Is it Time to Have Matthews and Marner Drive Their Own Lines?
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leafsfan5
Registered User
- Jun 14, 2014
- 15,192
- 26,790
Nylander looks like he can excel driving line 2 so we’re fine with the way it is
Knies - Matthews - Marner was also unreal last night. Keep it and see where it takes you
Knies - Matthews - Marner was also unreal last night. Keep it and see where it takes you
DarkKnight
Professional Amateur
- Jan 17, 2017
- 35,497
- 57,092
I didn't add nylander because I don't think JT can drive a line so he needs help.
The top line looked good yesterday but the more important piece is the third looked pretty ok. If it stays that way we can keep luxury of AM and MM. It'll be difficult to win a cup if we can't get anything out of the third line however. That's why I brought it up
We looked great offensively yesterday but long term, the bottom 6 obviously needs help you get the ability to have one of AM/MM or willy on the ice for 45/50 of a 60 min game if you split them up and they are able to handle it.
We know they can score together that's not an issue
Stephen
Moderator
- Feb 28, 2002
- 83,052
- 61,963
The concept makes sense in theory but the timing doesn’t since Matthews and Marner have been the Leafs life support the last few games. Adding Knies just gave the Leafs a heartbeat. I don’t think you can afford to shuffle the deck right now.
Rare Jewel
Patience
Maybe. I like the idea creating a match-up of issues for the other team, as well as spreading talent around. The issue would be if it's just a Nylander for Marner swap with Matthews, I don't think that changes much, really.
Leafidelity
Existentially Drifting
I think the smart call is swapping Marner and Nylander back and forth between Matthews and Tavares as the offense goes cold or stale. If the top line has found their spark with Knies, they should run with it till it doesnt work.
Gary Nylund
Registered User
- Oct 10, 2013
- 31,684
- 25,517
We used to do this in the Babcock days.
16-17 - Matthews split time between Hyman, Brown and Hyman and Nylander as his two linemmates. While Marner propelled Bozak and JVR to career highs.
17-18 - Matthews + Nylander and Hyman, Marner + Kadri and Marleau
18-19 - Matthews + Kapanen and Nylander, Marner + Tavares
I'd like to see more of Marner and Tavares just because Marner has become an excellent defensive forward and can support that like defensively.
Nylander and Matthews always was a good duo.
One experiment I'd like to see to get them going is:
Bertuzzi - Domi - Marner.
Knies - Matthews - Jarnkrok
Robertson - Tavares - Nylander
You can balance out the ice time a bit and roll 3 potentially good lines each with 1 good defensive forward at bare minimum to cover for any weaknesses defensively.
16-17 - Matthews split time between Hyman, Brown and Hyman and Nylander as his two linemmates. While Marner propelled Bozak and JVR to career highs.
17-18 - Matthews + Nylander and Hyman, Marner + Kadri and Marleau
18-19 - Matthews + Kapanen and Nylander, Marner + Tavares
I'd like to see more of Marner and Tavares just because Marner has become an excellent defensive forward and can support that like defensively.
Nylander and Matthews always was a good duo.
One experiment I'd like to see to get them going is:
Bertuzzi - Domi - Marner.
Knies - Matthews - Jarnkrok
Robertson - Tavares - Nylander
You can balance out the ice time a bit and roll 3 potentially good lines each with 1 good defensive forward at bare minimum to cover for any weaknesses defensively.
Matty Sundin
Registered User
- Jul 18, 2006
- 4,453
- 4,813
I would say yes cause I do find Tavares has better success playing with Marner. You could always switch it up when the times calls for it but right now the top line is winning/keeping them in games. Bertuzzi needs to find his game and I don’t think sacrificing a hot top line right now is the is the answer.
ULF_55
Moderator
I don't think the Leafs have enough talent to separate marner and Matthews.
What option is there really?
You don't separate Tavares and Nylander right now.
marner is their best set-up man, and while Nylander probably has more assists if he constantly played with Matthews, at this point he doesn't need to.
What might be up for discussion are the left wingers on the two top lines.
Bertuzzi seems to be blending in with line 1-b, line 1-a is still a work in progress.
%-Matthews-marner
%-Tavares-Nylander
%-%-%
What option is there really?
You don't separate Tavares and Nylander right now.
marner is their best set-up man, and while Nylander probably has more assists if he constantly played with Matthews, at this point he doesn't need to.
What might be up for discussion are the left wingers on the two top lines.
Bertuzzi seems to be blending in with line 1-b, line 1-a is still a work in progress.
%-Matthews-marner
%-Tavares-Nylander
%-%-%
ThrowDemTongs
kid named jeff finger
I'm about ready for it to keep things fresh, I don't buy the notion that Auston Matthews needs a traditional playmaker on his line, the problem is the league has kind of this figured this pair out since Marner isn't really a shooting threat and always looks to pass. Not to mention when the duo try to go globetrotter mode, it doesn't really matter who their LW is.
Robertson Domi Marner could be interesting.
Robertson Domi Marner could be interesting.
With marner and Matthews being pretty quiet of late, I’d give it a look potentially, but it’s a double edged sword as 3rd line has been pretty good since being put together. Not that Marner would be a downgrade on Jarnkrok lol
Last edited:
GoonieFace
Registered User
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