2022 Line Combinations

[Byron Bitz]

What line combinations would you like to see next season? Below is what I think we should go with to start the year. These are with a prediction that Holmberg, Robertson and Anderson all look good in training camp to earn spots.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Holmberg-Jarnkrok-Robertson
Engvel-Kampf-Anderson
Simmonds

Rielly-Liljegren
Muzzin-Brodie
Giordano-Holl

Murray
Samsonov

PP1
Matthew-Tavares-Nylander
Rielly-Marner

Click to read more...

 

[ACC1224]

What line combinations would you like to see next season? Below is what I think we should go with to start the year. These are with a prediction that Holmberg, Robertson, Steeves and Anderson all look good in training camp to earn spots.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Holmberg-Jarnkrok-Robertson
Steeves-Kampf-Anderson
Simmonds

Rielly-Liljegren
Muzzin-Brodie
Giordano-Holl

Murray
Samsonov

PP1
Matthew-Tavares-Nylander
Rielly-Marner

Is that lineup Cap compliant?

 

[Notsince67]

What line combinations would you like to see next season? Below is what I think we should go with to start the year. These are with a prediction that Holmberg, Robertson, Steeves and Anderson all look good in training camp to earn spots.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Holmberg-Jarnkrok-Robertson
Steeves-Kampf-Anderson
Simmonds

Rielly-Liljegren
Muzzin-Brodie
Giordano-Holl

Murray
Samsonov

PP1
Matthew-Tavares-Nylander
Rielly-Marner

2nd line is a dog that won't hunt. Worse chemistry possible.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

It really won't make much difference what our forwards look like until we get tender and defense at championship level .. no one really cares about regular season play with this team .. it is a warm up for playoff hockey success

 

[notbias]

2nd line is a dog that won't hunt. Worse chemistry possible.

That line has been great at times, and Tavares/Kerfoot both hunt for pucks, and I think Nylander is generally high in takeaways...

Is that lineup Cap compliant?

I saw someone in another thread quite confident we can be cap-compliant game 1 without making any moves, but it doesn't make sense to me. I figure we will have to get someone for LTIR or trade someone.

Anyway, here is my shot at the opening lineup.

What I think may be close to realistic (I think the 4th line at LW/C is the only question):

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Engvall - Kampf - Jarnkrok
Simmonds - Holmberg - NAK

Rielly - Liljegren
Muzzin - Brodie
Gio - Holl

Murray
Samsonov


What I hope:

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Robertson - Tavares - NAK
Kerfoot - Jarnkrok - Nylander
Holmberg - Kampf - Engvall

Rielly - Liljegren
Muzzin - Brodie
Gio - Holl

Murray
Samsonov

 

[Byron Bitz]

2nd line is a dog that won't hunt. Worse chemistry possible.

If that ends up being the case we will switch things up

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

It really won't make much difference what our forwards look like until we get tender and defense at championship level .. no one really cares about regular season play with this team .. it is a warm up for playoff hockey success

I care. I spend a lot of hours winding down after the bullshit of real life.

Do some of you watch every game wringing your hands about what might happen in the playoffs? Why?

Also, I agree with goaltending, but I would argue our D was fine last year and that it was the inconsistency of the forwards which really hampered us in terms of skaters. I quite like our defence.

 

[CanHeDoIt99]

Robertson - Matthews - Nylander
Bunting - Tavares - Marner
Jarnkrok Kampf Engvall
Kubel Kerfoot Steeves

Muzzin Brodie
Rielly Liljegren
Giordano Holl/Sandin

Kerfoot gets traded insert Marlie - can move some guys around but prefer Robertson gets an extended look in the top six to start. Genuinely think they need to give a bunch of Marlies a shot to stick, then go into the trade deadline with the largest sample knowing who can play there, who can't, and address needs then.

 

[Leaf Fans]

It really won't make much difference what our forwards look like until we get tender and defense at championship level .. no one really cares about regular season play with this team .. it is a warm up for playoff hockey success

I will be enjoying every game up to and including the playoffs.

 

[Oscar Peterson]

Kerfoot shouldn't be playing in the top 6
Problem is I have no idea who should be instead... I'd at least give Engvall-Tavares-Nylander a look, they played a couple of games together in the 2020-21 season and managed to score at least one goal, maybe two, can't remember
Would be crazy to break up Bunting-Matthews-Marner (unless we find out that we desperately need Marner to drive another line which shouldn't be the case with Tavares and Nylander on the team), that line is just absurd and they have incredible chemistry.

I also haven't been really following our prospects too much to know who might be able to make the jump. The best possible case is that Robertson is ready to take a LW spot on line 2, but based on what we've seen when he's been called up, I'm highly highly skeptical that he is. Joey Anderson had a couple of decent games in his last stint but is largely unimpressive, maybe he is an upgrade on Simmonds' spot last year but that's not really saying much. I see lots of talk here about Pontus Holmberg so it will be fun to see him in training camp.

 

[tmlfan98]

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Jarnkrok-Tavares-Nylander
Kerfoot-Kampf-Engvall
ZAR-Gaudette-NAK

Muzzin-Brodie
Rielly-Liljegren
Giordano-Holl

 

[SprDaVE]

I still refuse to believe the Leafs are done tinkering but perhaps it's time to accept that it's gonna be a weird start to the season.

The goaltenders are obvious. The defensive depth obvious. The forwards are really hard to figure out and it will come down to whatever happens in the next couple weeks and training camp. The Leafs have no cap space to spare, so right now they can't carry spares.

This is how I see the season starting. Who knows what happens throughout the season though.

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Engvall - Kampf - Jarnkrok
Simmonds - Gaudette - NAK

Anderson and Robertson should be among the last few cuts or whatever but if there's an injury or they play very well, I could see Simmonds and/or Gaudette cut. Not sure Anderson makes it through waivers either.

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Liljegren
Gio - Holl

Seems obvious. Sandin probably will rotate in if he signs.

Murray
Samsonov

 

[notbias]

Kerfoot shouldn't be playing in the top 6
Problem is I have no idea who should be instead... I'd at least give Engvall-Tavares-Nylander a look, they played a couple of games together in the 2020-21 season and managed to score at least one goal, maybe two, can't remember
Would be crazy to break up Bunting-Matthews-Marner (unless we find out that we desperately need Marner to drive another line which shouldn't be the case with Tavares and Nylander on the team), that line is just absurd and they have incredible chemistry.

Kerfoot just put up 50pts without almost any PP time... which is REALLY good.

 

[Oscar Peterson]

Kerfoot just put up 50pts without almost any PP time... which is REALLY good.

It is an impressive achievement and I love his work ethic I just don't see him doing that again, also I feel like he kills a lot of offense for our other star players... he butchers just about every 2 on 1 or high-end passing play.

 

[notbias]

It is an impressive achievement and I love his work ethic I just don't see him doing that again, also I feel like he kills a lot of offense for our other star players... he butchers just about every 2 on 1 or high-end passing play.

haha it sounds like you are describing Hyman to me.

Kerfoot is probably better suited on a lower skill line, but he is fine in the top 6.

I think just based on his linemates he could do 50 again.

I agree he kills offense for some stars, but I don't think he does any more than a Palat, Hyman, or Bunting.

Maybe they switch Jarnkrok and Kerfoot.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I care. I spend a lot of hours winding down after the bullshit of real life.

Do some of you watch every game wringing your hands about what might happen in the playoffs? Why?

Also, I agree with goaltending, but I would argue our D was fine last year and that it was the inconsistency of the forwards which really hampered us in terms of skaters. I quite like our defence.

I get it .. I have been going now for 20+ years every night to Scotia (except covid years) and Marlies games too at Ricoh .. maybe it is da covid and some hockey buddies not going anymore which has reduced my interest in making da trip downtown .. i just got to point now where i really don't care about regular season hockey anymore .. i will go again this year on occasion after my omicron booster but going to leave it up to you younger guys to cheer da boys on .. GLG

 

[Oscar Peterson]

haha it sounds like you are describing Hyman to me.

Kerfoot is probably better suited on a lower skill line, but he is fine in the top 6.

I think just based on his linemates he could do 50 again.

I agree he kills offense for some stars, but I don't think he does any more than a Palat, Hyman, or Bunting.

Maybe they switch Jarnkrok and Kerfoot.

Have you ever watched Palat or Bunting? Lol they are both extremely crafty players, far more than Kerfoot. Palat is a great passer so I have no idea what you're talking about there. Actually he would be the perfect fit for that JT line LW imo. Kerfoot has better hands than Hyman and a similar motor but Hyman had better offensive IQ and is better at tying up guys in the corner. I would be shocked if Kerfoot puts up anywhere near 50 points at ES again in his career... it's a rare achievement for most in the league and it felt like a fluke more so than him being an offensive even-strength wizard.

 

[LeafEgo]

Kerfoot shouldn't be playing in the top 6
Problem is I have no idea who should be instead... I'd at least give Engvall-Tavares-Nylander a look, they played a couple of games together in the 2020-21 season and managed to score at least one goal, maybe two, can't remember
Would be crazy to break up Bunting-Matthews-Marner (unless we find out that we desperately need Marner to drive another line which shouldn't be the case with Tavares and Nylander on the team), that line is just absurd and they have incredible chemistry.

I also haven't been really following our prospects too much to know who might be able to make the jump. The best possible case is that Robertson is ready to take a LW spot on line 2, but based on what we've seen when he's been called up, I'm highly highly skeptical that he is. Joey Anderson had a couple of decent games in his last stint but is largely unimpressive, maybe he is an upgrade on Simmonds' spot last year but that's not really saying much. I see lots of talk here about Pontus Holmberg so it will be fun to see him in training camp.

That LW2 spot is a tricky one. Hard to see how Kerfoot will even be around as an option. Robertson or Knies would be a blessing if it works but a long shot that needs a backup plan.

I'd probably try Sandin there before Engvall.

 

[Byron Bitz]

That LW2 spot is a tricky one. Hard to see how Kerfoot will even be around as an option. Robertson or Knies would be a blessing if it works but a long shot that needs a backup plan.

I'd probably try Sandin there before Engvall.

I don’t want Engvel in the top 6, too many plays die on his stick.

 

[notbias]

Have you ever watched Palat or Bunting? Lol they are both extremely crafty players, far more than Kerfoot. Palat is a great passer so I have no idea what you're talking about there. Actually he would be the perfect fit for that JT line LW imo. Kerfoot has better hands than Hyman and a similar motor but Hyman had better offensive IQ and is better at tying up guys in the corner. I would be shocked if Kerfoot puts up anywhere near 50 points at ES again in his career... it's a rare achievement for most in the league and it felt like a fluke more so than him being an offensive even-strength wizard.

Hyman has 0 offensive IQ, and I think you're severally underestimating Kerfoot's ability.

 

[tmlfan98]

Engvall has shown over a respectable sample size that (like Kapanen before him) does not have the complimentary skillset needed to play on either the Matthews or Tavares line. He's a 3rd liner tops.

 

[Notsince67]

1

That line has been great at times, and Tavares/Kerfoot both hunt for pucks, and I think Nylander is generally high in takeaways...



I saw someone in another thread quite confident we can be cap-compliant game 1 without making any moves, but it doesn't make sense to me. I figure we will have to get someone for LTIR or trade someone.

Anyway, here is my shot at the opening lineup.

What I think may be close to realistic (I think the 4th line at LW/C is the only question):

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Engvall - Kampf - Jarnkrok
Simmonds - Holmberg - NAK

Rielly - Liljegren
Muzzin - Brodie
Gio - Holl

Murray
Samsonov


What I hope:

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Robertson - Tavares - NAK
Kerfoot - Jarnkrok - Nylander
Holmberg - Kampf - Engvall

Rielly - Liljegren
Muzzin - Brodie
Gio - Holl

Murray
Samsonov

That line lets in too many goals. Need a better defensive forward if we keep Nylander and Tavares together. Kerfoot is a chemistry issue thrown on top of an already identified chemistry issue between Tavares and Nylander. On paper there is nothing wrong with the line but in practice, it just doesn't cut it.

 

[Jacquestrapless]

Bunting- Matthews- Marner
Milano - Tavares - Rodrigues
Engvall - Jarnkrok- Nylander
NAC - Kampf - ZAR

 

[bicboi64]

Non-leafer here, and had a quick question. Why doesn't Marner play with Tavares? I feel like Matthews is going to be a goal threat on every shift regardless of who he plays with, and Nylander can still enter the zone at an elite level. Meanwhile, Tavares had his best goal scoring season with Marner on his wing. Wouldn't it balance out scoring and bring out the best in both lines with Marner on the second line?

 

[crump]

Players I hope/expect to be competing for spots in camp
Robertson
Simmonds
Malgin
Clifford
Gaudette
ZAR
Anderson
Steeves
Abruzzese
Abramov
Holmberg
Douglas


Barring trades and injuries I expect these are the names going for 2 spots. Kampf will probably be 3rd like C just because of trust level and need for covering higher minute opposition.

Leaves 4th line centre and a winger Spot available. Waivers will play a role so I think the likes of Holmberg Steves and Robertson etc might be looking at demotion unless they explode in camp.

Gaudette having some 2 way ability may be a favourite for the 4th line centre with a look at the 2nd PP unit.

So leaving ZAR Anderson Malgin Simmonds Clifford fighting it out for the left wing spot on 4th line

(Edit: forgot Malgin...easy to do)