin type replacement for sure. That’s our challenge, how do we find a physical guy, with the defensive prowess to replace him?
I think the issue is that Muzzin is no longer the #1D he has been on the Leafs for years. And the moment he stopped being a reliable minute-eater the contract becomes a liability preventing us from filling the gap. He had an injury filled season and if he's bouncing back and forth from the IR it's not helping us rack up wins if we're relying on Mete or Jordie Benn.
I’d agree with your assessment. I don’t think we’d need the replacement to be the quality that Muzzin provides us necessarily, just a solid guy who could become a second pairing at their peak. Not the top pairing type that Muzzin has been. I think if we are patient, we are going to get that quality from Liljegren and Sandin. But just replace the defensive and physicality side, without giving up mobility.
Or just sign someone like Subban for cheap.
I thought Kral had a really good camp/pre-season last year. I was surprised he didn’t get any call ups throughout the season, especially towards the end. He’s definitely part of the reason why I wouldn’t be opposed to moving Sandin for a third line center like Rasmussen or Hayton.
Subban’s agility and mobility on the ice are a problem now. He’s still got decent straight line speed, but not the mobility. Combine that with Sandin’s slower feet so far, and you’ve got a bit of a disaster. Sandin’s partner should be someone who skates well.
Not sure where that quote is from, but I really hope it's not an actual quote, because if it's real, my god, Lou was an even bigger idiot than his tenure suggested, and we dodged an even bigger bullet that I ever could have imagined.
When I watched Kral, idk why but he just reminded me of a young Gunnarsson.
So have him as a 6th or 7th guy, if it doesn't work out no biggie, if it does, worst case scenario we have a much needed point shot on the PP.
Sadly, he’s not even good on the PP anymore. 35 seconds per game last year, 0 points and he was on the ice for more goals against, than for, on the PP!!!
This is the team that he inherited. Who of these players would you consider 'untouchable'?
That's gotta suck...maybe Stralman?
Lou never said it the commentator in the video did. Zero context.
Yep, Subban is an easy pass for me. Can't see anyway there is any interest in him from Dubas.
Calgary just signed Magiapane, not impossible but doubtful they move him.
