Well, really you have:

LHD:

Rielly
McCabe
Benoit

RHD:

Tanev
Ekman-Larsson
Hakanpaa
Timmins


Like . . . I think that's probably the pecking order. I do think Timmins is probably better than Benoit - but it depends on what you want from them. Timmins moves pucks well, separates man from puck, closes gaps well, passes well and has decent offensive instincts. Benoit is a better phyiscal checker and that's literally it.

But with so few options on the left side, I think Timmins is forced out by Hakanpaa coming back - and that's a shame.
- Monkeypunk

OEL is a LHD.

When did they pick that guy? Sounds promising.
- Scabeh

Pick? We all know the Leafs can't pick star players outside the lottery.

Speaking of the lottery, in 2017, instead of tanking again, the Leafs made a futile playoff wild card run and ended up with 17th overall pick.

That pick was Liljegren whom the Leafs turned into a 3 million dollar 7th D and traded for spare parts.

Had they just tanked one more year, they could have had their pick of either Heiskanen or Makar in the top 5 as options on D. Or, Elias Pettersson who would have saved them the trouble of signing Tavares.

What a difference one extra lottery pick can make...

. . .

OEL is a LHD.
- Rare_Jewel

True. He just plays well on the right-side.

I mean you have McCabe, OEL, Tanev and Rielly as various combinations that worked - but if you move OEL to the left side, you end up with something that looks more like:

Rielly - Tanev
McCabe - Timmins
OEL - Hakanpaa

. . . assuming you want to keep a banger and a mover on each pairing. I'm not so sure that's optimal in that OEL deserves bigger minutes the way he's playing right now, and Timmins has excelled in a lower pairing, but as much as I do like what he does, I'm not sure he's ready to be pinched up into top-4 minutes yet. McCabe is - and I know you're not a fan - a decent partner, but he's not in the top 25% of top-4 defensemen so carrying someone while they gain their footing isn't really in his wheelhouse. I think more of him than you do (I mean he's only 31 now - give him 3 years before you start asking if he's slowing down), but I'm aware that he's a decent top-4 option, but not an elite top-4 option.

. . .

True. He just plays well on the right-side.

I mean you have McCabe, OEL, Tanev and Rielly as various combinations that worked - but if you move OEL to the left side, you end up with something that looks more like:

Rielly - Tanev
McCabe - Timmins
OEL - Hakanpaa

. . . assuming you want to keep a banger and a mover on each pairing. I'm not so sure that's optimal in that OEL deserves bigger minutes the way he's playing right now, and Timmins has excelled in a lower pairing, but as much as I do like what he does, I'm not sure he's ready to be pinched up into top-4 minutes yet. McCabe is - and I know you're not a fan - a decent partner, but he's not in the top 25% of top-4 defensemen so carrying someone while they gain their footing isn't really in his wheelhouse. I think more of him than you do (I mean he's only 31 now - give him 3 years before you start asking if he's slowing down), but I'm aware that he's a decent top-4 option, but not an elite top-4 option.
- Monkeypunk

I think there's two exclusive times when a LHD can play on the right side or vice versa; elite players and on the PP.

I don't think anybody on this team is good enough to play on their opposite side and win a Cup doing it.

I was hoping they could use Liljegren to get another serviceable RHD (Ruuta) but that didn't happen. They need to add another legit NHLer on the right side for the playoffs and beyond.

I'd be temporarily okay with:

Rielly / Tanev
McCabe / Hakanpaa (defensive situations)
OEL / Timmins (offensive situations)

But if we want the team to improve and win a Cup:

Rielly / UPGRADE (would trade big pieces and/or Rielly to acquire)
OEL / Tanev
McCabe / Hakanpaa

Or, at the minimum:

Rielly / Tanev
OEL / UPGRADE (at least as good as Tanev and hopefully younger)
McCabe / Hakanpaa

Pick? We all know the Leafs can't pick star players outside the lottery.

Speaking of the lottery, in 2017, instead of tanking again, the Leafs made a futile playoff wild card run and ended up with 17th overall pick.

That pick was Liljegren whom the Leafs turned into a 3 million dollar 7th D and traded for spare parts.

Had they just tanked one more year, they could have had their pick of either Heiskanen or Makar in the top 5 as options on D. Or, Elias Pettersson who would have saved them the trouble of signing Tavares.

What a difference one extra lottery pick can make...
- Rare_Jewel

Classic Uggie, crawling out of his mom's cave with 20/20 hindsight "hot takes" that nobody cares about.

. . .

True. He just plays well on the right-side.

I mean you have McCabe, OEL, Tanev and Rielly as various combinations that worked - but if you move OEL to the left side, you end up with something that looks more like:

Rielly - Tanev
McCabe - Timmins
OEL - Hakanpaa

. . . assuming you want to keep a banger and a mover on each pairing. I'm not so sure that's optimal in that OEL deserves bigger minutes the way he's playing right now, and Timmins has excelled in a lower pairing, but as much as I do like what he does, I'm not sure he's ready to be pinched up into top-4 minutes yet. McCabe is - and I know you're not a fan - a decent partner, but he's not in the top 25% of top-4 defensemen so carrying someone while they gain their footing isn't really in his wheelhouse. I think more of him than you do (I mean he's only 31 now - give him 3 years before you start asking if he's slowing down), but I'm aware that he's a decent top-4 option, but not an elite top-4 option.
- Monkeypunk

McCabe Tanev has been putting together stellar defensive numbers. Best shutdown pairing we've had in ages.

I'm ok with Rielly-OEL as long as they're not getting tough assignments.

I think there's two exclusive times when a LHD can play on the right side or vice versa; elite players and on the PP.

I don't think anybody on this team is good enough to play on their opposite side and win a Cup doing it.

I was hoping they could use Liljegren to get another serviceable RHD (Ruuta) but that didn't happen. They need to add another legit NHLer on the right side for the playoffs and beyond.

I'd be temporarily okay with:

Rielly / Tanev
McCabe / Hakanpaa (defensive situations)
OEL / Timmins (offensive situations)

But if we want the team to improve and win a Cup:

Rielly / UPGRADE (would trade big pieces and/or Rielly to acquire)
OEL / Tanev
McCabe / Hakanpaa

Or, at the minimum:

Rielly / Tanev
OEL / UPGRADE (at least as good as Tanev and hopefully younger)
McCabe / Hakanpaa
- Rare_Jewel

Rutta is not really a "decent" option. He plays a style that will aggravate the hell out of Leafs fans. He's basically invisible on the ice. He has size, but doesn't use it. His numbers looked decent in Tampa because he was stapled to Hedman. He was very good at mopping up in the trail of an elite HOF d-man. Put him with Rielly, McCabe, or OEL and it's gonna be a hot mess.

McCabe Tanev has been putting together stellar defensive numbers. Best shutdown pairing we've had in ages.

I'm ok with Rielly-OEL as long as they're not getting tough assignments.
- gravyface

100%. I wouldn't touch that pair unless you have to.

Let Hakanpaa build up his minutes and then try him with Rielly. OEL and Timmins as a situational bottom pair could be very good.

Rielly-Haka
McC-Tanev
OEL-Timmy
Benoit

If I was Tree, I definitely wouldn't trade or waive any D-men right now, unless there is zero chance of them being claimed off the wire.

God forbid, if something happens to Tanev or Haaktuah (or both), it wouldn't be a bad thing to have a wealth of replacements waiting in the wings - Benoit, Myers, Benning, etc.

McCabe Tanev has been putting together stellar defensive numbers. Best shutdown pairing we've had in ages.

I'm ok with Rielly-OEL as long as they're not getting tough assignments.
- gravyface

I wouldn't really argue right now - the top-4 has been good.

I think - since I've been a booster of his for a while - that I am just happy to see Timmins playing well and getting his opportunity and don't want that taken away, so I was trying to think of a way to keep him in the lineup. I like a lot of the things he does - granted they are 1-0-1 without him (win over LA and OTL to Boston).

And then just to emphasize the point of what Berube is looking for - while he hasn't played consistently well, Benoit has played in all 14 games.

If I was Tree, I definitely wouldn't trade or waive any D-men right now, unless there is zero chance of them being claimed off the wire.

God forbid, if something happens to Tanev or Haaktuah (or both), it wouldn't be a bad thing to have a wealth of replacements waiting in the wings - Benoit, Myers, Benning, etc.
- GalacticStone

When you activate Hakanpaa from the IR, you'll have:

Rielly
Tanev
McCabe
Ekman-Larsson
Benoit
Hakanpaa
Timmins
Myers
Benning

. . . all of whom are eligible for waivers. You can't carry a 12/9 split in the lineup - especially because it would require them to then part ways with 2 of Reaves, Holmberg, Robertson or Dewar - but you need to accommodate for bumps, bruises and fatigue - little injuries that aren't significant enough for IR, but will amount to games missed. Whether that's a 14/7 or a 13/8 split is up to Berube's confidence level - or Treliving's level of confidence that a player wouldn't be claimed on waivers.

On that list of 9 names, Myers played decently enough in the preseason, but in his one game he was outshot by 4, outchanced by 6, and the HD difference was 0 for to 4 against. He was also -1 in the game. Given his history, he seems the most likely to pass through.

When you activate Hakanpaa from the IR, you'll have:

Rielly
Tanev
McCabe
Ekman-Larsson
Benoit
Hakanpaa
Timmins
Myers
Benning

. . . all of whom are eligible for waivers. You can't carry a 12/9 split in the lineup - especially because it would require them to then part ways with 2 of Reaves, Holmberg, Robertson or Dewar - but you need to accommodate for bumps, bruises and fatigue - little injuries that aren't significant enough for IR, but will amount to games missed. Whether that's a 14/7 or a 13/8 split is up to Berube's confidence level - or Treliving's level of confidence that a player wouldn't be claimed on waivers.

On that list of 9 names, Myers played decently enough in the preseason, but in his one game he was outshot by 4, outchanced by 6, and the HD difference was 0 for to 4 against. He was also -1 in the game. Given his history, he seems the most likely to pass through.
- Monkeypunk

Myers never moved the needle at all in Tampa either, so I agree that he has a good chance at not being claimed.

Pick? We all know the Leafs can't pick star players outside the lottery.

Speaking of the lottery, in 2017, instead of tanking again, the Leafs made a futile playoff wild card run and ended up with 17th overall pick.

That pick was Liljegren whom the Leafs turned into a 3 million dollar 7th D and traded for spare parts.

Had they just tanked one more year, they could have had their pick of either Heiskanen or Makar in the top 5 as options on D. Or, Elias Pettersson who would have saved them the trouble of signing Tavares.

What a difference one extra lottery pick can make...
- Rare_Jewel

Pettersson is awful. The Willy and Mitch haters would absolutley destroy him

Pettersson is awful. The Willy and Mitch haters would absolutley destroy him
- drexel

He's off to a slow start but I would 110% rather have him that Lilybust and so would every other GM.

100%. I wouldn't touch that pair unless you have to.

Let Hakanpaa build up his minutes and then try him with Rielly. OEL and Timmins as a situational bottom pair could be very good.

Rielly-Haka
McC-Tanev
OEL-Timmy
Benoit
- The Law

Going OEL-Timmins makes sense and you can try the top 4 you suggested or switching Haka and Tanev.

Pick? We all know the Leafs can't pick star players outside the lottery.

Speaking of the lottery, in 2017, instead of tanking again, the Leafs made a futile playoff wild card run and ended up with 17th overall pick.

That pick was Liljegren whom the Leafs turned into a 3 million dollar 7th D and traded for spare parts.

Had they just tanked one more year, they could have had their pick of either Heiskanen or Makar in the top 5 as options on D. Or, Elias Pettersson who would have saved them the trouble of signing Tavares.

What a difference one extra lottery pick can make...
- Rare_Jewel

I know it wasn't your point, but thanks for making me feel better about Montreal's season so far.

Going OEL-Timmins makes sense and you can try the top 4 you suggested or switching Haka and Tanev.
- Canada Cup

Rielly's been playing some better hockey the last couple of weeks and I think it's b/c McCabe-Tanev were paired up and are taking the most difficult matchups.

For whatever reason Rielly + Big Dude seems to be a good formula ....likely bc they are getting softer matchups and playing a lot of minutes with 34/16.

Plus Berube seems to juggle the D sometimes to match the situation. Need offense? Then shuffle Timmins to Rielly's side. Need defense then it's Hakanpaa.

I like the option on the blue line right now. They need a 3C to bring the lineup together I think.

We.re getting close to being off the main page.

We.re getting close to being off the main page.
- Fakepartofme

As I told Monkey yesterday, I manage to keep the Habs thread on the main page with a blog per week.

Pretty sure he (or someone else, but he'd be good at it I'm sure) could manage that. It's not THAT time consuming if you're not talking about the day-to-day, announcing results, stuff.

new blog everyone

new blog everyone
- GalacticStone

You mean Ek’s Kadri to Leafs rumour?

Myers never moved the needle at all in Tampa either, so I agree that he has a good chance at not being claimed.
- GalacticStone

Myers is big with no discernable skills. He's not mean, he's not fast, he's not good offensively, he's not good defensively, he's not really anything. Just an AHL guy who can eat some bottom pairing minutes.

Rutta is not really a "decent" option. He plays a style that will aggravate the hell out of Leafs fans. He's basically invisible on the ice. He has size, but doesn't use it. His numbers looked decent in Tampa because he was stapled to Hedman. He was very good at mopping up in the trail of an elite HOF d-man. Put him with Rielly, McCabe, or OEL and it's gonna be a hot mess.
- GalacticStone

As I've said before, he's far from perfect but better than Liljegren. And a more useful return than Benning considering his experience. Would have preferred Rutta as a bottom pairing depth piece and PKer.

I know it wasn't your point, but thanks for making me feel better about Montreal's season so far.
- Scabeh

Just keep tanking.

If you're not first, be last. It's just the way the NHL rewards failure.

You guys really badly need a legit 1st line C. Then, the Habs will be scary again as the blueline develops into a wall.

Just keep tanking.

If you're not first, be last. It's just the way the NHL rewards failure.

You guys really badly need a legit 1st line C. Then, the Habs will be scary again as the blueline develops into a wall.
- Rare_Jewel

If they can fit three Lane Hutsons in a trench coat, they'll have a real person!