GDT: Leafs vs Ducks

[JT AM da real deal]

I never obsessed over minutes and I said 3 times I don't see it lasting long. I said it's purposeless because it's obvious it won't work out. They're wasting time doing randomness. The team is out of sync due to covid and they're being thrown more out of sync with Keefe being random.

But since I'm here, spreading offence /= generating offence. You're slashing Nylanders 80 point pace by like anywhere between 15-30 points pushing him to the third line with 2 guys who won't even combine for 15-20 goals. That's my initial prediction glancing at those lines. It doesn't mean I'm against trying it for a game or 2 to see what actually happens.

Willy is only 5 tool player we got on team .. he will absolutely destroy any 3rd line in this league .. he is gonna put up HUGE numbers in next 8 games .. and Kerfoot is best partner for him on current team as he and Mik are only 2 other forwards who can keep up with him

 

[X66]

I'd imagine the Leafs would be more likely to make a trade closer to the deadline due to cap reasons, no?

I wonder if they do trade for a guy like Mayfield if they can get the Islanders to throw in Parise too.

 

[Mess]

Did Keefe explain how he came to this sudden realization?

I'm guessing that the success of the Bunting -- Matthews -- Kase line had while Marner was out, as a reason Keefe is going back to what worked both ES and PP at that time.

Matthews goals 18-23.

Auston Matthews (23) - Assists: Ondřej Kaše (9), Michael Bunting (14)
Auston Matthews (22) - Assists: Alexander Kerfoot (18), Jake Muzzin (9)
Auston Matthews (21) - Assists: Morgan Rielly (24), Alexander Kerfoot (17)
Auston Matthews (20) - Assists: Ondřej Kaše (7)
Auston Matthews (19) (Power Play)- Assists: Ondřej Kaše (6), John Tavares (19)
Auston Matthews (18) (Power Play)- Assists: Ondřej Kaše (5), William Nylander (17)

Kase set up 2 X ES goals and 2 X PP goals in a span of a couple weeks, compared to Marner who has just 3 ES and 3 PP assists on Matthews goals over the course of a full season.

If this trio continues to have success, it frees up Marner to be used elsewhere and in this example propping up the Tavares line.

 

[Coachcorner]

I'm guessing that the success of the Bunting -- Matthews -- Kase line had while Marner was out, as a reason Keefe is going back to what worked both ES and PP at that time.

Matthews goals 18-23.

Auston Matthews (23) - Assists: Ondřej Kaše (9), Michael Bunting (14)
Auston Matthews (22) - Assists: Alexander Kerfoot (18), Jake Muzzin (9)
Auston Matthews (21) - Assists: Morgan Rielly (24), Alexander Kerfoot (17)
Auston Matthews (20) - Assists: Ondřej Kaše (7)
Auston Matthews (19) (Power Play)- Assists: Ondřej Kaše (6), John Tavares (19)
Auston Matthews (18) (Power Play)- Assists: Ondřej Kaše (5), William Nylander (17)

Kase set up 2 X ES goals and 2 X PP goals in a span of a couple weeks, compared to Marner who has just 3 ES and 3 PP assists on Matthews goals over the course of a full season.

Kase finna bang that thang up again tomorrow night! Like how fast can a healthy player even be............ the man can skekate. We might have a beaut for the playoffs too... he understands the game and can play a bit of an edge game too. Our team built. Bunting is a claude lemieux type. We just have to trade ritchie and some sambora away... and get one more tower for the D or some other goon for the wing. Lets see what our gm does sire.

 

[Mess]

Kase finna bang that thang up again tomorrow night! Like how fast can a healthy player even be............ the man can skekate. We might have a beaut for the playoffs too... he understands the game and can play a bit of an edge game too. Our team built. Bunting is a claude lemieux type. We just have to trade ritchie and some sambora away... and get one more tower for the D or some other goon for the wing. Lets see what our gm does sire.

This plan all depends on Kase health..

He already has at least 5 documented concussions in his past, and with this type of brain injury history where each concussion increases/compounds the damage and also makes the next one more probable when one is susceptible then it might only be a matter of time before Kase is unavailable again.. Each time he takes a hit one has to be concerned with his style of play if he is going to get back up and be okay.

Last summer he seriously considered retirement due to this situation and missing almost full seasons in past recovery.

So far he has taken a few real lickin's and kept on ticking, so lets hope for his sake and the Leafs he will be able to finish this season, because when he is playing he has proven to be an asset.

 

[thusk]

I never obsessed over minutes and I said 3 times I don't see it lasting long. I said it's purposeless because it's obvious it won't work out. They're wasting time doing randomness. The team is out of sync due to covid and they're being thrown more out of sync with Keefe being random.

But since I'm here, spreading offence /= generating offence. You're slashing Nylanders 80 point pace by like anywhere between 15-30 points pushing him to the third line with 2 guys who won't even combine for 15-20 goals. That's my initial prediction glancing at those lines. It doesn't mean I'm against trying it for a game or 2 to see what actually happens.

Its not randomness

1-Bunting matthews and kase played really well together when marner was injured

2- nylander and kerfoot play really well together

3-Jt and marner 2 high end talemt who play at time together.

The goal of that strategy its not having a clear #1-2-3 line, its to get 3 very good line 1A, 1B 1C

If bunting matthews kase can play the same way when marner was injured + nylander what he did with kerfoot when tavares was injures
+ 2 marner/ tavares play.like they can.

Toronto offence can be by far harder to stop that way if its working. just watch whats pittsburgh did a couple years ago with hbk line( hagelin, bonino, kessel).

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

Its not randomness

1-Bunting matthews and kase played really well together when marner was injured

2- nylander and kerfoot play really well together

3-Jt and marner 2 high end talemt who play at time together.

The goal of that strategy its not having a clear #1-2-3 line, its to get 3 very good line 1A, 1B 1C

If bunting matthews kase can play the same way when marner was injured + nylander what he did with kerfoot when tavares was injures
+ 2 marner/ tavares play.like they can.

Toronto offence can be by far harder to stop that way if its working. just watch whats pittsburgh did a couple years ago with hbk line( hagelin, bonino, kessel).

If one line goes cold (like last year in the playoffs), we have two other lines that can score instead of just one. I'd much rather have this setup than loading up the top 6

Ideally, Kampf is on the 4th line instead of being Nylander's C, but I'm sure that will change

 

[Mess]

If one line goes cold (like last year in the playoffs), we have two other lines that can score instead of just one. I'd much rather have this setup than loading up the top 6

Ideally, Kampf is on the 4th line instead of being Nylander's C, but I'm sure that will change

Agreed Kampf is a 4th line Centre, but what we have here is the fallout from investing $2.5 mil in Ritchie and him busting, as opposed to filling a top 9 regular spot.

A 3rd line of Ritchie -- Nylander --- Kerfoot
& 4th of Engvall -- Kampf -- Simmonds/Spezza would be more balanced of an attack for the 3rd line to be effective, and a 4th line better suited for shutdown role.

I suspect Keefe motivation to keep Kampf of the 3rd line is that should the series get physical then Keefe could load up a 4th line that includes Simmonds, Clifford or Ritchie with Spezza and not need to take Kampf your best checking centre out of the line-up, if it still works with Kerfoot and Nylander.

Lets not forget swapping Kase and Nylander is also a possibility to have Willy ride shotgun with Auston and Kase rejoin his pal Kampf on the 3rd line also if more offense is the need situationally.

 

[egd27]

Did Keefe explain how he came to this sudden realization?

I've been writing him twice a week since Game 6 of last year's playoffs. Maybe he finally got round to reading his mail.

 

[stickty111]

Would have started Mrazek again

 

[Aashir]

Would have started Mrazek again

Agreed, he was very solid and I’ve heard he’s a steady goalie so I’d ride him if that’s true

 

[zeke]

Would have started Mrazek again

i bet he starts next game.

and then the backend of the NJ back to back.

 

[zeke]

Agreed Kampf is a 4th line Centre, but what we have here is the fallout from investing $2.5 mil in Ritchie and him busting, as opposed to filling a top 9 regular spot.

the "fallout" of investing your boy Hyman's $5.5m in Bunting+Kase+Kampf+Ritchie you mean.

the "fallout" being us having one of the deepest sets of forwards in hockey.

 

[supermann_98]

Matthews, Marner, and Nylander are all primary puck carriers on their lines, so I can see this approach working.

1. Bunting and Kase are good offensive grinders who compliment Matthews well. Matthews takes charge playing with these guys, instead of deferring to Mitch who simply does not drive play to the same extent
2. Marner and to a lesser extent, Mikhayev, can carry the puck (and the corpse of JT) into the offensive zone which, let's be real, is the only place he has any real use
3. Nylander, and to a lesser extent, Kerfoot, can carry the puck for the 3rd line and hopefully Kampf is more than just a faceoff guy on that line because he's the weakest link offensively in the top 9

 

[HogTown06]

Hopefully this gets Tavares going again. Leafs could use some offence from him.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Did Keefe explain how he came to this sudden realization?

Mushrooms

 

[ACC1224]

Feels like the Leafs never play any more.
Getting sick of watching regular tv.

 

[keonsbitterness]

Feels like the Leafs never play any more.
Getting sick of watching regular tv.

Get past the useless all-star weekend and we'll be good to go.

 

[PROUD PAPA]

Annoying that still no game until tomorrow but I think they have another practice today, so let’s see how that goes

This spaced out schedule is getting to me too. I mean i'm watching lots of other teams and getting familiar with their players but that emotional attachment is sorely missed.

 

[ACC1224]

Get past the useless all-star weekend and we'll be good to go.

Can't come soon enough.
Going a little buggy. Can't go outside, can't go out anywhere, can't watch the Leafs.

 

[crump]

Feels like the Leafs never play any more.
Getting sick of watching regular tv.

It's been what, seems like 5 days, or a week since they played last? I know. They even have a whole new lineup. Practically a whole off season. Who goes in net? they're both rusty

 

[ACC1224]

It's been what, seems like 5 days, or a week since they played last? I know. They even have a whole new lineup. Practically a whole off season. Who goes in net? they're both rusty

I think Campbell is the #1, so he will play this one.

 

[3blizzard4]

They just played 3 days ago, and 3 days before that.

I knew someone would take that literally. Point is, they havent played much.

 

[LaPlante94]

I was hoping Keefe would put Kase on Matthews wing with Bunting and then possibly stack the 2nd line with Nylander-Tavares-Marner but this might be better if they even out the playing time and give Nylander the same amount of ES TOI.

 

[Enniskillen]

“Corpse of JT” lol