r/leafs • u/AutoModerator • 22h ago

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11

u/whosoulie 19h ago

I feel this iteration of the team is still 2 players short. A number 2C and a top 4 D. 

Addressing those two concerns turn this team from a bubble team to a contender. 

8

u/shadowpenguin29 19h ago

I think the top 4 D can be sorted out by fiddling with deployment. I think if McCabe and Raddysh are playing more time together at even strength as a minute eating pair (~20-22 mins), with Rielly and Tanev acting as the second pair (18-20 mins), they can be a fairly decent dcore.

The 2C issue just needs to be sorted out by Willy and McKenna building enough chemistry to drive the line. While he’s lost a step, JT is not as bad as his past 3 games, and is perfectly capable of playing with two play driving wingers in a more sheltered role. Actually playing Cowan’s line for more than 14 minutes a night would also help. I still believe that the team has the pieces internally to at least get them to the deadline in a decent spot, then we can evaluate for an upgrade.

3

u/CMDRShepardN7 Nylander 18h ago

I might be crazy, but Rilley hasn't looked bad.

Him and Tanev might work again without Berube.

3

u/Tarquin11 18h ago

Him and Tanev worked previously, the reason Tanev was taken from Rielly is because McCabe was struggling without Tanev at the time, badly.

1

u/CMDRShepardN7 Nylander 16h ago

It's because McCabe isn't great on his offside and Tanev was the only righty.

McCabe-Raddysh, Rielly-Tanev needs a seious look under Hiller.

1

u/bootygoon2 15h ago

I really don’t get why that wasn’t the go to top pairings from the start. All summer long it was assumed that was what they would roll with and all of a sudden we hear about Rielly-Raddysh and McCabe-Tanev being the top four. I just don’t get it, even if you want to keep McCabe-Tanev as a pair wouldn’t OEL be a better fit beside Raddysh than Rielly is?