GDT: Chicago Blackhawks at Toronto Maple Leafs

[SeaOfBlue]

nice to see Kase on the top line.

YUGE chance for Lilly here. He's certainly earned it. If he can keep up his great play while facing top competition, I don't think we need to trade for any blueline upgrades.

Even if Liljegren sucks, I think you have to give Dermott a good opportunity as well.

He's only played 5 minutes with Muzzin this year. That is less than a game's worth of playing time.

 

[93gilmour93]

Excited to see what Lil can do up the lineup.

It’s a great opportunity to play well and show he belongs in the top 4 while Holl has shown he belongs in the bottom pair. Hopefully the change helps Muzzin turn his game around also.

 

[Aashir]

I only have one concern with lily: his constant fanning of the puck

he fans so hard on some pucks it’s like he hasn’t touched hockey stick for years

 

[zeke]

Duszak is great. Biega and Dahlstrom are good for the AHL level, and both can probably still play the odd NHL game if you needed them to. Kral needs to bring more offensively but he has taken major strides defensively.

Effectively we've got 5 good AHL defensemen and then Menell, who I expect to be better and capable of being a high end top 6 defensemen for them as well. Hoefenmayer and Hellickson are solid AHL depth guys and now you have Chad Krys in that mix as well. I believe all of them can play on their off-side.

Hollowell sucks. Kivihalme sucks. Both can be traded for some playoff depth or some added AHL forward depth. I doubt either have a spot on this team next year, but I said the same thing about Rubins last year and he looked much better playing with Duszak this year than he did playing with Hollowell most of last year. Hollowell hasn't looked good with anyone at any point since turning pro.

Eh I am very unconvinced. Rubins is the only NHL D I see down there.

 

[Burnie97]

Just saw now that Lilly was up with Muzzin today. Good job Keefe..... ... finally.

 

[ottomaddox]

Chad Krys revenge night.

Go
Leafs
Go

 

[budzz]

Call me crazy but I really liked the lines

Bunting-matthews-simmonds
Ritchie-Tavares-kase

can you imagine a third line

nylander-kerfoot-Marner

Well it makes for good depth and a fantastic third line, but you have the best goal scorer in the world, he deserves one of the best if not THE best passers in the world. I like Simmonds game when he's flying, and I like the protection for Matty, but it is almost criminal keeping Mitch and Matty apart.

 

[Kiwi]

Eh I am very unconvinced. Rubins is the only NHL D I see down there.

I think Kral is but he's not going to help until late next season at the earliest imo

 

[BTP]

Why did Keefe mess with the Engvall- Kampf- Kase line that was so good?

He switched things up TOO much. like damn how are they ever supposed to develop chemistry?

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

When Marner comes back in a couple weeks

I want to see Kase Matthews Nylander/Marner

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Why did Keefe mess with the Engvall- Kampf- Kase line that was so good?

He switched things up TOO much. like damn how are they ever supposed to develop chemistry?

When Spezza and Marner are out you have to adjust

 

[Buds17]

Why did Keefe mess with the Engvall- Kampf- Kase line that was so good?

He switched things up TOO much. like damn how are they ever supposed to develop chemistry?

The injury to Marner and suspension to Spezza. Kase is potentially a top six talent that had been playing on the third line. Marner's injury has opened up a spot on a/the top line for the time being. Engvall is needed at centre right now with Spezza serving his suspension. I wonder what a fully healthy lineup would look like? We might never actually find out!

 

[hockeywiz542]

Maple Leafs' plan is to get Mrazek back in net on Saturday versus Chicago | Toronto Sun

Petr Mrazek’s return to the Maple Leafs crease will come on Saturday night.

At least, that’s what the Leafs were planning following practice on Friday at the Ford Performance Centre as they prepared to face the Chicago Blackhawks at Scotiabank Arena.

“Our intent is for him to play (Saturday),” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “(Friday) was another full practice for him. As long as he gets through (Saturday’s) morning skate still feeling like he is right now, the plan would be to activate him and play him. But he has to get to that point still.”

Mrazek is putting the finishing touches on a recovery from his second groin injury of 2021-22. He has not played since Oct. 30, when he made 27 saves in a 5-4 Leafs victory against the Detroit Red Wings. For now, Mrazek remains on long-term injured reserve. If he is activated, one option for the Leafs would be to place Mitch Marner (shoulder) on LTIR. If that happens, the earliest Marner could play is on Dec. 27 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. When Marner was hurt in a collision with Jake Muzzin last Friday, the initial prognosis was an absence from the Leafs lineup of three-to-four weeks.

“I’ve felt good the last couple of days,” Mrazek said. “We will see how it is (Saturday) and go from there.”

If Mrazek does return, he’s going to play behind a group that has had some recent stumbles. Practice on Friday was short, brisk and spirited as the Leafs worked toward putting a small slump — one win in their past four games — behind them.

................

Changes on the blue line that Keefe made during the loss to Tampa Bay will remain. Jake Muzzin, whose gaffes helped the Lightning win, will have rookie Timothy Liljegren as his partner, while Justin Holl will see freshman Kristians Rubins, in his third NHL game, to his left.

At forward, Ondrej Kase will get a shot on the top line with Auston Matthews and Michael Bunting; Wayne Simmonds and Nick Ritchie will be on the wings between David Kampf on the third line.

 

[Confucius]

When Spezza and Marner are out you have to adjust

Nylander, Spezza, Marner

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Nylander, Spezza, Marner

Nylander? what happened

 

[wingman75]

This is a 'SHOULD' win. Even with the depleated roster (overstatement), we should be able to take these guys. Really don't care if it is a 6-5 OT or SO win... need to pot the 2 points at home here before the west coast four gamer.

Things I'd like to see:
- A Win!
- Less turnovers in the defensive and neutral zones
- Mrazek not play like a sieve
- Over 66% PK
- Over 33% PP
- Less than 28 shots against
- No injuries

 

[m1ker]

Well it makes for good depth and a fantastic third line, but you have the best goal scorer in the world, he deserves one of the best if not THE best passers in the world. I like Simmonds game when he's flying, and I like the protection for Matty, but it is almost criminal keeping Mitch and Matty apart.

We won’t win 4 rounds of playoff hockey with matthews and Marner together. Matthews needs 2 bangers who do all the dirty work and keep the game simple. The problem with Matthews and Marner is neither is willing to go in the corner so they can’t play basic playoff hockey. Yeah it works great in the season but when teams are studying you for 7 games you aren’t making those nice passes. When they are together they have to curl back and pass to the defense every rush over and over. The fear of Simmonds forchecking will give Matthews more opportunities than Marner will when the game tightens up. Oh and I’m tired of Matthews getting ragdolled.

Babcock knew this just he was stuck with Hyman and brown who aren’t hitters

 

[leafsfan5]

Well it makes for good depth and a fantastic third line, but you have the best goal scorer in the world, he deserves one of the best if not THE best passers in the world. I like Simmonds game when he's flying, and I like the protection for Matty, but it is almost criminal keeping Mitch and Matty apart.

It doesn't matter what Matty "deserves", it matters what's best for the team. If Matthews can lead a line himself and it's elite why not spread the depth around? Come playoff time it creates matchup nightmares

Bunting - Matthews - Kase (2 hardworking wingers with talent for Matthews)
Ritchie (trade?) - Tavares - Marner
Spezza - Kerfoot - Nylander
Envagll - Kampf - Simmonds

Only part I don't like is Ritchie on the 2nd line, don't know who I would put there instead. But, this is a scary lineup that few teams can matchup with. The opposing team will want their best pairing out against Matthews, which is understandable since he's a top 2 goal scorer in the world. But, it creates a weaker matchup for Tavares/Marner to exploit. Good luck putting your third line out against Kerfoot/Nylander, they'll dominate that matchup all day long similar to the HBK line in 2016. Keefe can also get Nylander reps on the 1st/2nd line throughout the game to keep his icetime where it usually is. The 4th line is all defensive zone starts with 0 expectations of scoring

 

[zeke]

Why did Keefe mess with the Engvall- Kampf- Kase line that was so good?

He switched things up TOO much. like damn how are they ever supposed to develop chemistry?

With Spezza out he needed Engvall to play center.

 

[Confucius]

Nylander? what happened

Sorry, I thought they would make a good line.

 

[123offtheglass]

Curious to see if Mrazek ends up playing, nice to see him back but expect him to be a little off.

 

[Nooodles]

Just realized I share birthday with Rubins.

...and Daniel Alfredsson lol

 

[Mess]

Can't imagine the Leafs losing this one. !!!!

Should be able to get back on track from this minor slump.

Leafs find themselves 3rd in the Atlantic behind both Florida and Tampa Bay and they both have 2 games in hand. So must keep up with the leaders or get swallowed up by the pack below.

 

[Gallagbi]

Why did Keefe mess with the Engvall- Kampf- Kase line that was so good?

He switched things up TOO much. like damn how are they ever supposed to develop chemistry?

Because we've had 3 of our 5 RWers out of the lineup over the past 2 weeks

 

[Burnie97]

Just realized I share birthday with Rubins.

...and Daniel Alfredsson lol

Rubins fine... erase the Alfy thing from your memory. It's just your day.
f*** Alfy. Yup still salty. One of the players I hate most all time.

Can't imagine the Leafs losing this one. !!!!

Should be able to get back on track from this minor slump.


Leafs find themselves 3rd in the Atlantic behind both Florida and Tampa Bay and they both have 2 games in hand. So must keep up with the leaders or get swallowed up by the pack below.

It won't be easy. Those teams never seem to freaking lose. They'll hit their own blips eventually but Leafs definitely need to get over this little blip and get going again.