Leafs D
Well Ranger we can continue to disagree.
Calgary were missing Gauthier and Lydman throughout most of the playoffs. Their 7th and 8th guys played rather successfully. Plus, they have phaneuf waiting his turn.
Vancouver lacks depth? Ohlund, Jovo, Sopel are clearly 3 very good players. Salo and Malik are proven veterans. Stuart a rising star and, an enforcer/role player in Brookbank. solid 1-7.
I agree with Tampa. No names. No stars. No brain cramps. Got the job done under pressure.
As for the Wings, are you saying you would have to think about whether you would rather ice Lidstorm, Schneider, Chelios, Hatcher, Wooley, Dandenault and Fischer or, the Leafs D? Not many question marks here. As you say, come on be objective.
The Wings lossess to Anaheim and Calgary had more to do with their inability to score than to defend. They have become team similar to Toronto, in that they have too many old players who cannot stand up to the grind of the post season.
I will admit that upon reflection rating Klee as a 4-5 was harsh. He is a 3-4, but on no contending team would he be a 2 including Toronto. He was a minus player on a plus team.
By the way, somehow I left New Jersey off my list.
Neidmeyer-Ralfalski-Stevens-White-Hale-Martin-Alebelin-Brown.
Probably the best d corps in the league.
As for Calgary making the playoffs, this is strange offer from the guy who preaches constantly that even on the nights when Eddie stops 50 pucks the Leafs haven't been outplayed because he is part of the team. No one is saying that the Flames are a better team. What I am saying they have a group of defensemen that is deeper and better collectively (they clearly have no Brian Leetch for sure!) now and, has far more potential into the future.
My point here isn't to bash the Leafs. My point is they have as much or more talent than virtually anyone on their top two lines. They have three very solid d-men and one of the better tenders.
They have plenty of character and leadership!
In my view, they lack defensive foot soldiers up front and the steady stay at home guys every championship team has on the back end. This has been the case for sometime. Rather than addressing these issues, they continue acquire guys like Francis, Gilmour, Housely, Berehowsky and Johannson. For what purpose?
