Thought it would be fun to look at the roster and lines St. Louis Iced to win the Stanley Cup in 2019 under Craig Berube....and compare to the what we have with the Leafs now
The lines were:
Jaden Schwartz--Brayden Schenn--Vladimir Tarasenko
Sammy Blais--Ryan O’Reilly--David Perron
Pat Maroon--Tyler Bozak--Robert Thomas
Ivan Barbashev--Oskar Sundqvist--Alex Steen
Joel Edmundson--Alex Pietrangelo
Jay Bouwmeester--Colton Parayko
Carl Gunnarsson--Robert Bortuzzo
Binnington
Are we close to matching that level of depth and firepower? If not, what are we missing and how far are we?
I will take the unpopular opinion and say, yeah we
might match that level of depth. Of course, it would require some growth and development, things that could come from another year or experience and a new coach...the coach that guided that Blues team to a cup.
Schwartz - Schenn - Tarasenko
Knies - Matthews - Domi
This Blues line combined in the regular season for 61 goals and 158 points. The Leafs trio obviously surpasses this with ease and with Matthew and Knies are at least as strong defensively. The Blue #1 put up 28 goals and 51 playoffs points.
Blais - O'Rielly - Perron
Jarnkrok - Nylander - Marner
This Blues line combined in the regular system for 53 goals and 127 points, chipping in 16 and 41 in the playoffs. Obviously the Leafs offer more firepower and a couple of strong and versatile defenders. Can they lift their game when it matters. Not so far, but did I mention we have a new coach?
Maroon - Bozak - Thomas
McMann - Tavares - Robertson
This Blues line combined in the regular system for 32 goals and 99 points, chipping in 9 and 26 in the playoffs. These Leafs can top this, no? This was rookie season Thomas. Robertson or maybe even Cowan could contribute his offense from that year.
Barbashev - Sundqvist - Steen
Holmberg - Kampf - Dewar
The fourth line? Who knows. It is not about offensive output. Our group has some utility as checkers and PK. This one would look different come playoffs. Maybe we add a vet or two at the deadline. Maybe Grebyonkin or Cowan or Holmberg crack the top nine and Jarnkrok or McMann join the bottom line.
As for the D. St. Louis was solid, can we match this?
Joel Edmundson - Alex Pietrangelo
Rielly - Tanev
If Tanev is healthy and on his game and this helps Mo raise his game, we could match these guys or at least not be too far behind.
Jay Bouwmeester - Colton Parayko
McCabe - Hakanpaa
If Hakanpaa is healthy, we got him for the playoffs and he can bring the size and grit of Parayko and McCabe can bring at least what the 35 year old Bouwmeester did.
Carl Gunnarsson--Robert Bortuzzo
Ekman-Larsson - Benoit
It seems like a pretty good matchup here. The Leafs must have the edge here too, no? Liljegren could factor in here somehow as could a deadline pickup.
Binnington
Woll or Stolarz
Binnington wasn't Binnington until he went on a heater. Woll or Stolarz are both capable of this.
The question was could we match the depth of the lineup Berube won a cup with? Yes. We can. We need health and we need some development and some chemistry come playoff time we have yet to see. This is why the coaching change was so necessary. Berube might have the pieces he needs here, if he can get the most out of them.