True #1 D-man - Why not?

[Matthews4Calder]

The last time the Leafs had a Number 1 D was Rielly. 5th and 11th in Norris voting , All Star 3 times.

He's not that player right now, but that shouldn't cloud your vision that if you are voted 5th best D in the league, you are clearly viewed as a Top 30/32 D, and Number 1.

Now, I think what's actually being alluded to here, is an Elite #1 D, which frankly is pretty rare, and usually only a handful in the league at any one time. Rielly has never been close to that.

McCabe/Kaberle had a nice run as a first pairing that was of high quality, but neither was an Elite #1D.

Sorry Reilly never was or is a #1 D. Guy has never been good defensively.

 

[Jojalu]

Yeah I thought of both of those guys. It's a shame with Muzzin, the team was so soft around him. What's the point of bringing in Cup winners if you surround them with perennial playoff failures?

In fairness, when they brought Muzzin in, no ome at the time thought it would get this far with so little success

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Leafs are never in position to draft a stud #1 defenseman. If they ever are they've usually dealt their 1st rounder in some ill-advised trade (Kurvers 1st turned into Niedermayer, one of the Kessel 1sts became Hamilton). These types are also impossible to acquire from their original team. Not many franchises would willingly trade Norris calibre defensemen, nor would they allow them to reach free agency, usually. Pietrangelo walking a few years ago was a big error by St. Louis, but the Leafs weren't in the cap position to sign him.

 

[Menzinger]

I don't think Kaberle was much worse than a couple of those listed for other teams, but yes, Salming and then back to Horton.

What, no love for Phaneuf?

I wonder if some of it may also be because of how bad the overall teams were, that limited growth.

Kaberle i think is definitely underrated. Both when he was with the Leafs and also by the fanbases collective memory

I'd love a prime Kaberle on the current team