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Around the League 2019-2026 Edition

I don't want to go full Burtch, but Rielly is kind of a problem. He needs a very specific kind of partner to hide his flaws. A Pesce type really. Not easy to find and the Leafs certainly don't have one. Hainsey was a start but they need a better Hainsey.
 
But Dermott failing in the top 4 would crush his trade value. I'd argue that seeing him carve shit up on the 3rd pair is far better. Makes a team more likely to bet on him becoming a top 4 guy. So I guess it depends on what you think of the player. I think he could be fine with the right partner. I don't think the Leafs have that partner, outside of Muzzin.
 
I think Dermott is a good player, but at this point because of the cap and expansion draft the choice is between adding a top pair guy like Brodie or whoever and keeping Dermott.

And keeping Dermott, and moving him to the right side may be the better play in the long run. But I am not sure that is fair to the team in the short term.
 
I don't want to go full Burtch, but Rielly is kind of a problem. He needs a very specific kind of partner to hide his flaws. A Pesce type really. Not easy to find and the Leafs certainly don't have one. Hainsey was a start but they need a better Hainsey.

I don't think thats true though. His partners have been Hainsey/Zaitsev/Ceci/Barrie. He probably just needs a partner that doesn't suck at hockey and drag him down.
 
But Dermott failing in the top 4 would crush his trade value. I'd argue that seeing him carve shit up on the 3rd pair is far better. Makes a team more likely to bet on him becoming a top 4 guy. So I guess it depends on what you think of the player. I think he could be fine with the right partner. I don't think the Leafs have that partner, outside of Muzzin.
I seriously doubt Dermott would fail on a second pair with Muzz or some other defensive stalwart. Further, his trade value is pretty shit right now, I'd guess. Not very much room to drop.
 
I don't think thats true though. His partners have been Hainsey/Zaitsev/Ceci/Barrie. He probably just needs a partner that doesn't suck at hockey and drag him down.
I think Hainsey was pretty good tbh. Dude came off winning a cup as a #1 with the Penguins. His play fell off in his last year but he was a great partner for Mo and imo a legit #4. Rielly was great with him.

And Barrie was half decent on the Avs but clearly a terrible fit with Rielly. I won't defend the other two.

Mo is a super elite one dimensional d. Very fucking good at that dimension and extremely valuable... But he's one dimensional. He needs some help in his own zone is all.
 
I seriously doubt Dermott would fail on a second pair with Muzz or some other defensive stalwart. Further, his trade value is pretty shit right now, I'd guess. Not very much room to drop.
I don't think his trade value is shit but maybe I'm wrong. Not quite kapanen reputation but still a young very capable cheap 2nd/3rd pair d. That has value.
 
I don't think his trade value is shit but maybe I'm wrong. Not quite kapanen reputation but still a young very capable cheap 2nd/3rd pair d. That has value.
The risk-reward is too high. His value is shit relative to where it would be if he could demonstate capable top 4 play over a good stretch. Dermott has none of the first round/name allure of Kapanen. Most people put him in trades as a throw in.
 
Hainsey sucked, he was just the best of the bunch. He definitely was not a 20+ min top pairing dman at that age.

Rielly w/ Hainsey
CF: 51.13%
xGF: 48.45%

Rielly w/o Hainsey
CF: 55.21%
xGF: 53.72%

Hainsey w/o Rielly
CF: 45.48%
xGF: 45.93%
 
The risk-reward is too high. His value is shit relative to where it would be if he could demonstate capable top 4 play over a good stretch. Dermott has none of the first round/name allure of Kapanen. Most people put him in trades as a throw in.
If that's the case, then sure keep him. I think it's far more likely he's just a very good third pair guy than a second pair guy but I'm less bullish on him than others. And I like to play the odds when I make decisions .. odds are you're trading a dime a dozen guy who happens to be young and will make third pair+ money on a cash strapped team.
 
Rielly with anyone who is a competent topn4 defender would be great. The only time we had that they were forced into being the shutdown pair i believe.

Giving rielly - xxx 2nd pair matchup and muzzin - holl the shutdown matchup makes everything better.
 
Hainsey sucks, he was just the best of the bunch.

Rielly w/ Hainsey
CF: 51.13%
xGF: 48.45%

Rielly w/o Hainsey
CF: 55.21%
xGF: 53.72%

Hainsey w/o Rielly
CF: 45.48%
xGF: 45.93%
Usage my man. Hainsey always got the toughs. Always. Rielly not so much. Hainsey has feet for hands and likely harmed the offensive numbers but defensively he was the steadiest partner Mo had. To pull a page from zeke, he "sucked" as soon as he came to Toronto after being a key grizzled vet on a cup winning pens team.
 
If that's the case, then sure keep him. I think it's far more likely he's just a very good third pair guy than a second pair guy but I'm less bullish on him than others. And I like to play the odds when I make decisions .. odds are you're trading a dime a dozen guy who happens to be young and will make third pair+ money on a cash strapped team.
I'd like to see Dermott play a season with Keefe behind the bench. Most of his shortcomings are confidence related, in my view. I see him maxing out as a solid two-way top four guy.
 
Even if that were true, that just means Rielly made him way better in the toughs. And Hainsey was in over his head without him.
Well yeah Rielly is really good and better than Hainsey at hockey. Hainsey sucked in his last year on Toronto though.
 
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