Jimmy Firecracker
Backcheck, Forecheck, Paycheque.
This is a cap compliant roster, though it risks exposing Timmins on waivers to get him sent down. Moving Lafferty would solve the problem as well but the Leafs already have so few forwards who can reliably kill penalties that that's not a path I want to go down.
For forwards, the top two lines will carry most of the offensive load, but that shouldn't be too much of an issue now that the top two left wing slots will have legitimate top 6 LW talent. Bertuzzi is just a better Bunting and that line of Bunting-Matthews-Nylander were great in their minutes so this combo should provide a similar result. Don't think Domi has the defensive chops to centre his own line so placing him with one of the teams most defensively responsible players in Marner should help cover for him while providing Domi two skilled players who he can utilize his playmaking with, and he can switch out with JT at centre occasionally. Mitch and JT have also shown previous chemistry. Knies could play in the top 6 but I think Keefe likes the idea of a responsible defensive line that he can throw out to chew minutes. This third line would do that and is of a similar build to one he used a lot in the playoffs when Knies played with O'Reilly and Acciari. Both Kampf and Jarnkrok however are downgrades so it'll be more of a challenge, but Knies has shown good defensive instincts early on and this line would be good for experience. Fourth line is the fourth line, but I will say that Holmberg's spot is in no way locked in, it's basically reserved for whoever between him, Robertson, McMann, or Gambrell impresses the most. Holmberg wins out on my roster due to his position and style.
On defence, while Rielly-Brodie have shown to be a good pairing before Keefe has shown an affinity for having a shutdown pairing, whether that was Muzzin-Holl, Muzzin-Brodie, or McCabe-Brodie he's always had one. I don't think Keefe trusts Liljegren enough to use him and McCabe like that, and I also think it would be a waste to use one of MCabe or Brodie to essentially babysit Klingberg. Liljegren isn't as physical as Schenn but he has shown strong defensive instincts over a long stretch of time. If he takes another step he should be able to handle secondary assignments alongside Rielly. Gio gets the hand-holding assignment with Klingberg. Outside of special teams third pairing minutes is all either of these guys should get due to Gio's age and Klingberg's defensive deficiencies.
Bertuzzi-Matthews-Nylander
Domi-Tavares-Marner
Knies-Kampf-Jarnkrok
Lafferty-Holmberg-Reaves
McCabe-Brodie
Rielly-Liljegren
Giordano-Klingberg
Samsonov
Woll
I think that's a solid lineup. Each forward line has another player ready to take the faceoff in case the primary centre is removed, poor defensive players are sheltered, and there's a good mixture of skill, speed, and grit on every line. Two weaknesses are that Kampf at 3C isn't the ideal outcome, but he's the best suited to it currently on the team, and on the backend I'd like to have more beef back there but Schenn priced himself out and there just aren't any good options out there outside of a trade.
I'm also very concerned about losing Timmins, definitely think there's something there and he's shown flashes of offensive brilliance. Knowing that other teams are assholes though and the fact that Timmins is actually a decent player means the chances of him sneaking through are low, with the only hope being that teams are too capped out and have their own prospects they want to reserve time for. Frustrating as we're only a little under $500K away from being cap compliant with him on this roster. A couple hundred thousand saved on the free agents we signed and/or the arbitrator being harsher in his decision with Sammy and we wouldn't have this situation but here we are.
For forwards, the top two lines will carry most of the offensive load, but that shouldn't be too much of an issue now that the top two left wing slots will have legitimate top 6 LW talent. Bertuzzi is just a better Bunting and that line of Bunting-Matthews-Nylander were great in their minutes so this combo should provide a similar result. Don't think Domi has the defensive chops to centre his own line so placing him with one of the teams most defensively responsible players in Marner should help cover for him while providing Domi two skilled players who he can utilize his playmaking with, and he can switch out with JT at centre occasionally. Mitch and JT have also shown previous chemistry. Knies could play in the top 6 but I think Keefe likes the idea of a responsible defensive line that he can throw out to chew minutes. This third line would do that and is of a similar build to one he used a lot in the playoffs when Knies played with O'Reilly and Acciari. Both Kampf and Jarnkrok however are downgrades so it'll be more of a challenge, but Knies has shown good defensive instincts early on and this line would be good for experience. Fourth line is the fourth line, but I will say that Holmberg's spot is in no way locked in, it's basically reserved for whoever between him, Robertson, McMann, or Gambrell impresses the most. Holmberg wins out on my roster due to his position and style.
On defence, while Rielly-Brodie have shown to be a good pairing before Keefe has shown an affinity for having a shutdown pairing, whether that was Muzzin-Holl, Muzzin-Brodie, or McCabe-Brodie he's always had one. I don't think Keefe trusts Liljegren enough to use him and McCabe like that, and I also think it would be a waste to use one of MCabe or Brodie to essentially babysit Klingberg. Liljegren isn't as physical as Schenn but he has shown strong defensive instincts over a long stretch of time. If he takes another step he should be able to handle secondary assignments alongside Rielly. Gio gets the hand-holding assignment with Klingberg. Outside of special teams third pairing minutes is all either of these guys should get due to Gio's age and Klingberg's defensive deficiencies.
Bertuzzi-Matthews-Nylander
Domi-Tavares-Marner
Knies-Kampf-Jarnkrok
Lafferty-Holmberg-Reaves
McCabe-Brodie
Rielly-Liljegren
Giordano-Klingberg
Samsonov
Woll
I think that's a solid lineup. Each forward line has another player ready to take the faceoff in case the primary centre is removed, poor defensive players are sheltered, and there's a good mixture of skill, speed, and grit on every line. Two weaknesses are that Kampf at 3C isn't the ideal outcome, but he's the best suited to it currently on the team, and on the backend I'd like to have more beef back there but Schenn priced himself out and there just aren't any good options out there outside of a trade.
I'm also very concerned about losing Timmins, definitely think there's something there and he's shown flashes of offensive brilliance. Knowing that other teams are assholes though and the fact that Timmins is actually a decent player means the chances of him sneaking through are low, with the only hope being that teams are too capped out and have their own prospects they want to reserve time for. Frustrating as we're only a little under $500K away from being cap compliant with him on this roster. A couple hundred thousand saved on the free agents we signed and/or the arbitrator being harsher in his decision with Sammy and we wouldn't have this situation but here we are.
