Do you think that our Johnny plays even more on the wing?

[Notsince67]

If you are insistent on Tavares on LW why not swap Marner and Nylander.

Bunting Matthews Marner
Tavares ROR Nylander

Nylander would work better on the cycle line than Marner who could then move back with Matthews.

First of all Marner is way better on the cycle. He also slows the game down for the 2 veterans.
Seecondly, I am getting a headache every time there is a suggestion to swap Marner and Nylander. Leave the two alone to find chemistry with some prolonged play time with the same linemates.

 

[Arzak]

I'd like to see

Marner Nylander Tavares

We tried Nylander as C if it works your C depth is even better,

 

[Larcos_Unal]

What I'd like to see is this, just for a couple of games or so:

ROR - Matthews - Marner
Bunting - Tavares - Nylander

I'd love to get Matthews a couple of good old fashioned multiple goal games heading into the playoffs.

 

[ACC1224]

What I'd like to see is this, just for a couple of games or so:

ROR - Matthews - Marner
Bunting - Tavares - Nylander

I'd love to get Matthews a couple of good old fashioned multiple goal games heading into the playoffs.

Shame they can't double shift Marner. Seems everyone can use the boost he brings.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Shame they can't double shift Marner. Seems everyone can use the boost he brings.

MLSE needs to use those vast resources and look into human cloning

 

[JT AM da real deal]

in playoffs
??? ROR Mitch
Bunting Matty ???
JT Kampf Willy
Reese Kerfoot Acciari

We will need 4 full lines against Tampa and Boston
I would put Jankrok with Matty
Engval with ROR

Keefer has always talked about having 3 balance lines in playoffs and i think he will move to that plan closer to season end with a 4th line energy line with some physical play

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

No, that's not what's being said. What matters is the impact he provides, not what specific place in the lineup he's currently slotted in. Tavares shifting to wing for now because we're overloaded with centers and we want our new additions to transition comfortably doesn't change anything.
Also your attempts to compare different types of contracts and how you seem to think contracts work is horribly wrong.
And Tavares' leadership has always been praised, and there's been zero reason to question it.

I see.

You think he provides a better impact as 2LW than 2C. So that makes him worth his $11M contract. Even though centre is still the more important position. And Marner makes the same and is a far superior winger.

I didn't even realize the team was overloaded in centres. Thanks for pointing that out. Now it all makes sense

Silly me.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

I need to find the interview but I was listening to it on TSN 1050.

Although Keefe said it is “not a one off” Keefe explained that he wanted to make sure sure ROR transitions and gets a good comfort level (something to that effect).

My interpretation is that Keefe was trying establish some stability first so that Keefe can tinker with it later and look at other options.

It didn’t sound permanent to me. If anything Keefe sounded it like he wants his lines to be more flexible depending on what is needed.

The bolded really shouldn't need explaining.

There's a novel idea.

Flexibility in the lineup. Did Keefe dream this idea up all his own? I've never heard of a coach wanting such a thing before.

I really hope the rest of the 31 other teams don't think of such a thing.

That's why they moved the $11M captain over to 2LW instead of the rental they just paid an arm and a leg for. Not because O'Reilly is the more capable centre. But because Keefe wants flexibility in the lineup.

That makes so much more sense than moving O'Reilly over to wing instead of the $11M captain.

 

[ACC1224]

There's a novel idea.

Flexibility in the lineup. Did Keefe dream this idea up all his own? I've never heard of a coach wanting such a thing before.

I really hope the rest of the 31 other teams don't think of such a thing.

That's why they moved the $11M captain over to 2LW instead of the rental they just paid an arm and a leg for. Not because O'Reilly is the more capable centre. But because Keefe wants flexibility in the lineup.

That makes so much more sense than moving O'Reilly over to wing instead of the $11M captain.

If you're trying to promote your website, you should find a different approach.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

If you're trying to promote your website, you should find a different approach.

I'm not trying to promote it actually.

My agenda is to see a change in management.

I'm sick of seeing the team lose.

 

[keonsbitterness]

I'm not trying to promote it actually.

My agenda is to see a change in management.

I'm sick of seeing the team lose.

I'm sure your sarcasm will speed things along.

 

[Dekes For Days]

You think he provides a better impact as 2LW than 2C. So that makes him worth his $11M contract.

No, nobody said anything close to that. We just have more than four centers, and more than two top-six centers at this moment.
It makes sense to not force somebody to immediately adjust to a new team, system, and position, all at the same time.
His value is not defined by whether he plays C or LW for a handful of games while we try out different combinations.
Marner and his post-ELC contract obviously have nothing to do with Tavares and his UFA contract.

 

[WillyC]

This was Keefe, showing ROR, that we’re going to put 2 of our best players on your wings and you are going to play as 2C.

ROR… scores 3 goals, yeah, Sheldon… I’m only used to playing as 1C.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

No, nobody said anything close to that. We just have more than four centers, and more than two top-six centers at this moment.
It makes sense to not force somebody to immediately adjust to a new team, system, and position, all at the same time.
His value is not defined by whether he plays C or LW for a handful of games while we try out different combinations.
Marner and his post-ELC contract obviously have nothing to do with Tavares and his UFA contract.

Are you sure nobody said anything close to that?

Because this is exactly what you wrote: "What matters is the impact he provides, not what specific place in the lineup"

I'm so confused.

The centre position is the most important of the forward position. So the teams $11M captain is asked to play wing instead of carrying that line? You are suggesting that Tavares has more impact playing in a lesser impactful role.

You are twisting yourself into knots here.

You act like a player has never been traded before and asked to adjust to the circumstances you described.

Must be so hard for these professional athletes, making millions upon millions to play a game, to adjust to a trade.

 

[Dekes For Days]

Are you sure nobody said anything close to that?
Because this is exactly what you wrote: "What matters is the impact he provides, not what specific place in the lineup"

Yeah. And that has nothing to do with what you wrote. Where he's slotted for a few games is irrelevant.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

Yeah. And that has nothing to do with what you wrote. Where he's slotted for a few games is irrelevant.

Come on Deke.

You need to try harder. It has everything to do with what I originally wrote. This is exactly what I wrote in the original response: "You think he provides a better impact as 2LW than 2C."

I fail to see how Tavares can be more impactful as a winger than in the more important position as centre.

If you admit O'Reilly is better than Tavares, then you are admitting Tavares is severely overpaid.

If you admit Tavares is a better centre than. O'Reilly then you admit the coach isn't optimizing the lineup.

You can't have it both ways. It's either one or the other. And neither choice looks appealing.

 

[Dekes For Days]

It has everything to do with what I originally wrote. This is exactly what I wrote in the original response: "You think he provides a better impact as 2LW than 2C."
I fail to see how Tavares can be more impactful as a winger than in the more important position as centre.
If you admit O'Reilly is better than Tavares, then you are admitting Tavares is severely overpaid.
If you admit Tavares is a better centre than. O'Reilly then you admit the coach isn't optimizing the lineup.

It has nothing to do with what you wrote. I didn't say anything about where Tavares provides a better impact.
Tavares is a better player than O'Rielly. The best player on a line doesn't always have to be the one to slot into center. Both are great centers.
Tavares has played wing in international tournaments, played wing during the lockout, and has played wing occasionally with the Leafs to stack the top line after penalty kills.
It makes sense to shift him over instead of forcing O'Rielly to adjust to a new team, system, and position all at once, and Tavares' willingness and ability to do that doesn't somehow make him less valuable.

 

[budzz]

Come on Deke.

You need to try harder. It has everything to do with what I originally wrote. This is exactly what I wrote in the original response: "You think he provides a better impact as 2LW than 2C."

I fail to see how Tavares can be more impactful as a winger than in the more important position as centre.

If you admit O'Reilly is better than Tavares, then you are admitting Tavares is severely overpaid.

If you admit Tavares is a better centre than. O'Reilly then you admit the coach isn't optimizing the lineup.

You can't have it both ways. It's either one or the other. And neither choice looks appealing.

You absolutely can have it both ways. Not sure what's so confusing. O'Reilly is an elite defensive Center capable of pretty good offense. Tavares is an Elite Offensive Center capable of decent defence. As the center/Rover is more demanding, you go with the Elite D in the middle while still having your high end scorer on the wing. Works for me. If we can manage to somehow get a decent middle 6 lw'r I can still see O'Reilly being 3c in the playoffs for depth, especially if we can push bunting or Jarnlrok down to his line. Either way we now have 5 VERY good forwards and a few months to test drive.

 

[Buds17]

Come on Deke.

You need to try harder. It has everything to do with what I originally wrote. This is exactly what I wrote in the original response: "You think he provides a better impact as 2LW than 2C."

I fail to see how Tavares can be more impactful as a winger than in the more important position as centre.

If you admit O'Reilly is better than Tavares, then you are admitting Tavares is severely overpaid.

If you admit Tavares is a better centre than. O'Reilly then you admit the coach isn't optimizing the lineup.

You can't have it both ways. It's either one or the other. And neither choice looks appealing.

Tavares makes more because he is much closer to being a PPG player (career). O'Reilly is a former winner of the Selke (an award typically won by centres). ROR is one of the very few additions that I'd be understanding of moving Tavares over on that line for because of that. It's also important to remember that Tavares isn't being dropped in the lineup.

 

[Kelly]

My opinion; they're putting ROR in an favorable spot to succeed to get him more accumulated and comfortable playing here. Better easing him in playing with one of the best playmakers in the league and JT instead of hitching him to a combination of Engvall/Kerfoot/Jarnkrok/ZAR and asking him to carry them.

Think we'll see JT move back to center and ROR centering his own line once they acquire a better winger, and depending on how he transitions, Matthew Knies.

 

[Twowingcantfly]

There's a novel idea.

Flexibility in the lineup. Did Keefe dream this idea up all his own? I've never heard of a coach wanting such a thing before.

I really hope the rest of the 31 other teams don't think of such a thing.

That's why they moved the $11M captain over to 2LW instead of the rental they just paid an arm and a leg for. Not because O'Reilly is the more capable centre. But because Keefe wants flexibility in the lineup.

That makes so much more sense than moving O'Reilly over to wing instead of the $11M captain.

LOL. GOOD ONE

 

[Twowingcantfly]

Nice post. The moment I heard we got O'Reilly, my hope was that JT don't mind playing wing. For the first time in many years, I feel we have a chance to do something special. I feel confident this team will at least make it out of the first round.

 

[notDatsyuk]

I recwbtly rewatched the highlights from all the critical last few games vs Tampa and Montreal. Marner/matthews were on the ice for pretty much all the game tying and winning goals against. Though Tavares was injured vs Montreal I was surprised that he wasn't on the ice for critical goals against vs tampa, and wasn't even shown in a highlight for a key save against. He was also in numerous highlights for scoring chances and scores and assisted on key goals in games 5-7.

If both Marner and Matthew were on the ice for key goals against and have struggle in the critical games.. I'm not sure why Keefe is putting O'Reilly and Tavares on the same unit. Why not split the two and give Marner and Matthews strong two-way skilled gritty players?

I thought Marner was the smartest player in the league? Why put the three smartest players on the same line and risk having Matthews line be sieves?

The fact that the three top forwards in +/- are Bunting, Matthews, and Nylander shows how terrible they are defensively.

 

[notDatsyuk]

From a Luke Fox tweet:

“I still feel at the end of the day we’re going to have John back at centre.” -Sheldon Keefe

It appears Sheldon Keefe is covering all his bases. Next he'll be telling us that Tavares will be playing defense.

Good Lord.

Is it really that hard to figure out what to do with your $11M captain?

He may be easing us into accepting JT as 3C.

A lot of people seem to wonder why an $11M player is playing 2W or (maybe soon) 3C, when the question should be why is a 2W or 3C being paid $11M?

 

[Dekes For Days]

The fact that the three top forwards in +/- are Bunting, Matthews, and Nylander shows how terrible they are defensively.

+/- is not a defensive stat. If anything, it shows they've been really good offensively, while getting great goaltending behind them. They've been our weakest line defensively.