For curiosity here is a random sampling of the top teams actual +/- Doms of their uninjured lineup so far this year:
Edmonton: 90
Vancouver: 73
Colorado: 63
Carolina: 60
Vegas: 48
Toronto: 26
Obviously not a perfect science but that’s a pretty large gap.
It’s a pretty simple fix though. Of note our 4th line is -40. Even if we just swapped out our 4th line for the next worst 4th line (oilers -18) that puts us at 48. Marner rebounding gets us back in the 60ish mix. Moneyballing a slightly subpar 4th line puts us right back near the top of the league.
But then our D still really isn’t close to the other top teams, by about one elite dman:
Edmonton: 32
Carolina: 29
Vegas: 24
Colorado: 23
Vancouver: 21
Toronto: 4
That one might not be solveable in season. Dubas kind of fucked our D locking into old guys.
Tre has some work to do.
It’s not revisionist. Brodie and Muzzin were good additions, but everyone knew at the time there was a time limit on them.
Brodie was 30 when we signed him. Muzz was 29. We always knew he was going to have to replace them.
McCabe is solid, but not that level of player.
I don't get how you blame Dubie for Brodie providing excellent value on his contract every year Dubie was in charge.It’s not revisionist. Brodie and Muzzin were good additions, but everyone knew at the time there was a time limit on them.
Brodie was 30 when we signed him. Muzz was 29. We always knew he was going to have to replace them.
McCabe is solid, but not that level of player.
I assume Mindz is outside snapping photos as Toronto area is experiencing its first sunny days in 5 weeks.
I don't get how you blame Dubie for Brodie providing excellent value on his contract every year Dubie was in charge.
I also don't get how you blame Dubie for Muzzin's career-ending injury.
Dubie had many faults, but the d-corps he assembled were maybe the strongest in my lifetime as a Leaf fan.
If you want to take umbrage with anything, it ought to be the McCabe acquisition, especially given Ekholm was available. That is a criticism I have and will continue to make. But I can't find fault with signing TJ or the Muzz trade and extension. And trading Sandin, but that's looking like a decent move in hindsight.
Didn't Dubie sign Rielly to his current contract?I blaming Dubas because almost entirely built this D (except for our two best in Rielly and Lilly) and after 5 years it’s still a work in progress with big holes.
Was Dubie supposed to move on from Brodie and Muzz in anticipation of potential declines?The best d in our lifetime barely held up for 2 seasons.
Prior to Brodie's decline, which again, took place post-Dubie, the only real hole was a Muzzin replacement. Whether or not McCabe was supposed to be that guy, clearly he isn't. So that hole still remains.He’s the one that left us with the old, broken D.
And the coach won't play Lilly in the playoffs so it doesn't matter.
Was Dubie supposed to move on from Brodie and Muzz in anticipation of potential declines?
Didn't Dubie sign Rielly to his current contract?
And the coach won't play Lilly in the playoffs so it doesn't matter.
Was Dubie supposed to move on from Brodie and Muzz in anticipation of potential declines?
Prior to Brodie's decline, which again, took place post-Dubie, the only real hole was a Muzzin replacement. Whether or not McCabe was supposed to be that guy, clearly he isn't. So that hole still remains.
But that was also a hole we had pre-Dubie, that he filled with Muzz, until his injury.
I'm just not sure what you were expecting Dubie to do differently to prevent this given the hand he was dealt.
Tre needed a Muzz replacement still and he signed fucking Klingberg. Why does he not bare any responsibility here?
Only thing I'd add here is that "current year" Net Rating is good for analyzing these first 36gms, but not the greatest when determining what roster moves to make going forward.
This is fair.
If you go by the projections it’s closer:
Edmonton: 79
Colorado: 55
Carolina: 50
Vancouver: 47
Vegas: 46
Toronto: 35
With the 4th line at -33. Getting a reasonable 4th line and legit top 2-3 dman gets us back in the upper echelon, but Edmonton still way out infront thanks to their top pair.