[TRADE] Foligno to Leafs

[Belexus75]

Foligno vs. Kerfoot vs. Engvall as 3rd line Centre? This is a no-brainer.

Foligno is a heart ans soul type player. To the earlier comment about Spezza/Simmonds/Thornton - yes brought in for vet-leadership - check x3.
But none of them bring the entangibles Foligno does.
He's a Claude Lemieux mentality type player. Anything/everything to help the team win.

For the playoffs, I take Foligno 10/10 times over Hall. The CBJ haven't made deep runs the last couple years but they have had massive upsets in both seasons - Leafs & the juggernaut Lightning in 19/20.
(Foligno was the captain of both teams in case you missed it).

The only players on the Leafs that really mash players are Muzzin, Bogo & Simmonds. Hyman plays a really gritty style, but he is not a big hitter.

Down by a goal, up by a goal, Foligno didn't even have to wait for Tortz to say his name before hopping on the ice. He can chew up minutes - top 3 in Forward ice-time for the CBJ the past few seasons. One of the few players that had full confidence from Tortz in all situations.

He also provides the potential of a real front of net presence on the power play - for both units.

He gives this line-up a real edge it was lacking heading toward the playoffs.

100% love this deal. This was my preferred acquisition at the deadline.

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Riley Nash - There is a good chance he's ready to play at some point in the first round. he's a PK/shutdown Centre.
The LTIR piece with Nash is by placing him on LTIR his salary doesn't affect the Leafs cap and by being a max-cap team they get to utilize LTIR cap relieve. Essentially from a salary cap perspective Nash is free.
If he can come back and get into the playoffs he gives the Leafs PK a big boost. he can also play a shutdown role against teams top two lines.

Bottom six Centre's were a real weakness for the Leafs. They fixed this in spades.
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interesting...i automatically assumed they bring him in for top 2 LW role....but 3C would not be bad spot..it could be situational too...

[Axeman33]

I just figured Foligno was a winger who took a lot of draws, much like JT Miller in Vancouver.

[2014olympicgold]

I just figured Foligno was a winger who took a lot of draws, much like JT Miller in Vancouver.

In a pinch I think he can legit be a center, but I wouldn't want him as my legit center. But he def helps the Leafs, in an injury situation he can def fill a void.

[lucafen4]

If you look at his advanced numbers there are few forwards that suppress high danger scoring chances like Foligno across the league. Leafs have no one on their roster like Foligno.
It fills a massive void for this team.

[lucafen4]

I just figured Foligno was a winger who took a lot of draws, much like JT Miller in Vancouver.

I think you're right. I'm not sure why I was so convinced he's been more of a pure C his entire career.

[hockeyrobot]

That's a lot to give up for Foligno....

Eeeeeeek

[Feenom]

This is dumb. What does this player do for the Leafs?

Bang on

[ericdaoust]

He fought that one time

[rataylor22]

“The Leafs don’t need Hall they have enough skill” LMAO

[tweetdrivr]

Well revived on this one HR!

[2014olympicgold]

I'm still a believer Hall isn't what the team needed when the team has Tavares.

Curious what Foligno played with in terms of injury the last 3 games. He was a statue then, and his minutes were incredibly dialed back.

[Axeman33]

Hard to say but I dont think Hall was going to change much here, much like Foligno didnt change much. Toronto lost because it's main guns (who got the prime icetime) were firing blanks when they needed goals. Hall would have been secondary scoring and not giving a chance to produce much when needed. Foligno was brought in for other reasons than scoring. Defense, leadership, etc and those are all things Hall wouldn't have offered.

[tweetdrivr]

Well the results speak for themselves. I stand by my assertion that Foligno was not player they needed. In view of how nicely and effectively Hall has slotted into a skilled Bruins top 6 it’s really difficult to understand why you guys believe Hall would not have been a really nice piece for the Leafs to add.

[2014olympicgold]

Well the results speak for themselves. I stand by my assertion that Foligno was not player they needed. In view of how nicely and effectively Hall has slotted into a skilled Bruins top 6 it’s really difficult to understand why you guys believe Hall would not have been a really piece for the Leafs to add.

It's because hypothetical situations are hard.

If Tavares isn't hurt, does Toronto need a LW for that JT-Nylander-Kerfoot line that was realllllyyyy good? Right? It's hard to say anything when JT goes down and completely changes their lines.

When I looked at the Leafs lineup, I thought Toronto needed someone who was defensive, could slot into center hear and there, and was a PK, 3rd/2nd liner. The offense came from guys on the roster already, the PP was ok at the deadline, no injuries were really out there to show a flawed offensive depth.

Leafs LW were Hyman, Kerfoot, Mikheyev, Thornton (eyeroll), and the Leafs were using LW that would retrieve the puck for the other guys on the lines. Hall isn't that guy. Obviously when JT goes down, you needed a play driver on that line, and Hall with Nylander would have been fantastic.

[Axeman33]

Well the results speak for themselves. I stand by my assertion that Foligno was not player they needed. In view of how nicely and effectively Hall has slotted into a skilled Bruins top 6 it’s really difficult to understand why you guys believe Hall would not have been a really nice piece for the Leafs to add.

It's easy to say "what if" but we really dont know if Hall would have gelled as well in Toronto as he has with Krejci in Boston.