Changes needed?

[hobarth]

I'm not impressed so far this year, the team already looks stale, it will continue to win enough to make the playoffs but that isn't enough for me and most Leaf fans, anymore.

After 8 games TO's big 4 has 19 goals, the rest of the team 10 goals.

How bad is this, Knies has 9 shots, Domi 10 shots, Jarnkrok 12, Klingberg 8 shots on the #1 PP unit, Kampf 4. These players are expected to contribute to the offense but with 1/10th of the season done it looks like the team outside of the top 4 forwards might be capable of 100 goals, I don't think that's a winning combo.

There might be different things that can be done to improve the scoring imbalance, it's this imbalance that has consistently hogtied the Leafs come playoff time, during the regular season having so few do the scoring works because there are so many weak teams, in the playoffs the weaker teams have been weeded out.

What can be done with TO's current lineup to address the imbalance, I think 2 different approaches should be attempted. 1)strengthen the top 6, right now TO has it's top 5 forwards on the top 2 lines, Jarnkrok doesn't deserve to be there if TO was truly expecting the top 2 lines to carry the offense. I would think either Domi or Knies should be on those top 2 lines to replace Jarnkrok. 2)strengthen the 3rd line, Kampf shouldn't be on the top 3 lines, he is where offense goes to die. In this scenario Jarnkrok could be on the top 2 lines, I would think a decent 3rd line could be assembled with Tie, Knies and Bert.

I can remember my being impressed by Gregor when he played for SJ last year, he isn't shouldn't be on any team's top 2 lines but for the sake of balance, he might be a player that could be promoted, so far this year he's been playing 9:46 ATOI and he's only had 1 goal off of 22 shots. Only 3 players on the Leafs have more shots than Gregor, what might he do with quality linemates?

I like the balanced approach, I think Gregor might be an unmined diamond, Knies is being wasted on any line with Kampf as the center.

So I'm thinking:

Gregor/AM/MM
Jarnkrok/JT/WN
Knies/Tie/Bert
Robertson/Kampf/Blandisi

Reaves is entertaining and probably can continue on TO's 4th line getting around 7 mins. per but finding productivity for every line is probably more ideal, Blandisi has been a decent AHL player and he plays with attitude.

Click to read more...

 

[Budz22]

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I like Gregor, but him on the first line is ridiculous

 

[PROUD PAPA]

I think there are still some chemistry issues to sort out. I’m fine with giving things more time but even then I think it should be more a tinkering adjustment.

 

[hobarth]

I like Gregor, but him on the first line is ridiculous

Vegas has been built on other teams castaways/undervalued, Karlsson, Marchessault and Stephenson are examples of players who no team would've/should've viewed as quality NHLers but they are/became the bedrock of a Stanley Cup winner.

Bunting is another example of a player who was never given a primetime role until basically he landed in TO.

I doubt that Jarnkrok could generate 22 shots by this time of the year on any of the Leaf's lines, so why is he on the top 2 lines ever?

I haven't done a thorough research of Vegas' roster but I think they only have like 3 draft choices of their own on the roster and all of their stars are from other teams, drafting is one way but it's not the only way to build a winner. Falling in love with any player, even the home grown, is not a good idea to build a true winner(meaning playoffs) after many years of not reaching the ultimate goal.

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Bunting is another example of a player who was never given a primetime role until basically he landed in TO.

Bunting had only played 26 total NHL games before landing in Toronto, what roll did you expect him to carve out exactly?

I doubt that Jarnkrok could generate 22 shots by this time of the year on any of the Leaf's lines, so why is he on the top 2 lines ever?

Yet in your mock lines you have him.... on the top 2 lines.

 

[RunItBackAgain]

Need. Zadorov.

 

[Burnie97]

Leafs are 5-2-1 ... Sammy has struggled quite a bit and the d has been just alright. Yet the record is still very solid.

Then everyone goes well only reason is the core 4 ... but then loses it when they're bad for 1 game.

Can't win.

I'm not saying they don't need another stud D or a better 3C but better becareful how they go about doing that.

Worrying about them right now with this record and early in the season is a bit much.

It will come down to the playoffs like it always does and it's more about the balance of scoring in the playoffs and grinding it out.

 

[MK78]

Reaves has been unbelievably bad. Borderline unplayable IMO.

 

[hobarth]

Bunting had only played 26 total NHL games before landing in Toronto, what roll did you expect him to carve out exactly?


Yet in your mock lines you have him.... on the top 2 lines.

Exactly for Bunting, he wasn't given a chance, different team, different coach, given opportunity, even after scoring 10 goals in 21 games Arizona still didn't want to resign him?

My choices need to be grounded in TO's reality, Keefe loves Jarnkrok, I personally don't see anything good in his game, he managed 20 goals last year playing on TO's top 2 lines but at the same time he wasted so many opportunities.

Knowing that Jarnkrok and Kampf are untouchable on Keefe's Leafs is just the way it is. Last year Jarnkrok was even a waste on TO's 3rd line, even against weaker competition he and Kampf couldn't generate anything positive offensively, he's the epitome of a 4th liner that is easily replaceable, I think AM and MM or JT and WN can generate enough offense in spite of having the Jarkrok anchor so having him on the 1st/2nd line is a necessary evil to balance out the rest of the roster which is something I think TO has been missing in the playoffs.

Any Leaf fan knows how highly valued Jarnkrok and Kampf are to Keefe, he loves Kampf so much that he was given a $2.4 mil. per contract this year.

 

[ACC1224]

Thread seems a tad premature

 

[StevenB]

Buddy is a professional yapper

 

[TheGreatOne11]

A lot of new faces, gotta give them some time to gel and find chemistry.

The records good for how terrible Samsonov has been, but I see Woll taking the reigns of #1 soon enough. That will right the ship in a way as well.

You always play better when you trust the man behind you in-between the pipes.

 

[TMLAM34]

3C and a defensive partner for Rielly are basically the needs atm.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

A lot of new faces, gotta give them some time to gel and find chemistry.

The records good for how terrible Samsonov has been, but I see Woll taking the reigns of #1 soon enough. That will right the ship in a way as well.

You always play better when you trust the man behind you in-between the pipes.

So true. I was a two-way d-man but when the wrong guy was in our net I was a stay at home guy.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I'm not impressed so far this year, the team already looks stale, it will continue to win enough to make the playoffs but that isn't enough for me and most Leaf fans, anymore.

After 8 games TO's big 4 has 19 goals, the rest of the team 10 goals.

How bad is this, Knies has 9 shots, Domi 10 shots, Jarnkrok 12, Klingberg 8 shots on the #1 PP unit, Kampf 4. These players are expected to contribute to the offense but with 1/10th of the season done it looks like the team outside of the top 4 forwards might be capable of 100 goals, I don't think that's a winning combo.

There might be different things that can be done to improve the scoring imbalance, it's this imbalance that has consistently hogtied the Leafs come playoff time, during the regular season having so few do the scoring works because there are so many weak teams, in the playoffs the weaker teams have been weeded out.

What can be done with TO's current lineup to address the imbalance, I think 2 different approaches should be attempted. 1)strengthen the top 6, right now TO has it's top 5 forwards on the top 2 lines, Jarnkrok doesn't deserve to be there if TO was truly expecting the top 2 lines to carry the offense. I would think either Domi or Knies should be on those top 2 lines to replace Jarnkrok. 2)strengthen the 3rd line, Kampf shouldn't be on the top 3 lines, he is where offense goes to die. In this scenario Jarnkrok could be on the top 2 lines, I would think a decent 3rd line could be assembled with Tie, Knies and Bert.

I can remember my being impressed by Gregor when he played for SJ last year, he isn't shouldn't be on any team's top 2 lines but for the sake of balance, he might be a player that could be promoted, so far this year he's been playing 9:46 ATOI and he's only had 1 goal off of 22 shots. Only 3 players on the Leafs have more shots than Gregor, what might he do with quality linemates?

I like the balanced approach, I think Gregor might be an unmined diamond, Knies is being wasted on any line with Kampf as the center.

So I'm thinking:

Gregor/AM/MM
Jarnkrok/JT/WN
Knies/Tie/Bert
Robertson/Kampf/Blandisi

Reaves is entertaining and probably can continue on TO's 4th line getting around 7 mins. per but finding productivity for every line is probably more ideal, Blandisi has been a decent AHL player and he plays with attitude.

With all due respect I think that you could have COVID 19 running through the team, a couple of healthy scratches, multiple injuries, and you still wouldn't see a roster constructed like that. I'm sorry but Bertuzzi at half speed (it's speculated that he's fighting an injury), and Knies healthy (but learning the pro game), you're not going to see Robertson any time soon. Gregor on the top line? Well... I'd at least like to see it for a game or two I suppose...

 

[Gollum Leafs]

Marner/Matthews/Knies
Bertuzzi/Tavares/Nylander
Robertson/Domi/Jarnkrok
Gregor/Kampf/Holmberg

 

[Apex Predator]

Knies Matthews nylander
Berrtuzi Tavares marner
Domi Kampf jankrock
Gregor holmberg reaves

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Vegas has been built on other teams castaways/undervalued, Karlsson, Marchessault and Stephenson are examples of players who no team would've/should've viewed as quality NHLers but they are/became the bedrock of a Stanley Cup winner.

Bunting is another example of a player who was never given a primetime role until basically he landed in TO.

I doubt that Jarnkrok could generate 22 shots by this time of the year on any of the Leaf's lines, so why is he on the top 2 lines ever?

I haven't done a thorough research of Vegas' roster but I think they only have like 3 draft choices of their own on the roster and all of their stars are from other teams, drafting is one way but it's not the only way to build a winner. Falling in love with any player, even the home grown, is not a good idea to build a true winner(meaning playoffs) after many years of not reaching the ultimate goal.

None of this has ANYTHING to do with Noah Gregor being on the top line.

Go home You're drunk

 

[Buds17]

Bunting had 14 points in 26 games prior to signing with Toronto. By comparison, Gregor has 52 points in 186 NHL GP. Hoping to receive top six production from the latter seems to be the far riskier proposition among the two options.

 

[Evilhomer]

Thread seems a tad premature

Surprising, no?

 

[tmlfan98]

Pretty much the only thing that needs to happen asap is Jarnkrok taken off the Matthews line. This is all SSS so far but 33.3 xGF% as a line so far this year (unacceptable for a top line), compared to when Bertuzzi is on that line, they have a 65.3 xGF%. The Tavares-Nylander duo in comparison so far has shown chemistry with both Jarnkrok (73.3 xGF%) and Bertuzzi (51.9 xGF% with a surprisingly solid xGA/60).

The bottom 6 can stay the same for now. Knies-Domi duo has shown early chemistry eye test wise and Kampf should keep that line honest defensively as the 3rd player on that line. Perhaps most surprising, the 4th line of Gregor-Holmberg-Reaves is treading water so far (50 xGF% with a surprisingly solid xGA/60). Compared to when Kampf was on that line (32.3 xGF% getting caved in constantly), it's a major improvement so far and Holmberg deserves a ton of credit.

All 3 of the healthy D pairs in Rielly-Brodie, McCabe-Liljegren, and Gio-Klingberg have also posted solid early numbers (all at least 56 xGF% with solid xGA/60). The only change that's needed for now to the healthy lineup is swapping Jarnkrok and Bertuzzi in the top 6.

 

[Smif]

Thread seems a tad premature

Third in the conference atm. We need to go undefeated to avoid these rant threads.

 

[meefer]

3C and a defensive partner for Rielly are basically the needs atm.

"The good news is Rielly and Brodie are off to a terrific start in top-pair duty. The Leafs won almost 70 percent of the expected goals in their minutes together against the Predators. Rielly and Brodie have been on the ice for only two five-on-five goals together all season.

Expected goals are up over 56 percent.

This while owning the top-line challenge nightly and starting a whole whack of shifts in the defensive zone; Rielly and Brodie have an offensive-zone faceoff percentage of just 37 percent this season.

In short, they’re playing the heaviest, hardest minutes for the Leafs and succeeding. It’s been particularly impressive on the defensive side of things, where the Leafs are giving up just over two expected goals per 60 minutes with the two of them out there, one of the better marks league-wide.

The Leafs needed at least one pair they could count on, and they’ve found it in old faithful: Rielly and Brodie." The Athletic, Oct 29.

 

[trellaine201]

I would wait 15-20 games and see if most players fit in or not. And I am not a patient person.