My wild prediction:

If Hakanpaa's knee is fine, we will see a Rielly Hakanpaa combo at some point. It won't last long, but it will be tried by Berube.
- Atomic Wedgie

If Keefe was still the coach I'd say it will happen for sure but with the new coach, ah hell it's possible to see that combo out on the Leafs D

This emoticon reply makes me assume you found that comment amusing. I cannot guarantee it, it could be a mockery, but I’ll roll with the idea that you enjoyed it
- Dozzer

it's mocking and amusing at the same time.

If Lily is relegated to a 3rd pair role, then he's too expensive and needs to go. A guy on league minimum, or near it, can do that.

it's mocking and amusing at the same time.
- dmnted

Good ol’ amocking

So the leafs keep Liljegren (it’s dangerous to suggest a maybe on this site lol) what do you think the pairings will end up looking like?

Rielly Tanev
OEL McCabe
Benoit Liljegren/Hakanpaa

Or

Rielly Tanev
Benoit McCabe
OEL Liljegren/Hakanpaa

Or

Rielly Tanev
McCabe Liljegren
OEL Hakanpaa
Benoit

I’m truly curious as to how this will play out, it could be completely different as well if Rielly and Tanev don’t mesh.
- Dozzer

Im hoping for the third one.
But.
After Tanev gets injured 8 games in and Hakanpaa gets injured 10 games in and after we see OEL forced to move up into a top 4 role, quickly realizing at about the 15 game mark of the season - "ah crap this guy cant play top 4 anymore and we stuck with him for 4 more year". Im really not sure what the D corp lines will look like.

I did initially like the second one though....but that post seems to have disappeared lol

If Lily is relegated to a 3rd pair role, then he's too expensive and needs to go. A guy on league minimum, or near it, can do that.
- GalacticStone

I think they signed him allowing some time for everything to evolve. If Benoit keeps improving, if Tanev and Hakanpaa are healthy, if OEL fits ....that'll allow them to move some depth/assets like Lilly for improvements elsewhere.

They don't need to do it now though. They are good in terms of the cap and there's nothing out there to spend the money on.

Let things play out ...poop changes fast ...then make decision near the deadline.

Mike Augello: Danford Goes Down; Leafs Rookies Heading To Montreal
- mikeinbuffalo

welcome to the national creampuff🤦‍♂️

how’s dillingsham doing?👊🏿

what a (frank)ing joke 🤦‍♂️

edit:nice alliteration 🙏🏿👍🏿

I think they signed him allowing some time for everything to evolve. If Benoit keeps improving, if Tanev and Hakanpaa are healthy, if OEL fits ....that'll allow them to move some depth/assets like Lilly for improvements elsewhere.

They don't need to do it now though. They are good in terms of the cap and there's nothing out there to spend the money on.

Let things play out ...poop changes fast ...then make decision near the deadline.
- The Law

I could see them keeping their depth D if all of the above works out.
Need options for their first round series before they exit.

Im hoping for the third one.
But.
After Tanev gets injured 8 games in and Hakanpaa gets injured 10 games in and after we see OEL forced to move up into a top 4 role, quickly realizing at about the 15 game mark of the season - "ah crap this guy cant play top 4 anymore and we stuck with him for 4 more year". Im really not sure what the D corp lines will look like.

I did initially like the second one though....but that post seems to have disappeared lol
- Fakepartofme

Not even I can see that post lol

But what I can see is how the overall age that was signed on the back end is stinging a little as well, hope I’m wrong but……

Should be interesting tho.. 3 new guys of the 7 under a new coach’s game. I have no idea how this D could end up looking.

Hey now, Nolan Dillingham is a somebody!

Future hard nosed bottom pairing Leaf Dman. (Think Todd Gill)
- Snot Dillingham

Nice comment/username synergy!

If Lily is relegated to a 3rd pair role, then he's too expensive and needs to go. A guy on league minimum, or near it, can do that.
- GalacticStone

I don’t think that’s how Tre operates.

1-hour breakdown of all the Leafs playing in the rookie games:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGBWIci2HEI

Nice comment/username synergy!
- mjones242

Thanks. Heres a nice play from a former often maligned Leaf Dman-


https://x.com/TLNdc/status/1834368005205037272

Not even I can see that post lol

But what I can see is how the overall age that was signed on the back end is stinging a little as well, hope I’m wrong but……

Should be interesting tho.. 3 new guys of the 7 under a new coach’s game. I have no idea how this D could end up looking.
- Dozzer

I think it popped up as a "bad gateway" when I posted, so it may not have actually been posted.
Im seeing a trend with Tre that I'm really not liking....seems to like his older (in sports years), often injured players.

Hopefully it works out.

1-hour breakdown of all the Leafs playing in the rookie games:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGBWIci2HEI
- Atomic Wedgie

No thanks.
I got all I need to know from The Augello!

Plus, as much as I try, I simply have no interest in the leafs rookies....outside of two maybe.

I think it popped up as a "bad gateway" when I posted, so it may not have actually been posted.
Im seeing a trend with Tre that I'm really not liking....seems to like his older (in sports years), often injured players.

Hopefully it works out.
- Fakepartofme

Seems like he thinks Liljegren and Benoit are enough to represent the “young guys” on the backend lol

when do they stream the first Leaf rookie game?

Rangers are on tonight

Seems like he thinks Liljegren and Benoit are enough to represent the “young guys” on the backend lol
- Dozzer

Experience tends to help in playoffs.

I like Benoit but it’s funny, his fancy charts are pretty great last playoffs.

But if you go watch it over you’ll see the bruins literally let him carry it in their blue line and gave him the whole half wall to their net because they knew he couldn’t do anything with it.

Wish Keefe was able to exploit weaknesses like that.

Experience tends to help in playoffs.

I like Benoit but it’s funny, his fancy charts are pretty great last playoffs.

But if you go watch it over you’ll see the bruins literally let him carry it in their blue line and gave him the whole half wall to their net because they knew he couldn’t do anything with it.

Wish Keefe was able to exploit weaknesses like that.
- Santo_44

I like Benoit, I really do, but that’s all I’m saying I guess. Acting like he’s a lockdown in the starting lineup is… well… foolish

Not saying he won’t be, but let’s see how he does under the new system that he’s going to be playing first maybe?

I like Benoit, I really do, but that’s all I’m saying I guess. Acting like he’s a lockdown in the starting lineup is… well… foolish

Not saying he won’t be, but let’s see how he does under the new system that he’s going to be playing first maybe?
- Dozzer

There's only 4 locked in positions

Rielly, OEL, McCabe, Tanev. The rest is the fight for scraps...and I hope they fight for it.

This was a tough series. Great Intro here-

https://x.com/BR_OpenIce/...tatus/1834637465556001115

when do they stream the first Leaf rookie game?

Rangers are on tonight
- 21peter

Pffff
Rangers

The only team with a more maligned captain than us

Well, until recently

I wonder if Drexel still refers to him as the best dman in the league

There's only 4 locked in positions

Rielly, OEL, McCabe, Tanev. The rest is the fight for scraps...and I hope they fight for it.
- AdamFrench

Basically the ideal of the Benoit, Liljegren, and Hakanpaa bunch is which two make the steadiest pairing and which one can go in and out of the lineup in various spots the most comfortably?

I like Benoit, I really do, but that’s all I’m saying I guess. Acting like he’s a lockdown in the starting lineup is… well… foolish

Not saying he won’t be, but let’s see how he does under the new system that he’s going to be playing first maybe?
- Dozzer

The thing with Benoit is that he was literally no different than the guy they signed. Compare his stats between Anaheim and Toronto - he pretty much hit about the same had more points in Anaheim, played against similar competition - the difference is that his supporting forwards in Toronto were better and his supporting cast on D was better.

He stood out on Toronto because no one else on this team plays like he does. That's how little toughness was on this team - they added a 6th D who hits people - he's not even particularly big - and everyone loves him because no one else on the team does what he does.

I think under Berube we're going to see a lot more physicality from Knies and McMann - and they weren't really slouches last year. You want to become a fan favourite in Toronto? You could score 69 and that's not bad, but go pummel some guys into the wall and they'll build you a statue.

The thing with Benoit is that he was literally no different than the guy they signed. Compare his stats between Anaheim and Toronto - he pretty much hit about the same had more points in Anaheim, played against similar competition - the difference is that his supporting forwards in Toronto were better and his supporting cast on D was better.

He stood out on Toronto because no one else on this team plays like he does. That's how little toughness was on this team - they added a 6th D who hits people - he's not even particularly big - and everyone loves him because no one else on the team does what he does.

I think under Berube we're going to see a lot more physicality from Knies and McMann - and they weren't really slouches last year. You want to become a fan favourite in Toronto? You could score 69 and that's not bad, but go pummel some guys into the wall and they'll build you a statue.
- Monkeypunk