Keefe, why?

[hobarth]

Over the AM, MM years TO has always had good to great top 2 lines but the 3rd lines have always been suspect or worse. It looked like finally TO had a 3rd line that could offer pretty good d and chip in some offense, that has been needed. Keefe finally put together a fairly strong looking 3rd but for some reason he's broke that line up by trying to use his swiss army knife, Hyman, to improve the top line. I don't know how much more effective moving Hyman to that line is working out but I do know the 3rd line we used to have with him on it isn't anywhere nearly as effective without Hyman.

Engvall, Mikhey and Hy need to be reunited and left alone, that's a good maybe even great 3rd line, keep it together. Tonite against Winterpeg, Mikhey and Engvall were -2 each, they're decent players when utilized properly and with the proper linemates, Kerfoot isn't.

AM and MM are going to blow hot and cold and when they're cold Hy isn't the answer, they're simply cold, the hotness will return. Hy drives the 3rd line and without him there TO returns to a 2 line team that's vulnerable when one of those lines are cold.

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[ToMaLe]

Over the AM, MM years TO has always had good to great top 2 lines but the 3rd lines have always been suspect or worse. It looked like finally TO had a 3rd line that could offer pretty good d and chip in some offense, that has been needed. Keefe finally put together a fairly strong looking 3rd but for some reason he's broke that line up by trying to use his swiss army knife, Hyman, to improve the top line. I don't know how much more effective moving Hyman to that line is working out but I do know the 3rd line we used to have with him on it isn't anywhere nearly as effective without Hyman.

Engvall, Mikhey and Hy need to be reunited and left alone, that's a good maybe even great 3rd line, keep it together. Tonite against Winterpeg, Mikhey and Engvall were -2 each, they're decent players when utilized properly and with the proper linemates, Kerfoot isn't.

AM and MM are going to blow hot and cold and when they're cold Hy isn't the answer, they're simply cold, the hotness will return. Hy drives the 3rd line and without him there TO returns to a 2 line team that's vulnerable when one of those lines are cold.

I couldn’t agree more, should of left that 3rd line alone, it was dominating.

 

[Teeder Keon]

That’s why we need 2 real elite big boy left wingers immediately
Do that Zach can play on the 3rd
But we can’t yet as Zach is our only player playing left and he’s a righty
For whatever reason , we aren’t trying Robertson again ? And also simultaneously acquiring real top 6 players on the left
We don’t have that in our system other than Robertson and really who knows that yet anyway
This huge problem isn’t going away by shifting players like Kerplunk around
And while we are at it
Please Jets get a true big rugged 3rd line centre

 

[Faltorvo]

Over the AM, MM years TO has always had good to great top 2 lines but the 3rd lines have always been suspect or worse. It looked like finally TO had a 3rd line that could offer pretty good d and chip in some offense, that has been needed. Keefe finally put together a fairly strong looking 3rd but for some reason he's broke that line up by trying to use his swiss army knife, Hyman, to improve the top line. I don't know how much more effective moving Hyman to that line is working out but I do know the 3rd line we used to have with him on it isn't anywhere nearly as effective without Hyman.

Engvall, Mikhey and Hy need to be reunited and left alone, that's a good maybe even great 3rd line, keep it together. Tonite against Winterpeg, Mikhey and Engvall were -2 each, they're decent players when utilized properly and with the proper linemates, Kerfoot isn't.

AM and MM are going to blow hot and cold and when they're cold Hy isn't the answer, they're simply cold, the hotness will return. Hy drives the 3rd line and without him there TO returns to a 2 line team that's vulnerable when one of those lines are cold.

2 guys making a combined 22.7m of the cap

should never ever ever "need a guy" to "get them going"

the HEM line needs to be put back together,,asap

 

[BTP]

That 3rd line will go back together when Dubas makes a move/ when Simmonds comes back.

 

[The Iceman]

I like Thornton on the JT line. That means the tip line needs a LW. Hyman to the rescue.

All good.

 

[123offtheglass]

Over the AM, MM years TO has always had good to great top 2 lines but the 3rd lines have always been suspect or worse. It looked like finally TO had a 3rd line that could offer pretty good d and chip in some offense, that has been needed. Keefe finally put together a fairly strong looking 3rd but for some reason he's broke that line up by trying to use his swiss army knife, Hyman, to improve the top line. I don't know how much more effective moving Hyman to that line is working out but I do know the 3rd line we used to have with him on it isn't anywhere nearly as effective without Hyman.

Engvall, Mikhey and Hy need to be reunited and left alone, that's a good maybe even great 3rd line, keep it together. Tonite against Winterpeg, Mikhey and Engvall were -2 each, they're decent players when utilized properly and with the proper linemates, Kerfoot isn't.

AM and MM are going to blow hot and cold and when they're cold Hy isn't the answer, they're simply cold, the hotness will return. Hy drives the 3rd line and without him there TO returns to a 2 line team that's vulnerable when one of those lines are cold.

Used to think they needed to find a guy to play with Tavares and Nylander but really it's Matthews & Marner to keep Hyman on that 3rd line. Jumbo looks like he can keep up with that 2nd line, even if Hyman needs to take some shifts from him there. For the meantime I don't have a clue who you put there though, Kerfoot??? Simmonds isn't healthy so if it isn't Kerfoot it comes down to Vesey vs the taxi squad & AHL guys. Maybe give Robertson a shot. Still think we need a trade.

 

[Nylander88]

Without a trade, Simmonds is going to be hopping right back into our top 6. I'm okay with that. It's Thornton playing all night in the top 6 that doesn't seem to work. He can handle about 15 minutes it seems is the magic number.

 

[Racer88]

That’s why we need 2 real elite big boy left wingers immediately
Do that Zach can play on the 3rd
But we can’t yet as Zach is our only player playing left and he’s a righty
For whatever reason , we aren’t trying Robertson again ? And also simultaneously acquiring real top 6 players on the left
We don’t have that in our system other than Robertson and really who knows that yet anyway
This huge problem isn’t going away by shifting players like Kerplunk around
And while we are at it
Please Jets get a true big rugged 3rd line centre

Unfortunately there is no cap space left to get those players you desire.
The Leafs will have to muddle along with a handful of high end players and lower paid lower talent players throughout the rest of the lineup.

 

[Leaftors]

There aren’t any issues with our forward lineup.

they had one bad game. Yep, those happen.

Hot takes too hot for skip bayless

 

[Spirit of 67]

Just looked out the window.
The sky is not falling.

The sun is even coming out.

 

[TheScandal89]

I think you trade Kerfoot for a suitable 3rd Centre and run this as your bottom 6

Robertson - Trade/Galchenyuk - Simmonds
Mikheyev - Spezza - Boyd

Yes the 3rd line was playing well but it was mainly just due to Hyman, Engvall is ok but he's not a true 3rd line centre and miky on that 4th line would really complete it aswell, he is probably too good for it but depth is what matters.

I think that's a solid bottom 6 if Roberson is able to produce

 

[Griffin76]

I think you trade Kerfoot for a suitable 3rd Centre and run this as your bottom 6

Robertson - Trade/Galchenyuk - Simmonds
Mikheyev - Spezza - Boyd

Yes the 3rd line was playing well but it was mainly just due to Hyman, Engvall is ok but he's not a true 3rd line centre and miky on that 4th line would really complete it aswell, he is probably too good for it but depth is what matters.

I think that's a solid bottom 6 if Roberson is able to produce

But where did Engvall go? He went from 3C to taxi squad? 4th line of Mikheyev Engvall Spezza does look good though.

 

[NK94]

But where did Engvall go? He went from 3C to taxi squad? 4th line of Mikheyev Engvall Spezza does look good though.

If Engvall isn’t forechecking, he’s not doing anything. Not to mention his $1.25M on the taxi squad can create some cap flexibility.

 

[TheScandal89]

But where did Engvall go? He went from 3C to taxi squad? 4th line of Mikheyev Engvall Spezza does look good though.

Yeah I wasn't sure where to put him, you could rotate him with Boyd for sure

 

[TheShape]

3rd line will be reunited, there's a half season left. Thornton is a placeholder in the top 6 , Simmonds rejoins once he's healthy and Leafs acquire top six 6 LW around deadline.

 

[Mess]

Hyman is the player, through his effort and consistent compete level, that makes the difference on any line he plays on. I thought Keefe made a wise coaching decision by replacing aging Thornton with Hyman with Mitch and Auston when playing Winnipeg who have a top 2 lines and top 6 forwards that can rival our top 4 forwards offensively.

Thornton is too old and too slow and incapable of keeping up with AM and MM on a regular basis. Even in the ozone as Auston and Mitch are dangling and cycling Joe is almost standing still and conserving energy when on that line. This might work against the lower QofC of the other CDN teams but not against Win.

In Leafs OT win against Winnipeg on Thurs that 1st Leafs goal was all Hyman that won a forecheck battle behind the Jets net, and then also got the puck back the the point that lead to a Leafs goal.. Without that the Leafs perhaps don't get the 2 points and get swept by Jets in this 3 game series.

Its not Hyman's fault that his absence from the 3rd line similarly reduced its effectiveness, because his loss was the determining factor in that result unfortunately.

 

[ToMaLe]

Hyman is the player, through his effort and consistent compete level, that makes the difference on any line he plays on. I thought Keefe made a wise coaching decision by replacing aging Thornton with Hyman with Mitch and Auston when playing Winnipeg who have a top 2 lines and top 6 forwards that can rival our top 4 forwards offensively.

Thornton is too old and too slow and incapable of keeping up with AM and MM on a regular basis. Even in the ozone as Auston and Mitch are dangling and cycling Joe is almost standing still and conserving energy when on that line. This might work against the lower QofC of the other CDN teams but not against Win.

In Leafs OT win against Winnipeg on Thurs that 1st Leafs goal was all Hyman that won a forecheck battle behind the Jets net, and then also got the puck back the the point that lead to a Leafs goal.. Without that the Leafs perhaps don't get the 2 points and get swept by Jets in this 3 game series.

Its not Hyman's fault that his absence from the 3rd line similarly reduced its effectiveness, because his loss was the determining factor in that result unfortunately.

I disagree, you don’t need Hyman to get Matthews or Marner going, but you do need Hyman to get the 3rd line going. Robertson would be a nice addition to the top line. They finally had a dominating 3rd line and of course broke it up. When they were together the Leafs looked unbeatable. With the Leafs having a loosing record since the line was broken up tells you something. The top line is no more effective now and now the 3rd line looks useless. As the saying goes, if its not broke, don't break it.

 

[TheOneArmedMan]

If the rest of the team put in the kind of effort Zack Hyman does then they would go places...
Right now the Jets look like the better team

 

[Antropovsky]

If the rest of the team put in the kind of effort Zack Hyman does then they would go places...
Right now the Jets look like the better team

Same problem that has plagued this team for years... there willingness to dig is typically less than the opponents. This team is skilled but their skill level isn't so much higher than opponents that they can work 30% less and still win.

I was watching Hyman working his tail off last game and thought... how bad would our work ethic look without him?

 

[Stephen]

I like Thornton on the JT line. That means the tip line needs a LW. Hyman to the rescue.

All good.

Did you guys remember the Joe Thornton John Tavares 2 on 1 in Game 2 vs Winnipeg in the dying seconds of the third when Thornton elected to just shoot the puck? I thought he was going to feather it for sure.

 

[Mad hatter]

If the rest of the team put in the kind of effort Zack Hyman does then they would go places...
Right now the Jets look like the better team

I agree Hyman’s work ethic is second to none and it would be great if every player played that hard.
The Jets were the second best team in 2 of the 3 games though, leafs are the better team imho.