What I think we need from a 3rd line is an additional scoring line that can generate some offense....Robertson-Granlund-Galchenyuk is a good scoring 3rd line to me.
Having three scoring lines is completely unrealistic.
Paying a guy $10m+ and expecting him to be a defensive checker is even more unrealistic.
The Leafs are paying a kings ransom to four forwards. They’re being paid to put the puck in the net. Split them into pairs, find someone serviceable to ride shotgun, and there’s your two lines for offence.
There’s just not enough talent in the league to have a bunch of 25 to 35 goal scorers across three lines.
Proclaiming something to be a “scoring line” when in reality it’s just three David Clarksons playing together serves no purpose.
Robertson has scored ONE(1) NHL goal in his life. Expecting an undersized and inexperienced kid like that to play on a legit scoring line is nonsensical and sets him up for failure.
Granlund is nothing more than an expensive figure skater. That’s the LAST thing the Leafs need to be wasting a few million on.
Absolutely CANNOT have four lines with the same finesse type players. That’s a guaranteed failure.
It’s like a pitcher who throws nothing except fastballs - - he’s going to be destroyed because hitters know exactly the same thing is coming every time.
The 3rd and 4th lines need to have different attributes - - ideally one is a lockdown checking line and the other is a legit grind line that raises hell and makes things miserable by physically punishing opponents.
Then when you get into the playoffs and a team tries to play physical (Boston) or tight defensively (Columbus, Montreal) you’ve got a couple of lines to match that style.
This is basic roster building.
