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New Line combos and roster thread

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Gabriel426 said:
Agree completely. He is a typical 2nd liner. Can score here and there, play not bad defence...everything about his game can be describe as average. He is a copycat and is not someone who would go out and do something different than his linemates. I think he plays with a Tom Wilson type, he will be hitting and crashing a bit more, if he plays with Engvall, he will hang around the faceoff circle more. I think the best I seen him play barring the last playoffs was when he played with Soup and Moore, where they were just crashing, forechecking....
Click to expand...
His work rate is above average. Loads of energy. He should play like a little rat for sure
 
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My thoughts/predictions:​

-Ritchie and Bunting will likely swap minutes between the 1st and 4th line, with each playing around 15 mins a night.
- Keefe is finally going to get his defensive 3rd line that he has been longing for. They will take most of the defensive zone draws.
-Kerfoot will become a full-time winger, only playing center when there's an injury.
- The 4th line will be a sheltered offensive line...the same as it was last year.
- There will likely be a battle for that 13th forward spot with Engvall having the inside edge. Brooks is a dark horse for that spot.
-Kase likely gets injured again, so the 13th forward/forward depth is important.
- The Leafs will have more net front presence this year with Ritchie, Bunting and Simmonds...this could be useful on the PP.
-The Penalty kill will benefit from the addition of David Kampf, who was 52.8% on faceoffs last year.
-Robertson starts in AHL and gets a second look around the trade deadline.
- Sandin and Dermott are going to be heavily sheltered
- This will be a make or break year for Travis Dermott. Though he will be sheltered 5on5, he will be relied upon on the PK.
-I think this year's deadline acquisition will be a defenseman with term. Someone with a manageable cap hit to "replace" Rielly (think Muzzin Acquisition when Gardiner was a pending UFA). I think Liljergren will be involved in the package

Opening night lines:

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

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Sandin-Dermott

Campbell-Mrazek
 
Last edited:
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jaric1862 said:
My thoughts/predictions:​

-Ritchie and Bunting will likely swap minutes between the 1st and 4th line, with each playing around 15 mins a night.
- Keefe is finally going to get his defensive 3rd line that he has been longing for. They will take most of the defensive zone draws.
-Kerfoot will become a full-time winger, only playing center when there's an injury.
- The 4th line will be a sheltered offensive line...the same as it was last year.
- There will likely be a battle for that 13th forward spot with Engvall having the inside edge. Brooks is a dark horse for that spot.
-Kase likely gets injured again, so the 13th forward/forward depth is important.
- The Leafs will have more net front presence this year with Ritchie, Bunting and Simmonds...this could be useful on the PP.
-The Penalty kill will benefit from the addition of David Kampf, who was 52.8% on faceoffs last year.
-Robertson starts in AHL and gets a second look around the trade deadline.
- Sandin and Dermott are going to be heavily sheltered
- This will be a make or break year for Travis Dermott. Though he will be sheltered 5on5, he will be relied upon on the PK.
-I think this year's deadline acquisition will be a defenseman with term. Someone with a manageable cap hit to "replace" Rielly (think Muzzin Acquisition when Gardiner was a pending UFA). I think Liljergren will be involved in the package

Opening night lines:

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

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Sandin-Dermott

Campbell-Mrazek
Click to expand...
This is one of the more accurate/level headed posts in this thread. It all makes sense.
 
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I think camp will be interesting.
The knowns (possibly)

_____ - Matthews - Marner /Nylander
_____ - Tavares - Nylander /Marner
_____ - Kerfoot - ______
_____ - ______ - _______

1W = Ritchie /Bunting
2W = Ritchie /Bunting/Kase
3W = Simmonds / Mikhayev / Kase /Robertson
4W = Simmonds /Mikhayev / Engvall /Gabriel
4C = Spezza /Kampf/Brooks
 
jaric1862 said:
My thoughts/predictions:​

-Ritchie and Bunting will likely swap minutes between the 1st and 4th line, with each playing around 15 mins a night.
- Keefe is finally going to get his defensive 3rd line that he has been longing for. They will take most of the defensive zone draws.
-Kerfoot will become a full-time winger, only playing center when there's an injury.
- The 4th line will be a sheltered offensive line...the same as it was last year.
- There will likely be a battle for that 13th forward spot with Engvall having the inside edge. Brooks is a dark horse for that spot.
-Kase likely gets injured again, so the 13th forward/forward depth is important.
- The Leafs will have more net front presence this year with Ritchie, Bunting and Simmonds...this could be useful on the PP.
-The Penalty kill will benefit from the addition of David Kampf, who was 52.8% on faceoffs last year.
-Robertson starts in AHL and gets a second look around the trade deadline.
- Sandin and Dermott are going to be heavily sheltered
- This will be a make or break year for Travis Dermott. Though he will be sheltered 5on5, he will be relied upon on the PK.
-I think this year's deadline acquisition will be a defenseman with term. Someone with a manageable cap hit to "replace" Rielly (think Muzzin Acquisition when Gardiner was a pending UFA). I think Liljergren will be involved in the package

Opening night lines:

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

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Sandin-Dermott

Campbell-Mrazek
Click to expand...

If Keefe starts the season with Marner and Matthews together, that pretty much confirms they would rather justify Marner’s contract than actually win.
 
jaric1862 said:
My thoughts/predictions:​

-Ritchie and Bunting will likely swap minutes between the 1st and 4th line, with each playing around 15 mins a night.
- Keefe is finally going to get his defensive 3rd line that he has been longing for. They will take most of the defensive zone draws.
-Kerfoot will become a full-time winger, only playing center when there's an injury.
- The 4th line will be a sheltered offensive line...the same as it was last year.
- There will likely be a battle for that 13th forward spot with Engvall having the inside edge. Brooks is a dark horse for that spot.
-Kase likely gets injured again, so the 13th forward/forward depth is important.
- The Leafs will have more net front presence this year with Ritchie, Bunting and Simmonds...this could be useful on the PP.
-The Penalty kill will benefit from the addition of David Kampf, who was 52.8% on faceoffs last year.
-Robertson starts in AHL and gets a second look around the trade deadline.
- Sandin and Dermott are going to be heavily sheltered
- This will be a make or break year for Travis Dermott. Though he will be sheltered 5on5, he will be relied upon on the PK.
-I think this year's deadline acquisition will be a defenseman with term. Someone with a manageable cap hit to "replace" Rielly (think Muzzin Acquisition when Gardiner was a pending UFA). I think Liljergren will be involved in the package

Opening night lines:

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

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Sandin-Dermott

Campbell-Mrazek
Click to expand...


All makes sense. I would like to see the below pairs for stretches, to see if Dermott can seize the opportunity. Would spread the size a little more as well and see how much you need to add at deadline.
Muzzin - Dermott
Sandin - Holl
 
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Folignos Helmet said:
All makes sense. I would like to see the below pairs for stretches, to see if Dermott can seize the opportunity. Would spread the size a little more as well and see how much you need to add at deadline.
Muzzin - Dermott
Sandin - Holl
Click to expand...
Summer skates at Ford are going to start that way .. but we will see what happens in camp .. lots of changing/moving parts on all 3 lines and 2nd and 3rd pair defense .. only for sure is Brodie and Rielly .. Keefe's goal is to try to make 3 viable lines .. we will see soon (next week) his initial thoughts on how he breaks up the big 4 forwards to make 3 lines .. although it is not technically Leaf camp da guys typically skate in scrimmage in lines Keefer wants to try out at camp
 
shaner89 said:
Bunting - Matthews - Nylander
Ritchie - Tavares - Marner
Kase - Kerfoot - Mikheyev
Kampf - Spezza - Simmonds
Click to expand...
This is close to the ideal lineup IMO. Kamph was brought in to be a defensive center though, no way he plays wing. Swap him with Spezza and rotate in Engvall when Simmonds/spezza need a night off. Would be a 4th line that could be counted on in the final minutes of close games
 
What I would like.
Nylander Matthews Marner
Ritchie Tavares HoSang
Kerfoot Kampf Kase
Bunting Brooks Spezza
Mikheyev Engvall Simmonds

What I expect.
Bunting Matthews Nylander
Ritchie Tavares Marner
Kerfoot Kampf Kase/Mikheyev
Mik/Engvall Brooks Spezza/Simmonds
 
meefer said:
What I would like.
Nylander Matthews Marner
Ritchie Tavares HoSang
Kerfoot Kampf Kase
Bunting Brooks Spezza
Mikheyev Engvall Simmonds

What I expect.
Bunting Matthews Nylander
Ritchie Tavares Marner
Kerfoot Kampf Kase/Mikheyev
Mik/Engvall Brooks Spezza/Simmonds
Click to expand...
Looks like we will miss the playoffs with this roster and a tough division
 
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Dreakmur said:
If Keefe starts the season with Marner and Matthews together, that pretty much confirms they would rather justify Marner’s contract than actually win.
Click to expand...
Both Matthews and Marner had career years playing together. The playoffs they were neutralized. Which accounts for less than 12% of the total games they played together. Part of winning it all involves making the playoffs in the first place. Which is no slam dunk in this division. Mitch and Auston on the same line is dynamic. No reason to believe they won't go back with this duo on the top line. I am not saying that separating them should not be explored at some point, whether that's in preseason or in the season itself. But to suggest them playing together on a line together as the Leafs wanting to justify a contract is a bit ridiculous. It is a more than viable option, and in fact is more than likely the clubhouse leader in terms of what will happen the majority of the year.

I could understand the logic in the Oilers case to separate McDrai, only because the rest of their team is ineffective when they are together. That is not the case with our team. JT and Willy were outstanding in the back half of the year. They struggled early 5v5, but I'd argue they were every bit as good as MM and AM in the final 1/3rd of the year. I have no problem with them running back those 2 duos
 
zeke said:
Didn't he earn that contract playing with Tavares?
Click to expand...

That’s who he should play with. Matthews and Nylander together. Tavares and Marner together.

If the goal is to win, then we’ll split up M and M. If the goal is to justify the contexts, we’ll play them together.
 
Dreakmur said:
That’s who he should play with. Matthews and Nylander together. Tavares and Marner together.

If the goal is to win, then we’ll split up M and M. If the goal is to justify the contexts, we’ll play them together.
Click to expand...

But playing with him with Tavares would then be justifying tavares' contract.
 
Nylander --- Matthews --- Kase
Spezza --- Tavares --- Marner
Ritchie --- Kerfoot --- Bunting
Engvall --- Kampf --- Mikheyev
 
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