Pre-Game Talk: Leafs @ Panthers - Wednesday 7:30 - SN

[Obo]

Holmberg is on two lines?

What a coach's pet.

 

[LeafSteel]

Berube LOVES Holmberg. One of the more peculiar developments of the season.

Make an all Swede line.

Nylander-Homberg-Nylander and let’s see if he takes it up a notch.

Tre Kroner v.2024.

 

[supermann_98]

Sounds like Matthews is playing as expected.

God I hope McCabe isn't seriously injured. He's been a beast,

As someone who hasn't been a big believer in McCabe the last couple years he has indeed been a beast this year. Playing with Tanev has worked wonders for him

 

[Fogelhund]

Holmberg is on two lines?

I think that's an error.. I think that fourth line is actually --> Steeves - Dewar - Lorentz

Make an all Swede line.

Nylander-Homberg-Nylander and let’s see if he takes it up a notch.

Tre Kroner v.2024.

Nylander- Holmberg -Nylander
OEL - Lil... oh wait.

 

[TMLBlueandWhite]

My only issue with the three stars on separate lines is that it really reduces their 5v5 ice time, having to feed three lines big minutes instead of two. Definitely something to consider when Domi is back tho as we know he works well with Matthews

You eliminate the fourth line and run an 11-7 roster.

 

[budzz]

Holmberg-Holmberg-Holmberg
Holmes-Holmy-Bergy
Holmsey-Bergman-Holmer
Pontus-Ponty-Pontmeister

 

[Fogelhund]

""

""

 

[budzz]

""

""

Been almost a month so I get it. Especially as we know Florida is gonna bang him at every chance.

 

[Stephen]

I get that there are injuries. But once everyone is back, I hope 34-16-88 are on three separate lines. We need to give this an extended look. Knies and Domi with Matthews should work well anyways.

Yeah separating them would be the best.

 

[NJG]

Is Hakanpaa banged up? Or just wasn't playing good enough to make the top 6?

 

[Dekes For Days]

Is Hakanpaa banged up? Or just wasn't playing good enough to make the top 6?

He was just bad.

 

[wingman75]

Is Hakanpaa banged up? Or just wasn't playing good enough to make the top 6?

Feels like he got in just to give Benoit a breather and a chance to reset, which he has done.

I would guess he gets back in here and there, but remember, he was coming back from a loooong time off.

Depth is good.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

Feels like he got in just to give Benoit a breather and a chance to reset, which he has done.

I would guess he gets back in here and there, but remember, he was coming back from a loooong time off.

Depth is good.

plus benoit since the reset has actually looked really good IMO. Much more stable on the backend and physical as always. A bit too many penalties but I can live with it

Hakanpaa will get in, whether through rotation or injuries, but he for sure will get some games.

 

[Dekes For Days]

I'm not surprised that Robertson wants to be traded. Perfect opportunity to play him with one of the core 4, and Holmberg is getting chances above him. Holmberg hasn't done anything to earn that, and I don't know what that 3rd line is supposed to be. They're not putting him in positions to succeed. Not playing him with players that can get him the puck. Not rewarding two posts last game, and a real noticeable improvement in the other areas of the game that they're asking him to focus on.

You can tell that he's getting frustrated about good process not leading to good results, and he's gripping his stick too tight. You would think they'd want to get him going, but they seem so disinterested in helping him open the floodgates and get him feeling better and more relaxed. Even despite praising his game. It's odd.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

I'm not surprised that Robertson wants to be traded. Perfect opportunity to play him with one of the core 4, and Holmberg is getting chances above him. Holmberg hasn't done anything to earn that, and I don't know what that 3rd line is supposed to be. They're not putting him in positions to succeed. Not playing him with players that can get him the puck. Not rewarding two posts last game, and a real noticeable improvement in the other areas of the game that they're asking him to focus on.

You can tell that he's getting frustrated about good process not leading to good results, and he's gripping his stick too tight. You would think they'd want to get him going, but they seem so disinterested in helping him open the floodgates and get him feeling better and more relaxed. Even despite praising his game. It's odd.

While I agree that holmberg doesn't deserve this role either, what has robertson done apart from apparently having the skill to play there. As for not putting him in positions to succeed, I completely disagree.

no player gets as much rope as robertson does. Dude has 1 point, I don't give a single shit about processes at that point. His name could be Chris Tanev and I would still call him out

He's getting ~12 minutes a game and ~1 minute on the pp and has shown jack shit.

He has barely been scratched. He has been given consistently 10+ minutes and even had a couple over 15 and yet has done nothing. He is sent out on PP2 constantly without having done anything

There has to be a line between trying to get a guy going and gifting him a spot he doesn't deserve.

The team has held up it's end of the bargain and then some, time for robertson to repay them

 

[wingman75]

plus benoit since the reset has actually looked really good IMO. Much more stable on the backend and physical as always. A bit too many penalties but I can live with it

Hakanpaa will get in, whether through rotation or injuries, but he for sure will get some games.

Fully agree. Seems the coach made the right call there.

I'm not surprised that Robertson wants to be traded. Perfect opportunity to play him with one of the core 4, and Holmberg is getting chances above him. Holmberg hasn't done anything to earn that, and I don't know what that 3rd line is supposed to be. They're not putting him in positions to succeed. Not playing him with players that can get him the puck. Not rewarding two posts last game, and a real noticeable improvement in the other areas of the game that they're asking him to focus on.

You can tell that he's getting frustrated about good process not leading to good results, and he's gripping his stick too tight. You would think they'd want to get him going, but they seem so disinterested in helping him open the floodgates and get him feeling better and more relaxed. Even despite praising his game. It's odd.

While Holmberg is not great, he is (playing) better or equal to Robertson in every area other than shooting, which Robertson rarely is able to use. Pontus can PK, is a good skater, is a smart player and is defensively responsible.

Robertson is eye candy. Maybe he will have some success somewhere else, seems clear he will not here (and that is not on the coaching staff).

 

[Maple Leaf]

Fully agree. Seems the coach made the right call there.


While Holmberg is not great, he is (playing) better or equal to Robertson in every area other than shooting, which Robertson rarely is able to use. Pontus can PK, is a good skater, is a smart player and is defensively responsible.

Robertson is eye candy. Maybe he will have some success somewhere else, seems clear he will not here (and that is not on the coaching staff).

Robertson is overrated because of his junior scucess and his brother

 

[Dekes For Days]

While I agree that holmberg doesn't deserve this role either, what has robertson done apart from apparently having the skill to play there.

More than Holmberg.

As for not putting him in positions to succeed, I completely disagree. no player gets as much rope as robertson does. Dude has 1 point, I don't give a single shit about processes at that point. His name could be Chris Tanev and I would still call him outHe's getting ~12 minutes a game and ~1 minute on the pp and has shown jack shit.

I wouldn't call the 10th most TOI/GP and 10th most PP TOI/GP among forwards on the team, putting him in positions to succeed. I wouldn't call playing him exclusively in the bottom six despite countless injuries, on lines that don't mesh, with other players that are struggling, putting him in positions to succeed. We need to decide if we want to punish him for not yet producing (just like a lot of our depth), despite playing well, generating chances, drawing PPs, etc., or if we want to get him going and have a valuable depth player. I'd prefer the latter.

 

[ULF_55]

YESSS, Matty with Willy and the Marner line intact

Add Knies to that 2nd line instead of Holmberg and that top 6 looking mighty fine

The fact that Mermis is with Tanev tells me that McCabe will play regardless of missing practice

Holmberg for LW face-offs, Nylander for RW face-offs.

Save the wear and tear on the delicate little flower's back.

 

[Aashir Mallik]

More than Holmberg.

I wouldn't call the 10th most TOI/GP and 10th most PP TOI/GP among forwards on the team, putting him in positions to succeed. I wouldn't call playing him exclusively in the bottom six despite countless injuries, on lines that don't mesh, with other players that are struggling, putting him in positions to succeed. We need to decide if we want to punish him for not yet producing (just like a lot of our depth), despite playing well, generating chances, drawing PPs, etc., or if we want to get him going and have a valuable depth player. I'd prefer the latter.

Holmberg has as many goals and more points and plays 20 seconds more. He PK’s a lot and can take faceoffs. Robertson has a shot that he can’t get off and playmaking that isn’t working.

Robertson has as many point as reaves, at some point you have to produce to get those chances. Steven Lorentz has done more with 4th line minutes than Robertson has with PP2 and third line. Him vs holmberg isn’t a big difference on the second line when both probably shouldn’t be on the roster.

Players who play comparable minutes to Robertson and still out produce him are abundant, a few being Manigapane, Jackson Blake, Jack Drury, Thomas Tatar, Samoskevich, Alex Turcotte.

if Robertson had production at their level, then the line-mates argument I would buy, but he is usually the player with the least goals and points on his line every time. His results haven’t been there and yet the team gets blamed for his shortcomings.

He needs to break through with the minutes he has, it’s up to him.

 

[LeafSteel]

I think that's an error.. I think that fourth line is actually --> Steeves - Dewar - Lorentz


Nylander- Holmberg -Nylander
OEL - Lil... oh wait.

Can’t tell if your response is serious or not, but my Tre Kroner was a joke.

As for OEL-Liljegren, that’s how a lot here penciled it in, and it would have been nice if it had worked out that way.

Not unhappy with the outcome though, and seeing Timmins run with the opportunity.

 

[1specter]

As someone who hasn't been a big believer in McCabe the last couple years he has indeed been a beast this year. Playing with Tanev has worked wonders for him

He was great last year too. He singlehandedly made Benoit look like a legitimate top 4 D, and in the playoffs he was dynamite especially in the elimination games.

 

[1specter]

Would love to win this obviously but can't help but feel like this is when the luck runs out a bit. Stolarz is the great equalizer though, and playing his old team he might have some extra juice in him to put up an elite performance.

 

[wingman75]

Would love to win this obviously but can't help but feel like this is when the luck runs out a bit. Stolarz is the great equalizer though, and playing his old team he might have some extra juice in him to put up an elite performance.

Feels like a game we have to keep within a goal... if FLA gets a couple goal lead, I doubt we are able to make a comeback.

Agree with your take that we will be on the other side of the bounces at some point.

At least they didn't go down on Monday and bask in the sun or on the beach for a day and a half. The Tampa game could be more of a problem lol.

 

[ACC1224]

Feels like a game we have to keep within a goal... if FLA gets a couple goal lead, I doubt we are able to make a comeback.

Agree with your take that we will be on the other side of the bounces at some point.

At least they didn't go down on Monday and bask in the sun or on the beach for a day and a half. The Tampa game could be more of a problem lol.

You know golf and Thanksgiving football is on the agenda for Thursday.