Line Combos: Leafs lineup 2016-2017

[Stand Witness]

So many young players you want in the lineup and then you realize you have little to no vets. It'll be an interesting to see how they try and create a balance.

Could be the right time to move some younger players for young established roster players (Saad, Hamilton like players). Clears some room overall on the roster and kind of sells early on some guys we would have liked to hold on to but it allows us to open up more spots for guys who should be playing and making the team stronger.

Also important that I add when I say young players that obviously means Marner and Nylander are off the list. More of the Leivo's, Leipsic, Percy's off our prospect pool. Could be moved in a deal for picks to clear spots or packaged for a roster player and possibly with picks too. Kapanen could be on the block too but I don't think his value would return anything great.

Anyways...

JVR - Kadri - Soshnikov
Komarov - Matthews - Marner
Brown - Nylander - Hyman
___ - ___ - ____

If Stamkos signs,

JVR - Stamkos - Marner
Komarov - Matthews - Kadri
Brown - Nylander - Soshnikov
___ - ___ - Hyman

The awesome thing if there are so many high end players and so many possible line combinations. I think you want to play Marner with your best shooter and Nylander needs to be on a line where he is the go to, which is why he is playing 3rd line for me at the moment. Eventually the Kadri line would shift down to the 3rd line in my ideal world.

 

[pucci2001]

My best guess assuming no Stamkos or relevant UFAs is:
JVR - Kadri - Komarov
Nylander - Matthews - Sosh/Lupul
Michalek - Bozak - Sosh/Lupul
Hyman/Brown - Laich - Greening

Rielly - Marincin
Gards - Zaitsev
Harrington - Hunwick

After the deadline I expect us to drop as many vets as we can as well as Bozak to bring up a few more kids.

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Just throwing this out there, because I do feel Auston Matthews will be a stud centre. However, given the depth we have at centre (Nylander, Kadri, Bozak, Stamkos?), it might make drafting Laine (with comparisons to an Ovie) a better pick. hmmmm

 

[CabanaBoy5]

Could be the right time to move some younger players for young established roster players (Saad, Hamilton like players). Clears some room overall on the roster and kind of sells early on some guys we would have liked to hold on to but it allows us to open up more spots for guys who should be playing and making the team stronger.

Also important that I add when I say young players that obviously means Marner and Nylander are off the list. More of the Leivo's, Leipsic, Percy's off our prospect pool. Could be moved in a deal for picks to clear spots or packaged for a roster player and possibly with picks too. Kapanen could be on the block too but I don't think his value would return anything great.

I totally agree, but I wonder if management would construe that as "speeding up the rebuild" and therefore won't do it.

 

[AppsSyl]

With Stamkos & Vesey

Hyman-Stamkos-Marner
Vesey-Matthews-Nylander
Soshnikov-Kadri-Komarov
Greening-Laich-Brown

Rielly-? (UFA or Trade)
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Marincin-Carrick
Harrington

? (UFA or Trade)
Bibeau

Gone:JVR, Bozak, Michalek, Hunwick, Corrado, Bernier, Cowen, Sparks, Leivo, Percy
Buried:Horton, Robidas, Lupul

Without Stamkos or Vesey

JVR-Kadri-Komarov
Hyman-Nylander-Brown
Michalek-Matthews-Marner
Soshnikov-Laich-Greening

Rielly-? (UFA or Trade)
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Marincin-Carrick
Harrington

? (UFA or Trade)
Bibeau

Gone:Bozak, Hunwick, Corrado, Cowen, Sparks, Leivo, Percy
Buried:Horton, Robidas, Lupul

 

[Stand Witness]

I totally agree, but I wonder if management would construe that as "speeding up the rebuild" and therefore won't do it.

It all depends on how they view the team right now imo. Regardless of what they say, winning the lottery was a massive step and they won't admit it because they want to hold off on the pressure for the team but its true.

I think as long as the players they get in return are young roster players they will never really have to explain themselves. It is almost required at this point because we have so much talent and only X amount of spots.

I could also see them trading down from the Pittsburgh pick and getting a late 1st and a 2nd (depends on where the Pens finish) and then packaging 2 of our 2nd round picks for a roster player.

I could also see Pitts 1st + Caps 2nd + moved as well for a roster player.

 

[Paradoc]

Just throwing this out there, because I do feel Auston Matthews will be a stud centre. However, given the depth we have at centre (Nylander, Kadri, Bozak, Stamkos?), it might make drafting Laine (with comparisons to an Ovie) a better pick. hmmmm

We have a small percentage to get Stamkos, while we are guaranteed to get Matthews. Say for instance Stamkos doesn't sign with us (most likely).

Would you want Matthews-Nylander-Kadri down the middle vs Giroux-Couturier/Malkin-Crosby/Eichel-Reinhart/Backstrom-Kuznetzov, or Nylander-Kadri-Bozak down the middle? Stamkos would look nice and all, but I don't think he will do well vs them. I mean he did struggle in the playoffs the year Tampa made it to the playoffs and he doesn't really offer anything special other than scoring.

Now I like Stamkos and if management can sign him for a reasonable contract I'm all for it, but if you ask me, I would just draft Matthews and keep what I have for now.

 

[glasses91]

What RHD can we bring in to compliment Rielly and run with?

 

[Big Easy]

Id rather get rid of guys like Michelek, Laich, Greening. Id much prefer to give guys like Brown, Leivo, Leipsic and Hyman those spots. I know were suppose to have "vets" in our lineup but I think guys like Kadri, JVR, Komorov, Gardiner and even Rielly are going to be our young "vets". Having 4th line grinders and bottom pairing Dmen as our vets is going to have very little impact anyway.

 

[William Hylander]

Soshnikov-Kadri-Komarov
JVR-Mathews-Hyman
Michalek-Nylander-Brown
Laich-Bozak/Greening-Holland

I don't believe Bozak will be on this team next year, he's a capable 3rd liner who will be stuck due to Nylander and Mathews proven that they can play center professionally.

Rielly-Carrick
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Hunwick-Corrado

This is assuming no UFA signings, and minimal trade movement. Both will occur and the team will look completely different.

 

[Funk21]

JVR STAMKOS MARNER
VESEY MATTHEWS NYLANDER
KOMAROV KADRI SOSHNIKOV
LAICH HYMAN MICHALEK
GREENING

REILLY SHATTENKIRK
GARDINER ZAITSEV
MARINCIN CARRICK
LOOV/CARRADO

ANDERSEN
BERNIER

BOZAK TRADED TO STL ALONG WITH PITTS 1st FOR SHATTENKIRK (7*7)
WAS 2nd and TML 3rd or Kappenan FOR ANDERSEN
SIGN ZAITSEV
SIGN VESEY

LAICH, MICHALEK, AND GREENING (although showed some jam and is if willing to sign for 1.5 I'd extend) LIKELY TRADED AT THE DEADLINE

 

[Neil Hamburger]

JVR-Kadri-Soshnikov
Nylander-Matthews-Komarov
Michalek-Bozak-Marner
Greening-Laich-Hyman
Brown, Leivo, Holland

Hunwick-Rielly
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Marincin-Carrick
Percy, Harrington

Bernier
Sparks

Note: I think we'll sign at least one vet d-man like Hunwick this off-season, but I have no idea who. I also really doubt we go into the year with a Bernier/Sparks tandem, but I have no idea how the goalie situation will play out either.

 

[gabeliscious]

jvr stamkos nylander
komorov kadri brown
shoshnkov matthews marner
hyman laich lipsceic

 

[FlareKnight]

Id rather get rid of guys like Michelek, Laich, Greening. Id much prefer to give guys like Brown, Leivo, Leipsic and Hyman those spots. I know were suppose to have "vets" in our lineup but I think guys like Kadri, JVR, Komorov, Gardiner and even Rielly are going to be our young "vets". Having 4th line grinders and bottom pairing Dmen as our vets is going to have very little impact anyway.

I think you do keep some of those guys. Look having a roster that is 90% kids is fun, but we don't actually want to turn into the Oilers.

Babcock made good points in an interview about how many young guys make sense. It's something he's discussing with the coaching staff and Lou. They'll have to decide on the leadership core around the young guys.

I think Laich is in the lineup no doubt. He was a good influence and did play well enough to be in the lineup. There is going to be plenty of overturn and new faces, but I do think it has to be a slow process. All the more so if you have guys like Matthews and potentially Marner pushing for spots. Those spots probably coming at expense of guys like Leipsic and Leivo.

 

[bobermay]

JVR-Stamkos-Nylander
Komarov-Kadri-Brown/Soshnikov
Matthews-Bozak-Marner/Brown
Greening-Laich-Hyman/Soshnikov/Brown

 

[authentic]

Id rather get rid of guys like Michelek, Laich, Greening. Id much prefer to give guys like Brown, Leivo, Leipsic and Hyman those spots. I know were suppose to have "vets" in our lineup but I think guys like Kadri, JVR, Komorov, Gardiner and even Rielly are going to be our young "vets". Having 4th line grinders and bottom pairing Dmen as our vets is going to have very little impact anyway.

Agreed.

Soshnikov-Kadri-Komarov
JVR-Mathews-Hyman
Michalek-Nylander-Brown
Laich-Bozak/Greening-Holland

I don't believe Bozak will be on this team next year, he's a capable 3rd liner who will be stuck due to Nylander and Mathews proven that they can play center professionally.

Rielly-Carrick
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Hunwick-Corrado

This is assuming no UFA signings, and minimal trade movement. Both will occur and the team will look completely different.

No Marner?

 

[authentic]

JVR-Stamkos-Nylander
Komarov-Kadri-Brown/Soshnikov
Matthews-Bozak-Marner/Brown
Greening-Laich-Hyman/Soshnikov/Brown

Matthews won't be on the 3rd line...and he sure as hell won't be centered by Bozak, lol.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

Michalek-Kadri-Komarov
JVR-Nylander-Parenteau
Greening-Matthews-Marner/UFA/TRADE/MARLIE
Laich-C.Smith-Leivo
S. Carrick

Rielly-Hunwick
Gardiner-Zaitsev
Marincin-C. Carrick
Harrington

TRADE-Sparks

PP Forward Options: Everyone except Laich and S. Carrick really.
PP Defense Options: Rielly and Gardiner are pretty much guaranteed.
PK Forward Options: Laich and C. Smith/S. Carrick are pretty much locks; Kadri and Komarov also make a ton of sense.
PK Defense Options: All are possibilities.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holland, Percy, Corrado, Bernier, Bozak, Lupul, Robidas and Froese traded.

Harrington and S. Carrick used in situational matchups; both shutdown players, S. Carrick provides toughness element.

Depending upon deals involving players above; others may be traded (i.e. JVR, Hunwick, S. Carrick, C. Smith, Leivo, etc.)

 

[mallory67]

I feel like Connor Brown should get a full time spot. He's ready for one.

6 points already in his short 7 game stint.

Never thought Brown would succeed in the AHL. Too small and not quick enough.
This kid is 110% heart tho ... proving me wrong in every league.
6 points in 7 NHL games for a late round, hail mary pick?
Unreal.

 

[Bodybr3ak]

Stamkos makes more sense then ever now that our #1 pick is very likely NHL ready.


JVR- Stamkos-Nylander

Komarov--Kadri--Sosh

Vesey/Hyman--Bozak--Mathews

Michalek--Laich--Brown

Marner/Greening/Lievo

No way Mathews ever plays any position but center. Babs is gonna groom him from day one to be the next Toews/Bergeron.

 

[BertCorbeau]

I know Babs would prefer Nylander on the wing, but I bet Willie establishes himself as a centre.

(this is in no particular order .. I see the Leafs rolling four even lines next year)

JVR - Nylander - Brown
Matthews - Kadri - Soshnikov
Komarov - Bozak - Marner
Greening - Laich - Hyman

Rielly - Marincin
Gardiner - Zaitsev
Hunwick - Carrick

Bozak, Greening, Laich, Hunwick are all trade chips next year. Gotta try to avoid solely relying on the kids but there is a lot of ready talent that can crack the roster .. So I don't know what to do

 

[mallory67]

Matthews won't be on the 3rd line...and he sure as hell won't be centered by Bozak, lol.

Thanks for beating me to that.
Bozak will be centering a first class row on his way out of town ...

 

[AlmightyPO]

I think Bozak will 100% be moved for help on D, a goalie or a pick if we get Stamkos.

 

[WilliamNylander]

JVR - Matthews - Marner
Komarov - Kadri - Soshnikov
Brown - Nylander - Hyman
Greening - Holland - Laich

Rielly - Marincin
Gardiner - Zaitsev
Harrington - Carrick

Sparks
Bernier

 

[Grant]

ummm, huh???

Vets

JVR
Kadri
Komarov
Michalek
Bozak
Laich
Greening
Hunwick
Stamkos

I was more referring to the forwards so ignoring Hunwick and Stamkos (because we don't have him, yet), that is 7 vet forwards, sounds nice. But then there is Nylander, Marner, Matthews, Soshnikov, Hyman, Leipsic, Leivo, Brown, Lindberg and I'm probably forgetting 1 or 2 who are all looking like they belong in the NHL or are knocking on the door. That's another 9 forwards. I don't want to send a bunch down to the AHL/OHL, but I also don't want a forward lineup iced with only 4 or 5 vets.