How long do you except the Nylander at center experiment to last?

[Leaf Army]

I liked the original lineup idea they had at the start of camp better than what they’re doing now.

You can debate all you want about whether Nylander is capable at centre.

But we started camp with Nylander as our 3rd line centre and are ending camp with Minten. That’s a downgrade.

And I don’t like the second line. Domi-Tavares-Nylander is one of those lines that’s looks good on paper but on the ice might be a different story. Not enough checking and grinding on that line… they’re going to get killed 5 on 5.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

 

[IPS]

Has there been any indication they'd try Domi at center or are they worried he's too bad defensively there?

If you wanna go for 3 lines that can generate good offense then Domi at C might be the only way to achieve that.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I liked the original lineup idea they had at the start of camp better than what they’re doing now.

You can debate all you want about whether Nylander is capable at centre.

But we started camp with Nylander as our 3rd line centre and are ending camp with Minten. That’s a downgrade.

And I don’t like the second line. Domi-Tavares-Nylander is one of those lines that’s looks good on paper but on the ice might be a different story. Not enough checking and grinding on that line… they’re going to get killed 5 on 5.

I might be in the minorty but I have all the confidence in the world in Domi-Tavares-Nylander I think It's going to score and score A LOT.

How do you know going from Nylander to Minten at 3C is downgrade?

What if the chemistry Minten and Knies showed in pre season was real and Minten puts up 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points?

What if Minten shows top 6 potential?

 

[CabanaBoy5]

I might be in the minorty but I have all the confidence in the world in Domi-Tavares-Nylander I think It's going to score and score A LOT.

How do you know going from Nylander to Minten at 3C is downgrade?

What if the chemistry Minten and Knies showed in pre season was real and Minten puts up 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points?

What if Minten shows top 6 potential?

Not only that, but the limited time I've watched Minten play, he seems really responsible on the ice and a very good two way player. I think he'll be better at preventing goals from the centre ice position than Nylander. I also like Nylander on the wing. The 2nd line is much better with him on it than anyone else we would have replaced him with. I like our lines as currently constructed if the 2nd line outscores some of their defensive deficiencies.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Because I've watched this team for 20+ years EVERY TIME they have tried it, it has failed, I don't understand the obsession with fitting a square peg into a round hole.

The best thing for this team would be Minten developing chemistry with Knies and showing he can be a center, because Tavares is 33 and eventually somebody will need to take over.

But it is not and never will be Nylander, because if it was, he'd already be a center.

He's filled in for game or two - it hasn't been seriously tried, regardless of how many times you think you have seen it in the last 20+ years.

How many regulation games has he started in a row at centre?

He probably would have been playing centre for several years if Dubas hadn't made the critical mistake of signing Tavares. For the first few years both JT and Willy were too good to waste at 3C so Willy transitioned his game from centre to wing, with excellent results.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

He's filled in for game or two - it hasn't been seriously tried, regardless of how many times you think you have seen it in the last 20+ years.

How many regulation games has he started in a row at centre?

He probably would have been playing centre for several years if Dubas hadn't made the critical mistake of signing Tavares. For the first few years both JT and Willy were too good to waste at 3C so Willy transitioned his game from centre to wing, with excellent results.

Agreed he's excellent on the wing and that's where he should stay because that's where he is clearly most comfortable

 

[notDatsyuk]

Agreed he's excellent on the wing and that's where he should stay because that's where he is clearly most comfortable

He looked very comfortable at centre in the preseason games and when playing against better competition in international games. Maybe we should try him there.

 

[Budz]

Minten will struggle at some point. He’s a young player. Might not stay past the 9 games.

I could see maybe this tried again.

 

[Leaf Army]

I might be in the minorty but I have all the confidence in the world in Domi-Tavares-Nylander I think It's going to score and score A LOT.

How do you know going from Nylander to Minten at 3C is downgrade?

What if the chemistry Minten and Knies showed in pre season was real and Minten puts up 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points?

What if Minten shows top 6 potential?

I might be in the minorty but I have all the confidence in the world in Domi-Tavares-Nylander I think It's going to score and score A LOT.

How do you know going from Nylander to Minten at 3C is downgrade?

What if the chemistry Minten and Knies showed in pre season was real and Minten puts up 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points?

What if Minten shows top 6 potential?

That Tavares line won’t have trouble scoring. It’s keeping it out of their own end that will be the problem.

Minten is fine. He’s a solid prospect and I like him a lot. But he didn’t exactly dominate junior last year. I think that’s more important to remember than what he did in a handful of preseason games.

Expecting him to be a legit 3rd line centre on a team with Stanley Cup aspirations is a huge stretch at this point.

Although I’m thinking that trading Lafferty probably had more to do with keeping space for Timmins than it did with Minten.

 

[Leaf Army]

I might be in the minorty but I have all the confidence in the world in Domi-Tavares-Nylander I think It's going to score and score A LOT.

How do you know going from Nylander to Minten at 3C is downgrade?

What if the chemistry Minten and Knies showed in pre season was real and Minten puts up 15 goals and 25 assists for 40 points?

What if Minten shows top 6 potential?

Also anything is possible but it’s not very realistic to expect this from Minten this year.

15 goals and 40 points is almost the type of production we got from Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak when they were here. And both were more experienced and came with a stronger offensive pedigree than Minten.

Expecting Minten to do that as a 19 year old while matching up against some of the better centres in the league is wishful thinking. Remember we’re trying to win a Stanley Cup here.

Nylander at centre maybe isn’t perfect either but it comes with a much higher potential upside.

 

[Larcos_Unal]

Willie is a winger, stop the shenanigans please and thanks

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Also anything is possible but it’s not very realistic to expect this from Minten this year.

15 goals and 40 points is almost the type of production we got from Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak when they were here. And both were more experienced and came with a stronger offensive pedigree than Minten.

Expecting Minten to do that as a 19 year old while matching up against some of the better centres in the league is wishful thinking. Remember we’re trying to win a Stanley Cup here.

Nylander at centre maybe isn’t perfect either but it comes with a much higher potential upside.

I don't expect him to do it, but I'mnot going to assume he won't either especially with Knies on his wing

 

[Leaf Army]

Willie is a winger, stop the shenanigans please and thanks

He’s been a winger on a team that has consistently underperformed in the playoffs.

Can we maybe try something different. If we want to win we need three dangerous lines. This is one way to potentially accomplish that.

 

[Twowingcantfly]

Willy is not going to be at 2C, and if he is it won't last long, because it never does.

You may as well give up that dream

Well let's move Minten or Knies there. They are both better options to what we have there now.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Domi - Tavares - Nylander line on for two goal against and none for at 5v5.

When will Keefe learn? Nylander has enough to do with supporting Tavares, he doesn't need Domi too.

Split up JT and Willy!

 

[jaric1862]

Why is Nylander always the first guy thought of when moving someone from the wing?
Domi has spent way more time at C, and has had his most successful years there.
Willy is a winger

 

[Gabriel426]

I think Domi might be a good 3C but I do like giving Minten more run way and see how he plays. He didn’t seem out of place last night.

 

[ZEBROA]

His style should work perfectly as a center . Not a shutdown Center but offensive minded Center. Better then Domi Jarnkrok if Minten dont hold up. He should not play with Tavares at all no matter what.

To answer the OP question. The experiment didnt even start. Nylander need to get way more games at C then ever before. Until that happens this experiment is worth nothing.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Domi looks like a waiver wire candidate if he continues to play that way.

He should be nowhere near the top 6 or at center.

 

[notDatsyuk]

At best, Domi could be a decent 3C.

Willy could be a very good 2C.

JT is a decent 2C or good 3C now.

 

[ZEBROA]

"We value your blablabla". How the hell do i get rid of it when on my phone. Makes this site unusable.

I hope he gets a real chance at C during the season.

 

[authentic]

At best, Domi could be a decent 3C.

Willy could be a very good 2C.

JT is a decent 2C or good 3C now.

Decent 2c? Most teams in the NHL don’t have a 2c as good as Tavares

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

"We value your blablabla". How the hell do i get rid of it when on my phone. Makes this site unusable.

I hope he gets a real chance at C during the season.

I've been using the Brave web browser for years and almost never see any ads or pop ups anymore

 

[hotpaws]

If the team can live with JT at C with how poorly he is defensively then i don't why they couldn't with Willie who at the very least will drive the offense .

JT could have prevented both goals against his line but couldn't bother putting in the effort .

- first goal he just needed to skate back a little harder on the odd man rush but he just moved quick enough to have the best view of the hab tapping it in

- second goal against his line he just needed to tie up Newhook who he was standing beside to prevent the tip but again he couldn't be bothered

but the great thing about being Johnny is he never gets blamed , lol