Toggle sidebar

GDT: Leafs vs Ducks

  • Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
Status
Not open for further replies.
BertCorbeau said:
Keefe needs to toy with line combos in case the need arises when it matters.

Nylander’s been such a strong driver of play that he could add something to that third line
Click to expand...

Exactly. I have no issue with experimenting with the "3 line attack" approach before the playoffs actually start. Tavares needs one of the other Big Four to carry his line, so it makes sense that either Marner or Nylander would stick there.

My only issue is playing Kampf between Kerfoot and Nylander in this configuration. If you're going for a 3 line attack, go for a 3 line attack. This line isn't going to be used in a shutdown orientation, so I don't really know why you need Kampf there. Rather flip him with Engvall.

The small sample of Bunting-Matthews-Kase looked very good, so I'd like to see them get a longer run.
 
  • Like
Reactions: leafsfan5, saffronleaf and Seath The Scaleless
I felt in the playoffs, with Montreal throwing hard matchups against the Matthews line that it made a ton of sense to put Matthews/Marner/Nylander on different lines (in the way Pittsburgh would with Crosby/Malkin/Kessel).

It would've taken away the combined impact of Danault and Weber. It was maddening that Keefe didn't even try it.

It's good they're experimenting with it now. At least have it in your back pocket.
 
  • Like
Reactions: banks, NiftyMits, Smif and 9 others
Guy Boucher said:
I felt in the playoffs, with Montreal throwing hard matchups against the Matthews line that it made a ton of sense to put Matthews/Marner/Nylander on different lines (in the way Pittsburgh would with Crosby/Malkin/Kessel).

It would've taken away the combined impact of Danault and Weber. It was maddening that Keefe didn't even try it.

It's good they're experimenting with it now. At least have it in your back pocket.
Click to expand...
Keefer did some of it with JT injury and Willy and Kerfoot performed very well together .. I expect that line will dominate next game .. no team can match that 3rd line today .. and it looks to me like your playoff preview here folks .. Mitch will help out JT they are a great match .. Matty does not need anyone else to produce he can drive his own line .. this was talk before year started with Keefer as I mentioned to you guys in fall ... but then he backed away from it during camp .. it makes da most sense truly and it should pay dividends immediately
 
Guy Boucher said:
I felt in the playoffs, with Montreal throwing hard matchups against the Matthews line that it made a ton of sense to put Matthews/Marner/Nylander on different lines (in the way Pittsburgh would with Crosby/Malkin/Kessel).

It would've taken away the combined impact of Danault and Weber. It was maddening that Keefe didn't even try it.

It's good they're experimenting with it now. At least have it in your back pocket.
Click to expand...

Price played well, Danault got absolutely demolished in every metric to measure player impact except goals.

This narrative that Danault did anything is hilarious to me, it is like people just looked at the boxscore and nothing else.
 
notbias said:
Price played well, Danault got absolutely demolished in every metric to measure player impact except goals.

This narrative that Danault did anything is hilarious to me, it is like people just looked at the boxscore and nothing else.
Click to expand...

That was their game plan you fool, they WANTED Matthews taking shots from wherever he wanted because they knew Danualt would Jedi mind trick him into hitting 6 or 7 posts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dekes For Days and BertCorbeau
I don’t hate it, only one thing that kinda worries me

1st line- No complaints from me, that line has looked very good in a small sample size and should be given another look

2nd line - No real complaints either. Marner has the highest chance of sparking Tavares to do something on EVS, mikheyev is a speedy winger who is scoring rn so I like him getting the bump

3rd line - I don’t mind Nylander playing third line, in fact I have always wanted to see how 3 different scoring lines would work, kerfoot is the obvious pick. However, David kampf I don’t think fits in. Yes he’s a defensive beast, yes he may make that line better defensively. But I just don’t think he can keep up with nylander and kerfoot and it’ll result in plays dying on his stick. I’d much rather engvall or spezza, players who have the offensive IQ. I’d lean towards engvall as he also is solid defensively.
 
  • Like
Reactions: leafsfan5
Mess said:
Really nice to see coach Keefe finally coming around to my line of thinking since the preseason in attempting to create a top 9 and split up Matthews and Marner and spread the wealth of the top core 4 forwards among the 3 lines. :yo:

Keefe's practice line-up

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

My recommended line-up

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

The only difference from Keefe's line-up to my suggested one, is that Marner and Nylander would flip spots, and have 1 X $11 mil player on each of their own lines. Or flip Kerfoot and Marner and let Nylander support Mitch's line since he is the one of the top 3 that could use the most goal scoring support.

Keefe's configuration uses Marner as the floater among the lines, and I've suggested it be Nylander instead. I think Willy would thrive at C and give the Leafs best strength down the middle in the NHL of Matthews, Tavares and Nylander with Kampf and the checking line C.

Creating a balanced attack among the top 9 and using the core 4 to create it would create endless matchup headaches for the opposition to defend, and on any giving a night 1 of the 3 offense lines could get hot and carry the load and the team to victory.

Better late then never I suppose, but slowly things are starting to fall into place for the playoff ideal roster configuration.:wg:
Click to expand...
Wow - other than being completely wrong, you nailed it. Definitely calls for a victory lap.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dekes For Days, thinkblue, Apex Predator and 3 others
Fogelhund said:
It's like 1C, just we have line 1B, and 1A... who cares what you label the lines as, as long as the team is effective and wins. It doesn't suggest ice time... just mixes up the talent.
Click to expand...

This. I'm also happy to see new lines because, why not? The more looks you have up your sleeve for the playoffs, the better.
 
Fogelhund said:
It's like 1C, just we have line 1B, and 1A... who cares what you label the lines as, as long as the team is effective and wins. It doesn't suggest ice time... just mixes up the talent.
Click to expand...

At some points either Marner or Nylander is going back with Matthews, Nylander won't be on line 3 long term.

I'm not saying it won't last the entire game, although I wouldn't be totally surprised if it didn't.

But I fully expect them to revert back at the first sign of trouble.
 
“[Keefe] just said he wanted to see us get a new look, and it's his job to keep the minutes the same.” -Nylander. (Source: Why Keefe is switching up the Maple Leafs’ top nine)

Is a demotion really a demotion if a player's ice time is the same? I think Willie may thrive here not facing shutdown lines and I've long been a fan of the Leafs spreading the talent out. Just hope Mitch can wake Tavares up but I do think this look can work if Keefe is patient enough to let the forwards get used to it.
 
Nylanderthal said:
Does anyone else have their whole paragraph wiped out by the page refreshing? This is a new experience for me. What’s changed recently that has the server all messed up?
Also, I know there was always ads but these top and bottom banners are really annoying
Click to expand...

Apparently it’s a Google Chrome issue. I started using safari with Adblock to make this site tolerable.
 
Mess said:
Really nice to see coach Keefe finally coming around to my line of thinking since the preseason in attempting to create a top 9 and split up Matthews and Marner and spread the wealth of the top core 4 forwards among the 3 lines. :yo:

Keefe's practice line-up

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

My recommended line-up

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

The only difference from Keefe's line-up to my suggested one, is that Marner and Nylander would flip spots, and have 1 X $11 mil player on each of their own lines. Or flip Kerfoot and Marner and let Nylander support Mitch's line since he is the one of the top 3 that could use the most goal scoring support.

Keefe's configuration uses Marner as the floater among the lines, and I've suggested it be Nylander instead. I think Willy would thrive at C and give the Leafs best strength down the middle in the NHL of Matthews, Tavares and Nylander with Kampf and the checking line C.

Creating a balanced attack among the top 9 and using the core 4 to create it would create endless matchup headaches for the opposition to defend, and on any giving a night 1 of the 3 offense lines could get hot and carry the load and the team to victory.

Better late then never I suppose, but slowly things are starting to fall into place for the playoff ideal roster configuration.:wg:
Click to expand...

I call BS, you thought they signed Kase for LTIR cap maneuvering but you had him as a top line winger by preseason?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dekes For Days
Honestly here’s what I’d try
Bunting-Matthews-mik=Speed and scoring
Spezza-jt-Marner =face offs and scoring
Nylander-kerfoot-Kase=Line matching and scoring
Engval-kampf-Simmonds=defensive shut down
 
Aashir Mallick said:
I don’t hate it, only one thing that kinda worries me

1st line- No complaints from me, that line has looked very good in a small sample size and should be given another look

2nd line - No real complaints either. Marner has the highest chance of sparking Tavares to do something on EVS, mikheyev is a speedy winger who is scoring rn so I like him getting the bump

3rd line - I don’t mind Nylander playing third line, in fact I have always wanted to see how 3 different scoring lines would work, kerfoot is the obvious pick. However, David kampf I don’t think fits in. Yes he’s a defensive beast, yes he may make that line better defensively. But I just don’t think he can keep up with nylander and kerfoot and it’ll result in plays dying on his stick. I’d much rather engvall or spezza, players who have the offensive IQ. I’d lean towards engvall as he also is solid defensively.
Click to expand...

I think that’s the point - to see if Kampf centring that line works. We know Willy and Kerfoot can gel together. Good time to test it out. I have my doubts it will work but who knows.

Maybe there’s some HBK magic there
 
  • Like
Reactions: stickty111
BertCorbeau said:
I think that’s the point - to see if Kampf centring that line works. We know Willy and Kerfoot can gel together. Good time to test it out. I have my doubts it will work but who knows.

Maybe there’s some HBK magic there
Click to expand...
Yea who knows, it could work great and if so it makes us that much more deeper. At its best that can be a high flying line that bites you on the rush, but can also cycle whilst maintaining enough defensively responsibility so that they won’t need to be sheltered too much.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom