Hyman Discussion Thread

[zeke]

I just feel that there are not enough players of Hyman's ilk in the top 6 (and there's even less now). Some fans are happy to see Hyman's demotion because he doesn't bode well for fantasy/pools. Also for smooooooth blue line drop passes and ballet-like zone entries Hyman isn't your guy.

I do know that there is one certainty in life: you cannot deny that which is undeniable. He won't be on that rag-tag third line for very long.

it's not a demotion.

Hyman and Mikheyev are there to ensure that the 3rd line is a reliable and effective in any matchup. That is a much bigger need than being a marginally better 3rd wheel on one of the top two lines.

This move is a compliment to Hyman (and Mikheyev), not an insult.

 

[Twine Tickler]

at the end of the day, hyman is a swiss army knife. his value to the team is similar to what Alex Burrows was to the 2010ish canucks. he has the abilty to play with high end talent (as did burrows) but can also play the shut down role with a high level of effectiveness. Jumbo is not at a place in his career where he will be effective in a shut down role, however i do believe Jumbo can still play in a top 6. Thats purely my opinion, and i dont expect everyone to agree. but Joe was never known for his skating. He has elite vision and a great ability to maintain puck possession. I think it very well could work with Mitch and Auston. And we can all but guarantee wherever Hyman is slotted will work given his adaptability. and quite frankly our 3rd line was a huge sore spot all year last year.

 

[zeke]

Strange stance to take. The stacked line, Tavares Matthews and marner absolutely dominated the play. It was the nothing after them that got us in trouble.

I still say I would have stacked the top line with Nylander instead of Tavares, as Tavares could have made that 2nd line much more dangerous with just Mikheyev and Hyman on his wings than Nylander did.

 

[ToneDog]

I completely disagree. Who's going to win puck battles on the top 2 lines? Jimmy Vesey?

In Kyle's world, Matty, Mitch, Willie and Johnny will always have the puck so you don't need anybody to "get" them the puck.

 

[ToneDog]

I still say I would have stacked the top line with Nylander instead of Tavares, as Tavares could have made that 2nd line much more dangerous with just Mikheyev and Hyman on his wings than Nylander did.

Very good suggestion. Keefe might even try it on occation this season. I hope he does not go with it full time though. Matty, Mitch and Will pretty much all skill all the time, the Perfection line brings a bit of everything to the tables. Probably why they are sooooo good.

 

[The Podium]

I just feel that there are not enough players of Hyman's ilk in the top 6 (and there's even less now). Some fans are happy to see Hyman's demotion because he doesn't bode well for fantasy/pools. Also for smooooooth blue line drop passes and ballet-like zone entries Hyman isn't your guy.

I do know that there is one certainty in life: you cannot deny that which is undeniable. He won't be on that rag-tag third line for very long.

By using the word demotion you are entirely missing the point.

This team loses the depth battle constantly. Prior to this, they didnt have a matchup line thatll free up offensive opportunities for Matthews and Tavares, who were doing the grunt of both the offence and D.

Hyman and Mikheyev on the 3rd line are a compliment to their abilities on both sides of the ice and a sign of Keefe's trust. If that new 3rd line could match up well against the opposition's top lines, similar to how Dallas utilized the Cogliano line, that means the top 2 lines can get all the favourable offensive match ups.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Well I hope this is short lived, but sorry. Hyman is not a 3rd line winger.

Who is going to recover the puck or stick in 2nd opportunity chances on the proposed top 2 lines?

This must have something to do with propping up Kerfoot as opposed to a sensible plan for the top 6.

Sorry Keefe. I don't care for your early line construction

Do you think this is a good use of Zach Hyman's ability?

Hyman is a player that any line can use. The entire team has to be on the same page and not worry about where they are in the lineup. Players should shut out any noise about lineup controversies.

I gather than Hyman is smart enough to understand what his coach is looking to achieve. He is going to get paid full value in his F.A year, I guarantee this. It isn't an issue at all. The issue is Leafs showing different looks and having flexibility in a short season to win. Performance will be measured in my eyes by winning.

Hyman is a much more complete player now than three years ago. I don't even care about the goals, I care about his protection of the puck, takeaway/giveaway ratio, winning battles along the boards, playing hard but NOT taking penalties. All of these attributes are in-demand skills, a specialized skill. Skills not any less specialized than Matthews or Ovechkin sniper wrist shots.

I think the smart teams will have different mixes in the lineup. Some of it by necessity due to injuries and needed rest for some in back to back games etc. I can imagine the current entire third line (as shown in camp) to all have movement up and down the lineup. We should expect to see many players moving around.

It's a 56 game sprint. It's going to be a war of adaptability for any successful team this year.

 

[al secord]

Laughter in a time of covid.

 

[notDatsyuk]

It's a suggested lineup prior to the first day of training camp.

Chill pills all around, please.

 

[Menzinger]

While i dont think it will last all season, it looks like Keefe is aiming to use the 3rd line as a stronger defensive one than just depth scoring. So it would make sense building it the way he is.

I definitely don't think this as anything to do with Kerfoot, other than the fact both guys have good two way play and could be very effective when used together.

 

[ottomaddox]

I heard an interview with Keefe today. He said he would go to Hyman in different situations (defensive zone faceoffs, etc.). All is right in the world again.

 

[hobarth]

Always felt that Hyman would be an awesome 3rd liner, I think he has grunt 3rd line center ability/superiority that could give TO 3 superior lines rather than the 2 TO has had.

I'd like to see a Spezza/Hyman/Kerfoot line, a little bit of everything, defense, scoring, jam, possession. The last 3 years TO's 3rd line has been weak, a definite Leaf vulnerability.

 

[ottomaddox]

Always felt that Hyman would be an awesome 3rd liner, I think he has grunt 3rd line center ability/superiority that could give TO 3 superior lines rather than the 2 TO has had.

I'd like to see a Spezza/Hyman/Kerfoot line, a little bit of everything, defense, scoring, jam, possession. The last 3 years TO's 3rd line has been weak, a definite Leaf vulnerability.

Not that I don't agree with you, but I thought TOR's solution for the "3rd line blues" was to have Joe Thornton signed. Let's not forget that two thirds of that group has been traded and Kerfoot (IMHO who was the main wart) is still here.

 

[Sypher04]

Not that I don't agree with you, but I thought TOR's solution for the "3rd line blues" was to have Joe Thornton signed. Let's not forget that two thirds of that group has been traded and Kerfoot (IMHO who was the main wart) is still here.

Your anti Kerfoot agenda is ridiculous.

 

[Smif]

You're right. That's why stacking those lines worked so magically in the play-in series.

You can't possibly talk about this team and this group as though they have a ton of success winning.

They don't have success winning but to suggest they're going to struggle scoring because Hyman is removed from their lines is laughable.

 

[Cleetus]

While i dont think it will last all season, it looks like Keefe is aiming to use the 3rd line as a stronger defensive one than just depth scoring. So it would make sense building it the way he is.

I definitely don't think this as anything to do with Kerfoot, other than the fact both guys have good two way play and could be very effective when used together.

thats how I see it too, I think that 3rd line would do awesome things to protect a lead....

 

[IPS]

Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Hyman is a badass line but I do believe that Hyman will be back in a permanent top-6 spot sooner than later. I'm skeptical about this whole Thornton on the top line thing.

 

[ottomaddox]

They don't have success winning but to suggest they're going to struggle scoring because Hyman is removed from their lines is laughable.

It's laughable that the pocket protectors of this board think that Hyman has no impact on this team.

 

[ottomaddox]

Your anti Kerfoot agenda is ridiculous.

Why would anyone have an agenda based on someone so unimportant?

 

[crump]

Looking forward to this line. If it works, it will be a very hardworking defensive line. If they play against top lines that tend to cheat, I foresee many breakaways for Mikheyev and a career year for empty netters for Hyman.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Looking forward to this line. If it works, it will be a very hardworking defensive line. If they play against top lines that tend to cheat, I foresee many breakaways for Mikheyev and a career year for empty netters for Hyman.

Our 3rd line especially has been sub-par for some time now. This looks like a good mix

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Matthews Tavares Nylander marner do not need Zach Hyman to be effective.

Thats true as rain. Hyman doesn’t need them to be effective so he is a perfect player to move for a completely different dimension on a energy line, grind line,shutdown line whatever anyone can think of to call it. It’s a shutdown that Hyman will still go to the paint on and score at close to his rate depending on lots of things. He’ll score and he Will grind and play hard. They all will. I don’t like Kerfoot which is no secret but i really am looking forward to him changing my opinion of him. Hyman is the main cog on that line.

 

[The Iceman]

To me Hyman was a perfect compliment in the top 6.
Does the required grunt work and doesn't need the puck. He goes and gets it.

Not sure why we would mess with proven success but I am hoping for the best. I think Hyman gets lost in a bottom 6 role and he shined in a top 6.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

We gotta try out different things to get to next level ... Keefe plays to win so we gotta have faith in him trying out different things ... my fear is that Matty will be guy who has to do da forechecking as I can't see either Mitch or Jumbo making it happen .. i could see we mount a quick rush and then puck is back out real quick so we have no puck time in offensive end to let Joe do his thing ... i hope I am wrong but i don't see it ... no forecheck to get puck and then Jumbo plays with it instead of Mitch ... to me i would go back to Zach JT and Mitch ... we know it works ... these are all TO guys who compliment each others games perfectly ...

 

[hobarth]

Not that I don't agree with you, but I thought TOR's solution for the "3rd line blues" was to have Joe Thornton signed. Let's not forget that two thirds of that group has been traded and Kerfoot (IMHO who was the main wart) is still here.

I think Thornton was signed for leadership much like Marleau had been, he isn't/never was fast so being able to act as a defensive option seems unlikely. Thornton's greatest value might be on the top 2 lines as a possession option, puck distributer which suits his past but he sure isn't what he was so he won't be superior in any sense. I really don't see why TO signed Thornton but it might work out.

Kerfoot had a crappy year last year but I can remember him from his Colorado days, he's better than what he's shown with the Leafs, I chalk it up to unable to soar with eagles when playing with turkeys.

I don't think Matthews needs Marner to score, he's put up superior numbers with a variety of wingers so I'd like to see TO's first line changed to:

Mikheyev/Mathews/Vesey

TO's 2nd line has JT at center and JT has traditionally been thought to improve whoever he plays with which has been what we've seen since he's been in TO:

Kerfoot/JT/Robertson

I think if TO really wants to play 11 forwards 7 d-men it has to have 3 superior lines , the first 2 lines has potential to be good/dominant, maybe, so ideally TO needs to ice another superior line:

Nylander/Hyman/Marner

Which of those lines would be #1 or #3, depends on the day, the opposition, varying factors but in any event TO's forwards as a whole need to become far more responsible defensively.