Dryden Hunt acquired for Denis Malgin

[Rob]

I can't believe this thread isn't 100 pages already.

[L K]

Essentially, if Malgin couldn't keep up on the Leafs top-6, might as well sub that roster slot with someone suited to bottom-6 and give him a chance on a team in need of scoring depth.

I think it mostly just bugs me that this continues the trend of the Leafs believing the bottom-6 should consist solely of defensive/grinder types. This is essentially a 2008 Brian Burke mentality with a little bit less truculence.

Malgin might not have been putting up points but he was the only player in the bottom-6 that seemed to be somewhat consistently pushing the pace offensively.

He sort of does it a bit differently than Burke-style. He looks like a modern-hockey time waster. But I do get what you're saying. Keefe is really into killing the clock when it's not a Matthews/Tavares line on the ice.

This is not me!
https://twitter.com/AdamZHerman/status/1604887953939234816

I feel like this strategy is also killing the Leafs in the postseason.  Teams can defend like hell against our top 6 and then the best we can hope from the bottom 6 is to not give anything up because they aren't going to score.

Depth scoring has been a problem for the Leafs in the postseason.  Given that our defense isn't very good at putting up offense having 2/3 of the lineup being at best net neutral seems like a questionable strategy

[OldTimeHockey]

I think we're forgetting that for as pretty as Malgin looks when he has the puck on his stick he has generated 4 points in 23 games. The other bottom 6 have the following:

Holmberg - 7pts in 17 games
Jamkrok - 9 pts in 25 games
Kerfoot - 15 pts in 32 games
Kampf - 12 pts in 32 games
Engvall - 9 pts in 30 games
Robertson - 5 pts in 15 games

None of these are amazing stats....But, I think the thought of losing Malgin costing you offense plays more on the "idea of Malgin" as opposed to the reality of Malgin.

[bustaheims]

Malgin was just the newest Grabner - all sizzle, no steak.

[herman]

https://twitter.com/leafybunts/status/1608558991176597506

[hobarth]

I thought Malgin wasn't 2nd line suitable, probably not even 3rd line but on the 4th with anyone with talent he might be an asset, he would never be a line driver. Trevor Mooreish like, we've seen a lot of players who look bad on the Leafs but are doing well on other teams.

TO has no offensive depth, definitely not prepared to thrive in the playoffs unless the d can keep the opposition to 2 goals or less which is unlikely considering the quality of teams TO will face from the beginning of the playoffs.

Hunt might fill a role but pretty well zero offense from the bottom 2 lines now and in the playoffs will not enable TO to progress. I think TO needs to look for more rounded players, players from within the organization to start would be ideal otherwise spending more draft choices and potential quality prospects to augment the lineup will be necessary.

One defensive centric line should be enough in the bottom 6, some potential offense or a more rounded game line is/will be necessary, every year Dubie concentrates on piling on more defensive depth.

Kampf, Holmberg and Jarnkrok should be that defensive top quality defensive unit, I would never expect any offense from these 3 so as a 4th line they'd be decent.

Engvall and Kerfoot might be the foundation of a brilliant 3rd line, not sure about Kerfoot, but this line needs a quality center. Jarnkrok with JT and Willie is just wrong on any and all levels, he offers nothing to that line and is probably more an anchor.

TO needs a center and LW not just any center and LW, I'd start graduating Marlies for evaluation purposes, Anderson no.

In the past TO's offense has disappeared at the most crucial times so more depth and quality is needed. Hunt for Malgin made no sense at all. 
 

[Highlander]

I thought Malgin wasn't 2nd line suitable, probably not even 3rd line but on the 4th with anyone with talent he might be an asset, he would never be a line driver. Trevor Mooreish like, we've seen a lot of players who look bad on the Leafs but are doing well on other teams.

TO has no offensive depth, definitely not prepared to thrive in the playoffs unless the d can keep the opposition to 2 goals or less which is unlikely considering the quality of teams TO will face from the beginning of the playoffs.

Hunt might fill a role but pretty well zero offense from the bottom 2 lines now and in the playoffs will not enable TO to progress. I think TO needs to look for more rounded players, players from within the organization to start would be ideal otherwise spending more draft choices and potential quality prospects to augment the lineup will be necessary.

One defensive centric line should be enough in the bottom 6, some potential offense or a more rounded game line is/will be necessary, every year Dubie concentrates on piling on more defensive depth.

Kampf, Holmberg and Jarnkrok should be that defensive top quality defensive unit, I would never expect any offense from these 3 so as a 4th line they'd be decent.

Engvall and Kerfoot might be the foundation of a brilliant 3rd line, not sure about Kerfoot, but this line needs a quality center. Jarnkrok with JT and Willie is just wrong on any and all levels, he offers nothing to that line and is probably more an anchor.

TO needs a center and LW not just any center and LW, I'd start graduating Marlies for evaluation purposes, Anderson no.

In the past TO's offense has disappeared at the most crucial times so more depth and quality is needed. Hunt for Malgin made no sense at all. 
 

Looks like Holmberg is already proving you wrong.  Engvall is also providing offence.

[bustaheims]

Margin's Grabneresque finishing ability was not helping the offence at all. The team lost nothing by moving him.

[RedLeaf]

What is everyones take on Hunt so far? I've just been able to watch highlights the past 2 games and he hasn't really been in many.

[Bill33]

What is everyones take on Hunt so far? I've just been able to watch highlights the past 2 games and he hasn't really been in many.

Too early, but looks pretty interchangeable with any of the 4th line blender ingredients that have come and gone.

[bustaheims]

Pretty standard 4th liner. Better suited to the role than Malgin, but that's about all I can say about him.

[hobarth]

I thought Malgin wasn't 2nd line suitable, probably not even 3rd line but on the 4th with anyone with talent he might be an asset, he would never be a line driver. Trevor Mooreish like, we've seen a lot of players who look bad on the Leafs but are doing well on other teams.

TO has no offensive depth, definitely not prepared to thrive in the playoffs unless the d can keep the opposition to 2 goals or less which is unlikely considering the quality of teams TO will face from the beginning of the playoffs.

Hunt might fill a role but pretty well zero offense from the bottom 2 lines now and in the playoffs will not enable TO to progress. I think TO needs to look for more rounded players, players from within the organization to start would be ideal otherwise spending more draft choices and potential quality prospects to augment the lineup will be necessary.

One defensive centric line should be enough in the bottom 6, some potential offense or a more rounded game line is/will be necessary, every year Dubie concentrates on piling on more defensive depth.

Kampf, Holmberg and Jarnkrok should be that defensive top quality defensive unit, I would never expect any offense from these 3 so as a 4th line they'd be decent.

Engvall and Kerfoot might be the foundation of a brilliant 3rd line, not sure about Kerfoot, but this line needs a quality center. Jarnkrok with JT and Willie is just wrong on any and all levels, he offers nothing to that line and is probably more an anchor.

TO needs a center and LW not just any center and LW, I'd start graduating Marlies for evaluation purposes, Anderson no.

In the past TO's offense has disappeared at the most crucial times so more depth and quality is needed. Hunt for Malgin made no sense at all. 
 

Looks like Holmberg is already proving you wrong.  Engvall is also providing offence.

Last year, TO had Engvall with his best offensive year, Mikeyev also best offensive year, Kampf as well but come playoff time TO's entire bottom 6 scored 3 goals, 2 of which were empty netters by Mikheyev. I love Engvall, he's a really good 3rd liner but counting on him for offense during the playoffs isn't realistic, same for Holmberg. TO's offense couldn't match TB's last year and is probably going to face either TB again or Boston and if by some miracle TO makes it past the 1st round probably both teams. TO's lack of timely scoring has been a problem in the playoffs mostly because the bottom 6 aren't productive enough and TO doesn't have enough quality forwards, it's time TO seriously entertains the notion of adding quality depth to the forwards not more nominal defensive depth, like Hunt.   

[Guilt Trip]

I thought Malgin wasn't 2nd line suitable, probably not even 3rd line but on the 4th with anyone with talent he might be an asset, he would never be a line driver. Trevor Mooreish like, we've seen a lot of players who look bad on the Leafs but are doing well on other teams.

TO has no offensive depth, definitely not prepared to thrive in the playoffs unless the d can keep the opposition to 2 goals or less which is unlikely considering the quality of teams TO will face from the beginning of the playoffs.

Hunt might fill a role but pretty well zero offense from the bottom 2 lines now and in the playoffs will not enable TO to progress. I think TO needs to look for more rounded players, players from within the organization to start would be ideal otherwise spending more draft choices and potential quality prospects to augment the lineup will be necessary.

One defensive centric line should be enough in the bottom 6, some potential offense or a more rounded game line is/will be necessary, every year Dubie concentrates on piling on more defensive depth.

Kampf, Holmberg and Jarnkrok should be that defensive top quality defensive unit, I would never expect any offense from these 3 so as a 4th line they'd be decent.

Engvall and Kerfoot might be the foundation of a brilliant 3rd line, not sure about Kerfoot, but this line needs a quality center. Jarnkrok with JT and Willie is just wrong on any and all levels, he offers nothing to that line and is probably more an anchor.

TO needs a center and LW not just any center and LW, I'd start graduating Marlies for evaluation purposes, Anderson no.

In the past TO's offense has disappeared at the most crucial times so more depth and quality is needed. Hunt for Malgin made no sense at all. 
 

Looks like Holmberg is already proving you wrong.  Engvall is also providing offence.

Last year, TO had Engvall with his best offensive year, Mikeyev also best offensive year, Kampf as well but come playoff time TO's entire bottom 6 scored 3 goals, 2 of which were empty netters by Mikheyev. I love Engvall, he's a really good 3rd liner but counting on him for offense during the playoffs isn't realistic, same for Holmberg. TO's offense couldn't match TB's last year and is probably going to face either TB again or Boston and if by some miracle TO makes it past the 1st round probably both teams. TO's lack of timely scoring has been a problem in the playoffs mostly because the bottom 6 aren't productive enough and TO doesn't have enough quality forwards, it's time TO seriously entertains the notion of adding quality depth to the forwards not more nominal defensive depth, like Hunt.   

Leafs outscored TBay in the series. Yes they could use more from the bottom 6 but I said it then and I'll say it again, with better goaltending we win that series. Leafs scored at least 3 goals against Vasi in 6 of the 7 games.

[CarltonTheBear]

What is everyones take on Hunt so far? I've just been able to watch highlights the past 2 games and he hasn't really been in many.

I think he'll be an adequate stop-gap measure for a forward spot that the Leafs won't mind possibly losing to waivers once they almost certainly bring in another forward later in the season (either through trade or with Matthew Knies).

That's the big difference between him and Joey Anderson, who I think might actually be a better player and a better fit for the 4th line, but they'll be wary about playing him for another month or two and then possibly losing him on waivers. I think his play, albeit a small sample size, has sort of revitalized his future with the club.

[herman]

What is everyones take on Hunt so far? I've just been able to watch highlights the past 2 games and he hasn't really been in many.

I think he'll be an adequate stop-gap measure for a forward spot that the Leafs won't mind possibly losing to waivers once they almost certainly bring in another forward later in the season (either through trade or with Matthew Knies).

That's the big difference between him and Joey Anderson, who I think might actually be a better player and a better fit for the 4th line, but they'll be wary about playing him for another month or two and then possibly losing him on waivers. I think his play, albeit a small sample size, has sort of revitalized his future with the club.

Anderson picked up a bit of a speed burst he was missing earlier in the season (and last season). It really gave him opportunities to leverage his skills more (same with Jarnkrok, by-the-by). And it might not just be a physical speed increase, but an adjustment to the system and getting more of the situational decision-making pushed down to the instinct level.