Line Combos: Leafs roster [Before] & [After] and work in progress

[The Hanging Jowl]

You don't think a player like Simmonds who wears his heart on his sleeve should be on this team?

Here is the quality about players like him. He is on the bench talking to players and motivating guys. Why? He cares. Spezza does the same. Both are in Toronto because they want to wear the Maple Leaf crest on their jersey.

You can't replace that.

I'd like to see Dubas try and find a physical, veteran D Man to replace what they lost in Bogosian. This would at least ensure that their defense maintains that physical identity this year as they had last year.

If the team loses some skill in Hyman and Galchenyuk, replacing it with some bite and determination is a fair, possibly even desired trade off.

Build a playoff team, not a regular season team. Pile on Gamers and physical workhorses. We saw how teams like Ottawa caused trouble for other teams, that's a good identity to compliment your Big Four.

Problem is, it was a sleeve of golf balls.

 

[Mess]

The problem with that is our core can’t handle that.
If Ritchie starts hitting you, I’m not going to hit Ritchie.
Guess who I’m leaning on. Can the core take it? That’s the issue. Kucherov had a fractured rib, not done either guy. Hedman was injured.

Leafs have to soften up the opposition.

If we keep dumping it in to Ritchie corner and he finishes his checks on opposition Dmen its going to soften them up and give more time and space for Matthews and Marner.

If we have a 4th line that has Simmonds and Gabriel as well that line could be a momentum changer if every time they get a shift they make sure they up their hit counts and finish their checks and cause chaos.

Sometimes the skill players can avoid the attention and focus and I think this is the hope of dressing a roster with more push back even if that isn't coming from the core players.

 

[Racer88]

The problem with that is our core can’t handle that.
If Ritchie starts hitting you, I’m not going to hit Ritchie.
Guess who I’m leaning on. Can the core take it? That’s the issue. Kucherov had a fractured rib, not done either guy. Hedman was injured.

Ya that’s a very good point. We already know 2 of our expensive core will shy away from contact if at all possible, not sure how much pounding JT can handle. That only leaves Matthews and if he doesn’t start standing up for himself it could get ugly pretty quick

 

[TMLAM34]

As of right now, I’d like to see the current forward group.

Ritchie - Matthews - Nylander
Bunting - Tavares - Marner
Kerfoot - Kampf - Kase
Mikheyev - Spezza - Simmonds
Brooks


I’m hoping to see another big move however. Kempe would be my target. Maybe Kerfoot and Dermott makes it happen. We might have to add a solid prospect like Abramov to make it happen but it would save us 3 million.

 

[TMLAM34]

Kerfoot and Dermott for Kempe.

Kempe - Matthews - Nylander
Ritchie - Tavares - Marner
Bunting - Kampf - Kase
Mikheyev - Spezza - Simmonds
Brooks

 

[Crosscrease14]

Kerfoot and Dermott for Kempe.

Kempe - Matthews - Nylander
Ritchie - Tavares - Marner
Bunting - Kampf - Kase
Mikheyev - Spezza - Simmonds
Brooks

I like the idea but Dermott is so important to the defence right now imo. If any injury occurs he can fill in the top 4... It's questionable that Sandin or Lily can move up when they aren't even fully adjusted to the NHL yet. If the leafs can get a solid defender with the added cap space it could work.

 

[nuck]

I actually like the idea of trying Marner to carrying his own line. Make Tavares play a like Crosby roll and his job is to make the players around him better, while attentions on him. Matthews should play with Nylander and be another shot threat. Marner should be the set up guy on his own line and see if he can untap some hidden scoring potential to the other guys. They're getting paid like it, might as well try it out.

It's atleast worth a look.. worst case later on you put them together to spark them outta a slump.

The problem with rolling stars on 3 lines is giving them adequate ice time. Matthews, JT and Mitch should be playing about 19:00 or a little more in the regular season so that leaves 3 minutes for the 4th line. Also means their line mates who are not as elite may be getting too much use. I do like the idea of Mitch on a 3rd line to mix it up from time to time so they can roll the big 4 for most of the third period in close games. Or just to confuse the opposition once in a while. The Habs succeeded because of JT being out, but also because of the predictability of the Leafs game which had been very successful against them. Trying to shake thinks up in game 4 or 5 of a 7 game series would be like going to new line combinations for the game one of the season and expecting things to instantly mesh.

 

[TMLAM34]

I like the idea but Dermott is so important to the defence right now imo. If any injury occurs he can fill in the top 4... It's questionable that Sandin or Lily can move up when they aren't even fully adjusted to the NHL yet. If the leafs can get a solid defender with the added cap space it could work.

That would be the idea. That trade would free up 3 million in cap space putting us in a really good position at the trade deadline. I’d sign Gudbranson and have a defence of:

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Sandin - Gudbranson
Liljegren

 

[Leafsfan74]

Problem is, it was a sleeve of golf balls.

He didn't perform well in the playoffs. This has to change for 80% of these players. I still believe he can bring effective and passionate play on the ice. If Leafs pick up those willing to play hard, it makes it easier for others to do the same.

I've repeated the analogy of a "wolf pack" mentality, rather than a lone wolf. This would suit this team well when working along the edges of the lineup. For guys like Simmonds and Muzzin to be more physical and engaged, bring in others who are willing to do the same.

 

[Leafsfan74]

Ya that’s a very good point. We already know 2 of our expensive core will shy away from contact if at all possible, not sure how much pounding JT can handle. That only leaves Matthews and if he doesn’t start standing up for himself it could get ugly pretty quick

Well, the Leafs stars were given no quarter by the Habs. Leafs players have been pounded time and again every playoff. It's no secret, this is the book on them.

Keefe wisely stated this after Anderson said so during the press conference. Keefe knows his team needs to be able to throw their weight and battle in the trenches. He knows it. He wants the Leafs to do the same. He's not watching a different game than the rest of us.

The top dogs will definitely have to learn to fight through it if they want to be winners. The other approach though, is to have a response. The depth on your team must respond accordingly, especially as the league remains in the Stone Ages come playoffs.

Anyone old enough to remember when Gino Odjick nailed Gilmour and Clark famously told Pavel Bure "you tell Gino not to hit Gilmour anymore or I'm coming for you"? Pavel told Gino during the intermission and Gino didn't touch Gilmour again.

THAT is the type of mentality you must have with your big bodies. Throw the body on their stars but throw it much harder on their defensemen and contributing players. The only reason you aren't going overboard against their stars is that it could be yours next.

I guarantee you that Marner, Matthews et al, to a MAN want stronger, tougher, meaner teammates. They don't need to be goons, they have to play, but they need to be willing to go at it as a team and for the team.

 

[rumman]

No doubt this years dumpster diving has been better than last years dumpster diving. Simmonds is the only one too old to do what he used to be able to do imo.

 

[hockeynorth]

Ya that’s a very good point. We already know 2 of our expensive core will shy away from contact if at all possible, not sure how much pounding JT can handle. That only leaves Matthews and if he doesn’t start standing up for himself it could get ugly pretty quick

not even gonna lie, I thought the bolded was referring to Matthews and Marner and the second bolded was gonna say Nylander

 

[ottomaddox]

CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM

These are very unrealistic rosters people are coming up with.

All the new leafs. All of them. Every single one of them are not elite players.

There is no way TOR is going to go through with all the proposed rosters.

This is the likely line combos:

_____ Mathews Nylander
Kerfoot Tavares Marner
Ritchie Kampf Mikheyev
Bunting Engvall Spezza
Simmonds

Also looming is Morgan Rielly being traded. I love Rielly, but to let him be a (yet another) own rental will be a terrible thing to see. If you think Kyle can re-sign him and keep the 4 star players then guess again. Rielly will be getting paid next year and Kyle can't go there. He has to get a return for him now.

Sandin Brodie
Muzzin Holl
Dermott Liljegren

Campbell
Mrezak

 

[FraumBallard]

dooom and glooomm lol .. i am usually the super pessimistic one but goddamn its like a virus spreading on these boards.

look good team lose in the playoffs , it happens EVERY year.
Florida last again in the first round last year AGAIN and everyone is still loving their team... meanwhile they lost their star goalie, second line center top 4 dman. you can literally do a side by side comparison between these 2 teams and someone EVERYONE is loving the panthers and hating the leafs.
why because they have a 28 year old huberdeau and 25 year old barkov? while the leafs have a 23 year old matthews and marner. our dcore and goaltending is the same as the one that finished top 6 in all categories last year, what's the problem ? because we don't have a random unknown in carter V that will save the teams depth and score 20+ goals, are they expecting spencer knight to become a top 5 goalie his first year out ?? everyone is already penciling Florida as the best team in the division ... how exactly ?
also every other top 4 team in this division lost GIGANTIC peices and yet the leafs wont make the playoffs ? in what world ?

also its not like we got swept and fizzled out like the oilers, who AGAIN everyone is loving and another example of a team that accomplished nothing and somehow is getting all the love.


people need to chill the hell out. the amount of negative is palpable. we went from cheering on our prospects to shitting on them. This pisses me off the most, sure you can be negative to the team but you need to be a heartless ass to not cheer for 18-19 year old kids.


anyways getting back on topic. The team is still 3 months away from opening day why are we making depth charts this early ?? than being said the team doesnt suck, like i have to keep mentioning its the same Dcore and goaltending that was dominant .. top 6 finish in almost all defensive stats last year.
for the offense, you all need to go back and check you horrid starting lineup with thornton, vesey, in the top 6, barabanov, simmonds, kerfoot, all miscast. sure we lost hyman but i feel the team structure is better with a pure 3C , a much better LW than vesey in the top 6 , no thornton to kill the PP and any line he is on, simmonds pushed to the 4th line.
finally having a good shutdown line with envgvall-kampf-mik is an underrated change ...

The Leafs would be a surprise playoff team this year.
We are much worse ( Hyman/Foligno/Bogo/Andy )
The division will be way tougher , which is why last years stats ; and stats in general mean very little.
We could only dream to have a Barkov or Ekblad.

 

[Maple Leaf]

The Leafs would be a surprise playoff team this year.
We are much worse ( Hyman/Foligno/Bogo/Andy )
The division will be way tougher , which is why last years stats ; and stats in general mean very little.
We could only dream to have a Barkov or Ekblad.

No

 

[Stonehands1990]

The problem with rolling stars on 3 lines is giving them adequate ice time. Matthews, JT and Mitch should be playing about 19:00 or a little more in the regular season so that leaves 3 minutes for the 4th line. Also means their line mates who are not as elite may be getting too much use. I do like the idea of Mitch on a 3rd line to mix it up from time to time so they can roll the big 4 for most of the third period in close games. Or just to confuse the opposition once in a while. The Habs succeeded because of JT being out, but also because of the predictability of the Leafs game which had been very successful against them. Trying to shake thinks up in game 4 or 5 of a 7 game series would be like going to new line combinations for the game one of the season and expecting things to instantly mesh.

You’re not factoring special teams into the equation. If you have your stars on 3 separate lines they’d each get 15 minutes 5 v 5 and then PP time

 

[zeke]

The Leafs would be a surprise playoff team this year.
We are much worse ( Hyman/Foligno/Bogo/Andy )
The division will be way tougher , which is why last years stats ; and stats in general mean very little.
We could only dream to have a Barkov or Ekblad.

Andy was one of the worst goalies in hockey last year.

Foligno played 7gms.

 

[Superstar]

The Leafs would be a surprise playoff team this year.
We are much worse ( Hyman/Foligno/Bogo/Andy )
The division will be way tougher , which is why last years stats ; and stats in general mean very little.
We could only dream to have a Barkov or Ekblad.

Matthews and Tavares are better centres than Barkov, and Rielly is a better dman than Ekblad.

 

[justloveleafs]

Well, the Leafs stars were given no quarter by the Habs. Leafs players have been pounded time and again every playoff. It's no secret, this is the book on them.

Keefe wisely stated this after Anderson said so during the press conference. Keefe knows his team needs to be able to throw their weight and battle in the trenches. He knows it. He wants the Leafs to do the same. He's not watching a different game than the rest of us.

The top dogs will definitely have to learn to fight through it if they want to be winners. The other approach though, is to have a response. The depth on your team must respond accordingly, especially as the league remains in the Stone Ages come playoffs.

Anyone old enough to remember when Gino Odjick nailed Gilmour and Clark famously told Pavel Bure "you tell Gino not to hit Gilmour anymore or I'm coming for you"? Pavel told Gino during the intermission and Gino didn't touch Gilmour again.

THAT is the type of mentality you must have with your big bodies. Throw the body on their stars but throw it much harder on their defensemen and contributing players. The only reason you aren't going overboard against their stars is that it could be yours next.

I guarantee you that Marner, Matthews et al, to a MAN want stronger, tougher, meaner teammates. They don't need to be goons, they have to play, but they need to be willing to go at it as a team and for the team.

Great post.

 

[Ashdown2]

The Leafs would be a surprise playoff team this year.
We are much worse ( Hyman/Foligno/Bogo/Andy )
The division will be way tougher , which is why last years stats ; and stats in general mean very little.
We could only dream to have a Barkov or Ekblad.

the atlantic is the second worst division in hockey ... how exactly do u see it bring tough ?

 

[Dreakmur]

Matthews and Tavares are better centres than Barkov, and Rielly is a better dman than Ekblad.

Matthews is better than Barkov, but it’s close. Tavares isn’t as good, and Rielly isn’t as good as Ekblad.

 

[kb]

the atlantic is the second worst division in hockey ... how exactly do u see it bring tough ?

Where does this misinfo come from?

 

[Dreakmur]

the atlantic is the second worst division in hockey ... how exactly do u see it bring tough ?

There are some bad teams, but we’re not competing with them for playoff spots. We have to beat Tampa, Florida and Boston.

 

[Legion34]

the atlantic is the second worst division in hockey ... how exactly do u see it bring tough ?

you do realize that the entire Stanley cup final. The back to back cup champs. A division winner and last years presidents trophy winner are all in the Atlantic right?

 

[Legion34]

There are some bad teams, but we’re not competing with them for playoff spots. We have to beat Tampa, Florida and Boston.

I think there is a good chance that there will be 5 Atlantic teams in the playoffs this year.

pitt. Wash. Philly and Carolina all got worse. The isles don’t bother to play until the post season. The rangers have traded talent for goons