Lyubushkin traded to the Leafs
- Thread starter Deebo
- Start date
Nothing sexy coming to this blue line this season. I do like these 3 pairings though:
1. Brodie-Liljegren
2. Rielly-Lyubushkin
3. Benoit-McCabe
I would rate the pairings in this order as well. I wish Lyubushkin never left, he fills that right-side stay-at-home mold we need.
The salary retention part throws me off. What does Trev think he can get in this market?
1. Brodie-Liljegren
2. Rielly-Lyubushkin
3. Benoit-McCabe
I would rate the pairings in this order as well. I wish Lyubushkin never left, he fills that right-side stay-at-home mold we need.
The salary retention part throws me off. What does Trev think he can get in this market?
bustaheims
Well-known member
Reasonable acquisition cost, all things considered. Not the flashiest of names, but I also don't think big game hunting is in the team's interests right now, any way.
dappleganger
Active member
cw said:
Now do Luke Schenn next!
cabber24 said:
I thought the retention originally meant that Treliving had another move planned, but it could also just have been done to prevent having to risk anyone on waivers soon. As things stand once the trade deadline passes and roster limts go away the Leafs could eventually get up to a 25-man roster that still has all of Jones, Gregor, Lagesson, and Timmins on it with about $150k in cap space to spare.
dappleganger
Active member
Bender said:
I don't think the Leafs need a single forward.
Bender said:
Probably depends on how much stock we can put into the recent performances of guys like Bertuzzi, McMann, Holmberg, and of course Reaves. If those guys keep playing well and cement their spots in the line-up once Jarnkrok returns then we'll have Robertson and Gregor slotted into the 13/14 forward slots and that seems pretty fine depth wise.
But yeah personally I do think adding another defensive or physical or defensively physical element to the bottom-6 would be worthwhile.
I agree, do not see the need to add up front. At center we're good. Jankrok should be back at some point as well. I have liked Robertson and McCann in the top nine. Line 3-4 wingers to draw from include: McCann, Robertson, Holmberg, Reaves, Gregor, and Jankrok. Our forward rentals are Bertuzzi and Domi.Dappleganger said:
bustaheims
Well-known member
CarltonTheBear said:
I was thinking during the game last night that adding someone like Bjugstad might be the kind of piece the Leafs forward corps needs. Someone with some bite, defensive awareness, and the ability to chip some depth scoring. Throw in the fact he's a right-handed C, and he might be exactly what the team needs. Signed for another season at a reasonable cap hit, too.
bustaheims
Well-known member
Zee said:
Probably not. Bjugstad could center the 3rd line with Kampf on the 4th. Or one of them moves to the wing. They're different enough players that there should be spots for both of them on the roster.
Lyubushkin isn't the greatest PKer according to stats I've seen.
I'm sure they looked at other D who were better at that but couldn't make a deal than made sense.
Lyubushkin replacing Giordano in that role could be an improvement for the PK that the Leafs needed to address. Giordano appears to have tapered off in that role.
Since they couldn't land a great PK dman, maybe they're looking at a forward who can Pk
Bjugstad seems to fit that requirement. Also provides them depth at center and size.
Tavares could move to a wing. Not sure how the cap would work - so dependant on % retention.
I'm sure they looked at other D who were better at that but couldn't make a deal than made sense.
Lyubushkin replacing Giordano in that role could be an improvement for the PK that the Leafs needed to address. Giordano appears to have tapered off in that role.
Since they couldn't land a great PK dman, maybe they're looking at a forward who can Pk
Bjugstad seems to fit that requirement. Also provides them depth at center and size.
Tavares could move to a wing. Not sure how the cap would work - so dependant on % retention.
The 3rd is from 2025, the 6th from 2024
Their first pick in 2025 is in the 5th round so for now, we've pretty much got a bunch of that draft day off. The 3rd this year has a better chance of helping the current roster.
Very grateful they didn't flip a 1st or one of their best prospects on a rental for a team that, by their coach's own admission, got out played by the Coyotes last night. Hopefully, that stands though I'm not sure they're done trying to tweak the roster.
Lyubushkin's numbers in Buffalo and Anaheim do not appear to be that good. But those were not good teams. I look at Schenn who floundered and was waived or Benoit who was having trouble making the NHL and was waived. Neither came in and did anything fancy. They had a defense first conscience and used their body to take opponents out or finish their checks or block shots, etc - no big risky plays. That allowed their partner to flourish. And they both made a difference. I do not see why Lyubushkin can't do something like that. He's done it before. I was so frustrated with this D, I said to myself "they ought to put a Benoit type on each pairing and that will clean up a bunch of their dman defensive problems" I think they have another, in Lagesson, who doesn't seem far off being able to do that. They have the #1 offense & PP in the league (which is part of the reason why the D is so stressed) so they can afford to give a little on the back end.
I'm still not crazy about the deal but their hand was forced to a significant degree. They didn't get silly. The fowards probably have to address the balance of defensive issues.
Their first pick in 2025 is in the 5th round so for now, we've pretty much got a bunch of that draft day off. The 3rd this year has a better chance of helping the current roster.
Very grateful they didn't flip a 1st or one of their best prospects on a rental for a team that, by their coach's own admission, got out played by the Coyotes last night. Hopefully, that stands though I'm not sure they're done trying to tweak the roster.
Lyubushkin's numbers in Buffalo and Anaheim do not appear to be that good. But those were not good teams. I look at Schenn who floundered and was waived or Benoit who was having trouble making the NHL and was waived. Neither came in and did anything fancy. They had a defense first conscience and used their body to take opponents out or finish their checks or block shots, etc - no big risky plays. That allowed their partner to flourish. And they both made a difference. I do not see why Lyubushkin can't do something like that. He's done it before. I was so frustrated with this D, I said to myself "they ought to put a Benoit type on each pairing and that will clean up a bunch of their dman defensive problems" I think they have another, in Lagesson, who doesn't seem far off being able to do that. They have the #1 offense & PP in the league (which is part of the reason why the D is so stressed) so they can afford to give a little on the back end.
I'm still not crazy about the deal but their hand was forced to a significant degree. They didn't get silly. The fowards probably have to address the balance of defensive issues.
Guilt Trip
Well-known member
https://twitter.com/jtbourne/status/1763607469928956385
Not an analytics guy but looking at Dobber stats on his partner pairing percentage of time on the ice. He played with an offensive-minded rookie this year and their plus/minus wasn't horrendous. The template fits Rielly's tendency to throw grenades on gamely basis.Guilt Trip said:
He was quick to drop the gloves with McMann after McMann got a boarding major on Jan 2, 2024. Unlike the Marchand/Timothy incident that still pisses me off today.
Guru Tugginmypuddah
Well-known member
YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!! BRING BACK THE BOOOOOOSH!!!!