I'd sign Gusev and trade Mikheyev.
Is it ideal? No. But our entire cap situation isn’t ideal and what causes this. What is your suggestion to move Kerfoot into the top six and Bunting on the third line? Sure, makes some sense but then it also absolutely kills our depth even more. When you got 11.6 million in Matthews, 10.9 million in Marner yes I do think they should be able to carry a guy like Ritchie.3 posters (human beings) and toronto maple leafs fans have inserted Bunting and Ritchie on our top two lines with matthews and tavares in this last page of this thread. This is it y'all! WE GOT THOSE THUGS!!!!!!!!
I like the idea of bunting and ritchie playing the first two roles miself sire!
I love that thugness they brangs and also the hits they pest in. Ritchie will protect the fools and we still rock. What!!! Lets see what coach keefe dogs out sire! I'm so excited sire! I'm SO EXCITED!!!!!!
Having Spezza and Kampf on the same line appears to be counterproductive in my opinion. They play completely different roles (Kampf as defensive as they come and Spezza as the offensive threat/ mismatch against other team's 4th) You add to that the fact that they are 2 of only 5 natural centers on the team- the 5th being Brooksy who isn't in your lineup.
If he doesn't want to be here, I don't want him here. He has had stints in the top 6. He played in the top 6 almost exclusively with Tavares-Marner after he came back from injury and into the qualifying round against Columbus. He's little more than a fast skater that is defensively responsible. He doesn't hound the puck along the boards as well as a Hyman, and he possesses little to no finishing ability. Pretty hard to whine about not being in the top 6 when you haven't pushed your way there at all. He's a bottom 6 winger on any other team in the league, and it's no different here. Would much rather see his spot go to a guy like Robertson, Anderson, Ho-sang, Gusev, or Galchenyuk if we re-signed him after moving on from Mikheyev. Lots of competition and guys hungry to be Leafs. Really hope we move on from him before season starts
Like your lineup a lot. My tweaks would be your bottom 6. I thought Brooks made Spezza & Thornton into a good 4th line..so I think he would make Spezza & Simmonds into an even better 4th line (Simmonds >Thornton). Engvall just disappears too much for my liking. Strong showings when he gets inserted, and then tails off after he feels "safe" in his lineup spot. Also, I shoot Mikheyev to any team for draft picks since he's whining about not having undeserved top 6 minutes, and give his spot to Kase (if healthy), and if not then one of the kids in Robertson it Anderson who are hungry to play and bring some tenacious forechecking.
Im also one that likes what a healthy Simmonds can bring to the top 6. Also pushes some good guys into the bottom 6 and has the potential to create better balance in my opinion. However, Simmonds is a natural RW, and Nylander can switch to LW seemlessly. So if be more tempted to go:
