Not sure if you're counting Knies as one of these yet but if not, you probably should.
I agree. The forward group is set imo. I think the leafs are a lot more tough with Bertuzzi, Knies and Domi. We might not have a Tom Wilson type but most teams don’t.
I’d consider signing domi Gregor not soo much unless he’s giving you a sweet deal 3*3 even then I probably wouldn’t
Knies is just a rookie. He had one good game, and that's it. You can't put him in the top six in the playoffs. Florida will eat him like they did last time. He has good chemistry with Domi and there he belongs. We need an experienced, proven guy. Like Hyman. He was on pace for 30 goals in each of his two last seasons with the Leafs. That's the number we need from a power forward playing with Matthews, not Knies 15 goals.
Knies had a lot more than one good game in the last playoffs, IIRC he played a fair bit in the top 6. He also didn't play much against Florida considering he got injured in game 2. If he played great in the last playoffs with almost no NHL experience at all, how sure are you that he's not capable of playing in the top 6 a year later? I'm not saying pencil him in as a top 6 power forward, but there's no reason to say that there's no way he can be that guy by the time the spring rolls around. That's the way I see it anyway, no reason to sell him short, this kid is a fast learner!
lol I totally forgot about that guy but then how can That be when he was the epitome of all things average and ultimately disappointing about the non core players on the leafs.
that’s an insane take.
Of course, he didn't play much against Florida. They injured him pretty quickly. You can't rely on rookies. The Leafs need a seasoned vet to play with Matthews and Nylander in the playoffs. And Knies as a plan B on the third line. He may or may not pan out. Serious organizations don't gamble.
3 games is a huge sample size.
Lots of rookies have shined in the playoffs and every team gambles all the time, in a sense, every decision is a gamble. Knies has shown so much in so little time, a few months from now, who knows what he could be? You yourself might think that he's one of our best forwards.
The Leafs have already tried this forward combination. And got destroyed by Florida. No Knies development can compensate this gap. They need a much tougher forward group. Matthews and Nylander are both mentally weak, and you want to add a rookie to them? They need a gritty vet to stabilize that line.
You had to go back almost 30 years to find an enforcer who scored a big goal in the playoffs?
No. Thing is, Knies reminds me of Zubrus and there are other similarities between 97 Philadelphia and the current Leafs. Two patchwork teams.
Knies doesn't have to play with Matthews and Nylander in order to play in the top 6.
The only way for Knies to play in the top six is to move Bertuzzi to the first line. Which is doubtful.To hold against thug waves, it should be:
That's fine with me, but if that mystery Gritty xxx never appears, then it could be Knies. I don't think it's too likely we are able to acquire a forward better than Knies, a top 4 Dman is our biggest need and we don't have all that much to trade (unless you're OK with completely emptying the cupboards) so it's likely we'll be rolling with the forward group we have now.
In this scenario, your 'third' line is actually the second, which puts Knies in the top six anyway.
Those mascots need a NTC or NMC in the worst way!
You prefer this softy?
Ok, you’ve got me warming up to the idea….Good net front presence...would go a long way to screening the goalie...could take a few crosschecks too...
