Long thought to be the Toronto Maple Leafs biggest need, most people might be surprised to learn that the Leafs already have a top-pairing right-side defenseman.
His name is Robert Paulson.
Opps, soory, I meant: His Name is Jake Gardiner.
Last year, the Toronto Maple Leafs used Ron Hainsey almost exclusively with Morgan Rielly on the top pairing. Despite being too old, too slow, and a huge drag on Rielly, Hainsey – a left handed shot – played almost exclusively with the Leafs young star. You can see in the WOWYs (with you, without you) how badly Hainsey effected Rielly’s game:
Rielly and Hainsey together: 49.