Line Combos: Nylander as a Center Discussion

[ZEBROA]

at 1:08 you can see he been working on that D skills like forever. You can further see his sneaking skills at 2:15. And at 3:19 the media training.

 

[Fogelhund]

Ok. Try this on for size:

Toronto played MTL in a 7 game series. Tavares got a concussion in the first game, and never returned. Did Nylander play a lick of center the entire time Tavares was out?

I'm not even sure how that's particularly relevant. Perhaps even a coaching error... though Kerfoot and Nylander were excellent together in those playoffs.

Who played 2nd. line center?
Who produced against Montreal?
So who was 2nd. line center?

Kerfoot played C more there.... As mentioned Kerfoot and Nylander were excellent together during those playoffs. A shame Kerfoot couldn't reproduce those results.

 

[ULF_55]

I'm not even sure how that's particularly relevant. Perhaps even a coaching error... though Kerfoot and Nylander were excellent together in those playoffs.



Kerfoot played C more there.... As mentioned Kerfoot and Nylander were excellent together during those playoffs. A shame Kerfoot couldn't reproduce those results.

He produced as the 1st. line center should have.

 

[Fogelhund]

He produced as the 1st. line center should have.

Yes he did, really stepped up.

That of course was when Matthews had been slashed in the wrist, requiring surgery after, and Tavares was out with a concussion.

 

[Fogelhund]

Keefe interview now.... Nylander will start camp at C. Nylander comfortable and onboard with it.

 

[Squiffy]

Keefe interview now.... Nylander will start camp at C. Nylander comfortable and onboard with it.

Sounds like they are all-in going for it. See how it goes.

 

[tmlfan98]

Keefe interview now.... Nylander will start camp at C. Nylander comfortable and onboard with it.

Yeah I remember last year when Kerfoot started camp at C too, and how long that lasted.

This is a non-story and Keefe will abandon it quickly.

 

[IPS]

Ok. Try this on for size:

Toronto played MTL in a 7 game series. Tavares got a concussion in the first game, and never returned. Did Nylander play a lick of center the entire time Tavares was out?

No but he was the Leafs best offensive player that series, so maybe it wasn't a good idea to mess with him that much.

 

[Jozay]

at 1:08 you can see he been working on that D skills like forever. You can further see his sneaking skills at 2:15. And at 3:19 the media training.

Lol cute vid

 

[Puckstuff]

1st line: Bertuzzi-Matthews-Marner
3rd line: Knies-Tavares-Jarnkrok

And a 2nd line of

Domi-Holmberg-Nylander
Or
Robertson-Nylander-Domi

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Even though i mentioned the CBJ series, all I want to say is that Nylander is good at playing the wing. Maybe he can play center, but perhaps this is MLSE's spin on demoting Tavares or putting him on the wing.

 

[Buds17]

The argument for playing Nylander at centre doesn't make much sense to me once it involves having him drop in the lineup in order to do so.

 

[tmlms13]

Fist step in moving Tavares to the wing.

Maybe he plays the wing after the faceoff but he is literally in the top 5 faceoff percentage in the NHL. Why on earth would they move that to the wing.

When they did it last year at least it was for ROR

 

[PuckMagi]

I think Nylander would be #1 Center on a lot of teams. I always thought he was wasted a bit on the wing... but with Matthews and Tavares on the team, I do understand the reasoning behind it.

 

[Rielly4]

Knies-Matthews-Marner
Domi-Nylander-Bertuzzi
Robertson-Tavares-Lafferty
Jarnkrok-Kampf-Reaves

 

[Skullz]

I love the idea, low risk/high reward. Seems like we will start Nylander at center all throughout training camp and preseason. That should let him acclimate himself more to the position, and puts him in a position to succeed, unlike that one game sample vs. CBJ.

His skating and vision is so good, so I love giving him even more ice to work with. Also helps that he and Tavares are a disaster together, and that right now we are loaded in solid wingers.

Don't mind an offensive line of something like Robertson - Nylander - Jarnkrok. They're all fast, and all of them can score.

Also, 88 will still be PP1, and go on the wing for Ozone draws when the time comes to get more ice time. Should be fine.

 

[thewave]

Always thought he could do it. Always thought they didn't try it because if it worked they would have to pay him 1m 2m more.

Its not like JT can play C anymore

 

[ACC1224]

Maybe he plays the wing after the faceoff but he is literally in the top 5 faceoff percentage in the NHL. Why on earth would they move that to the wing.

When they did it last year at least it was for ROR

I'm sure he would still take draws when necessary. It's all the other responsibilities a Center has that has caught up to Tavares.

 

[Stephen]

It’s great. Puts him in a prime time role to earn his next big contract with us.

 

[PuckMagi]

my other idea was to go with 10 forwards and 8 defense... or 11 forwards and 7 defense.

Have Matthews - Tavares - Nylander down the middle where they're all getting 20 minutes a game. The extra forward and defenders can be PK specialists who don't play many minutes, so they're always fresh and ready to go on the PK.

I know that no one has done this with only 10 forwards... but it wasn't long ago when we ran with Orr and Mclaren who played 5 minutes a night and McClement who was the 4th line PK specialist. And since we don't really need enforcers these days, you can use them as defenders instead.

 

[Squiffy]

I'm sure he would still take draws when necessary. It's all the other responsibilities a Center has that has caught up to Tavares.

They alternate draws mostly already depending on which side of the ice it's on, no?

 

[weems]

Going with the assumption that Tavares is still sticking as 2C and now Nylander will be 3C, Our lineup just looks so much deeper with this setup down the middle.

It also allows Kampf to play the 4th line C role where he should be. You run Kampf as your third line C and you really run the risk that line struggles to create much offense and if Knies is playing on the line that's a pretty big waste of his offensive upside playing with a C that really doesn't create much.

 

[ACC1224]

They alternate draws mostly already depending on which side of the ice it's on, no?

Yeah, not a big issue.

 

[kb]

Can't help but think this is a way to get Robertson on the roster with regular reps.

A top 9 with

Matthews
Marner
Nylander
Bertuzzi
Tavares
Knies
Domi
Robertson
Jarnkrok

Would be deadly, as we know Bertuzzi will miss time.

 

[Aashir]

Don’t see any downside

If it works, we get a 2C who can transition Tavares to the wing in the future. Also paying 9+ for the 2C seems better than a 2RW

If it doesn’t work, he can just move back to RW. It’s not like he will forget how to play the position

I don’t expect it to work, but it’s low risk/high reward so it’s worth giving an extended look