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2022 Line Combinations

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zeke said:
True they weren't dominant. But they did outplay their opposition and were the most productive 2nd line in hockey. Could be worse.
Click to expand...
They barely were above a draw. We all expect more deploying Tavares and Nylander. If they are together, they need a quick defensive forward (not named Kerfoot)
I would try Willy on the left and Jarnkrok on the right to start. Willy plays an interesting game on the left anyways. He might actually be stronger there.
Jarnkrok is a defensive first forward with speed and center skill. He is a 200 ft player.
 
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Notsince67 said:
They barely were above a draw. We all expect more deploying Tavares and Nylander. If they are together, they need a quick defensive forward (not named Kerfoot)
I would try Willy on the left and Jarnkrok on the right to start. Willy plays an interesting game on the left anyways. He might actually be stronger there.
Jarnkrok is a defensive first forward with speed and center skill. He is a 200 ft player.
Click to expand...

I'd be interested in seeing any of engvall, kerf, jarnkrok, robbie getting the extended look there, tbh.

I wouldn't even be opposed to splitting them up and mixing the 2nd and 3rd lines.

A lot of options open up on those two lines if coach feels comfortable with using a ZAR-Kampf-NAK line against tough competition.
 
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Notsince67 said:
They barely were above a draw. We all expect more deploying Tavares and Nylander. If they are together, they need a quick defensive forward (not named Kerfoot)
I would try Willy on the left and Jarnkrok on the right to start. Willy plays an interesting game on the left anyways. He might actually be stronger there.
Jarnkrok is a defensive first forward with speed and center skill. He is a 200 ft player.
Click to expand...

The stats with Nylander on the left side, aren't very good.

People talk about Tavares, and some mention that he needs to get back to his first year stats with us... But I think you are heading in the right direction with your thoughts... this line needs to focus on being better defensively, in particular Nylander. 3.8 GA/60 for both Nylander and Tavares are the poorest results for any full time forward on the Leafs last year. Just get that number down some, and not only will it play dividends in the regular season, but becoming stronger defensively, will sure help in the playoffs.
 
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Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Kerfoot - Tavares - Nylander
Engvall - Kampf - Jarnkrok
NAK - Gaudette - ZAR
Robertson/Simmonds

Rielly Liljegren
Muzzin Brodie
Giordano Holl
Mete/Benn
 
Fogelhund said:
The stats with Nylander on the left side, aren't very good.

People talk about Tavares, and some mention that he needs to get back to his first year stats with us... But I think you are heading in the right direction with your thoughts... this line needs to focus on being better defensively, in particular Nylander. 3.8 GA/60 for both Nylander and Tavares are the poorest results for any full time forward on the Leafs last year. Just get that number down some, and not only will it play dividends in the regular season, but becoming stronger defensively, will sure help in the playoffs.
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I think there isn't a sufficient sample size to assess that. By far, the bulk of his experiences on the left, predate the leafs. Not saying it is a slam dunk or anything but it might encourage him to play more east west with the puck than his patented north south north zone entry move. I get it....I'm now conflating a different issue but I really want to see the kid thrive so I'm selling a set of tires with the proposal on top of the improved defense.

I agree with everything else you said. That second line must have better goal differentials. Let the two bulls do what they do and bring in someone who can shore up the defense without materially costing offense
 
Notsince67 said:
I think there isn't a sufficient sample size to assess that. By far, the bulk of his experiences on the left, predate the leafs. Not saying it is a slam dunk or anything but it might encourage him to play more east west with the puck than his patented north south north zone entry move. I get it....I'm now conflating a different issue but I really want to see the kid thrive so I'm selling a set of tires with the proposal on top of the improved defense.

I agree with everything else you said. That second line must have better goal differentials. Let the two bulls do what they do and bring in someone who can shore up the defense without materially costing offense
Click to expand...
This is why I legitimately think they should go with Engvall on the left of Tavares/Nylander. He's actually produced pretty well in the lower roles he's been given. He's got speed to compensate for Tavares. And crucially, he's good defensively.

Jarknkrok has next to no offense left to give at this point. I'd throw him with Kampf and ZAR for the zero-things-happening line.
 
bossram said:
This is why I legitimately think they should go with Engvall on the left of Tavares/Nylander. He's actually produced pretty well in the lower roles he's been given. He's got speed to compensate for Tavares. And crucially, he's good defensively.

Jarknkrok has next to no offense left to give at this point. I'd throw him with Kampf and ZAR for the zero-things-happening line.
Click to expand...
Its a possibility. I am not emotionally attached to anything really except my opposition to a Nylander, Tavares and Kerfoot line. I would rather see the 1st line broken up than to see that monstrosity iced again.
 
Opening day lines last year (Matthews, Mikheyev injured):

Ritchie-Tavares-Marner
Bunting-Kerfoot-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Kase


1st game healthy Matthews (Mikheyev injured):

Ritchie-Matthews-Marner
Bunting-Tavares-Nylander
Kerfoot-Kampf-Kase


Game 7 of the season (Mikheyev injured):

Bunting-Matthews-Nylander
Kerfoot-Tavares-Marner
Engvall-Kampf-Kase

Stayed that way until game 17 when we saw the Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander line for the first time (Mikheyev still injured):

Ritchie-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Kase

Wasn;t until game 21 that we saw the regular top-6 for the first time:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Ritchie-Kampf-Kase


Wasn't until game 25 that we figured out that Engvall deserved better than the 4th line and Ritchie just stunk (Mikky):

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Kase


Marner's injury bought Ritchie some more games in the top 9 but then Mikky was healthy for game 30 (Marner injured):

Bunting-Matthews-Kase
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Mikheyev


Game 32 Marner comes back. Kase is injured but he might have been out of the top 9 already:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Mikheyev


Game 39 all the forwards were healthy for the first time all year, and Keefe decided to mix things up:

Bunting-Matthews-Kase
Mikheyev-Tavares-Marner
Kerfoot-Kampf-Nylander
Simmonds-Engvall-Spezza

That only lasted 2 games and then by game 41 back to normal lines though with Kase still ahead of Engvall:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Kampf-Kase
Simmonds-Engvall-Spezza


Game 51 Keefe tried to mix up the 2nd and 3rd lines:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Nylander-Tavares-Kase
Kerfoot-Kampf-Mikheyev


Kase gets injured again though and by Game 51 we're back to normal:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Mikheyev


But the next game Keefe decides to give Robertson a shot on the Tavares line and Kerf is demoted all the way to line 4:

Bunting-Matthews-marner
Robertson-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Mikheyev
Simmonds-Kerfoot-Spezza


Game 58 Kase comes back again and with a healthy forward lineup AND Robertson up with the team Keefe tries what is IMO his most interesting lineup of the season:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Kase
Simmonds-Kerfoot-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Mikheyev


only lasts one game, Robertson gets yanked fromt he lineup, but the next game it's still Kerf on the 4th line....

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Nylander-Tavares-Kase
Engvall-Kampf-Mikheeyv
Simmonds-Kerfoot-Spezza


Keefe sticks with this 2nd line until Kase gets injured again, so in game 63 it's back to the old top 9 and with blackwell now in on the 4th line:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Mikheyev
Simmonds-Blackwell-Spezza



Keefe still not totally happy so in game 67 he tries mixing up the 2nd and 3rd lines again:

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Mikheyev
Engvall-Kampf-Nylander
Clifford-Blackwell-Spezza

It pretty much stays that way for a good 10gms until the Matthews injury makes Keefe go loco:


Game 76

Mikheyev-Tavares-Marner
Engvall-Kerfoot-Nylander
Bunting-Kampf-Blackwell
Simmonds-Abruzzese-Spezza

Game 77

Mikheyev-Tavares-Blackwell
Engvall-Kerfoot-Nylander
Bunting-Abruzzese-Marner
Simmonds-Kampf-Speezza




Matthews comes back in game 78 but Keefe still not settled;


Bunting-Matthews-marner
Engvall-Tavares-Mikheyev
Nylander-Kerfoot-Kase
Blackwell-Kampf-Spezza


and then bunting got injured and Tavares too, Game 80:


Abruzzese-Matthews-Marner
Engvall-Kerfoot-Nylander
Mikeyev-Kampf-Simmonds
Clifford-Blackwell-Spezza


Game 81 still a mess:

Kerfoot-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Mikheyev
Engvall-Kerfoot-Nylander
Blackwell-Abruzzese-Spezza





TL;dr Keefe tried pretty much everything last year, and certainly wasn't wedded to kerf on the 2nd line.
 
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Notsince67 said:
Its a possibility. I am not emotionally attached to anything really except my opposition to a Nylander, Tavares and Kerfoot line. I would rather see the 1st line broken up than to see that monstrosity iced again.
Click to expand...
My preference too, but I think Keefe will be reluctant to do so.
 
bossram said:
The only time he went away from his established first line was when Matthews was out. So I'm not counting on it.
Click to expand...
Ah...I see what you mean. I agree that he likely wont break up the first line but it is very likely we won't see a Tavares, Nylander Kerfoot line as well.
 
I like the option of carrying a couple of guys for mixing and matching, but can’t see it with Kerf around. There’s lots of options.
Hoping JoeyA and Malgin have big camps.
 
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bossram said:
The only time he went away from his established first line was when Matthews was out. So I'm not counting on it.
Click to expand...
I agree that based on his track record it seems unlikely Keefe will split up Marner and Matthews, but I really think this should be considered.

Obviously they are great together, but it could make the team stronger to give each of them a line to drive in their own.

Bunting / Matthews / Nylander
Robertson / Tavares / Marner

Marner brings defense to that second line too and that's important. Those two linemate might really give Robertson what he needs to succeed also, which would be a boon for the Leafs this year.

I think Matthews is good enough to excel at ES without MM and he has chemistry with Bunting and Nylander is not exactly a weak link.

Bottom six:

Engvall / Kampf / Jarnkrok
ZAR / Kerfoot / NAK

If Robertson is not the answer you move Kerfoot up to join JT and MM and hope he gets better results than he does with JT and Willy. You can add Gaudette or Anderson or Robertson to that fourth line.
 
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We will have to wait to see it, but with the style and pace that Tavares plays with, I really think Knies on JT’s LW will be a really good fit, and it’s why I think Dubas is reluctant to pay or make a big effort to improve on Kerfoot at 2nd LW.

Bunting-Matthews-Nylander
Knies-Tavares-Marner

is something I hope we get to see once the collegiate season is over.

While I know Matthews-Marner is an amazing pairing, Marner also works well with Tavares and can take the focus and urge off of Knies to try to do too much, and keep it simple.

Knies can skate, win battles and finish. I think he is good enough that he can grow on that line with 2 highly skilled and veteran players like Tavares and Marner, while having the Matthews line match up against the top opposition forwards and defences.

If he is who we think he is, I think he is a better stylistic fit for Tavares than Robertson is.

Here’s hoping both of them are everything we hope they are!
 
Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Engvall - Tavares - Kerfoot
Robertson - Jarnkrok - Nylander
ZAR - Kampf - NAK
Anderson

Rielly Liljegren
Muzzin Brodie
Giordano Sandin
Mete/Benn

Holl moved for cap
 
Notsince67 said:
I think there isn't a sufficient sample size to assess that. By far, the bulk of his experiences on the left, predate the leafs. Not saying it is a slam dunk or anything but it might encourage him to play more east west with the puck than his patented north south north zone entry move. I get it....I'm now conflating a different issue but I really want to see the kid thrive so I'm selling a set of tires with the proposal on top of the improved defense.

I agree with everything else you said. That second line must have better goal differentials. Let the two bulls do what they do and bring in someone who can shore up the defense without materially costing offense
Click to expand...
There's some nuances of moving from RW to LW at NHL level that Willy hasn't had the time or reps to learn yet, but I'm sure it wouldn't take him long to learn them at all, he's a smart kid on the ice.

I actually kind of like the idea of Jarnkrok on the other wing. The line desperately needs a guy who's got some defensive conscious. Granted I haven't seen a lot of the guy over his career, but from what I did see he didn't look completely offensively inept either.
 
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IPS said:
There's some nuances of moving from RW to LW at NHL level that Willy hasn't had the time or reps to learn yet, but I'm sure it wouldn't take him long to learn them at all, he's a smart kid on the ice.

I actually kind of like the idea of Jarnkrok on the other wing. The line desperately needs a guy who's got some defensive conscious. Granted I haven't seen a lot of the guy over his career, but from what I did see he didn't look completely offensively inept either.
Click to expand...
It isn't like Jarnkrok couldn't play on the left.
Take a look at some of his goals
 
Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Robertson - Tavares - Nylander
Engval - Kampf - Jarnkrok
ZAR - Kerfoot - NAK

Rielly - Liljegren
Muzzin - Brody
Giordano - Holl

Kerfoot would obviously be an overpaid 4th line C, but it would be a pesky line.

Robertson need an extended look in the top 6. He definitely doesn’t fit on either of the bottom 2 lines. Unfortunately seeing as how he is waiver exempt (basically the only player contending for a spot) he will more than likely yo-yo. Hopefully he blows everyone away from the get go.
 
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