Opening Day roster taking shape

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Have the rosters been officially set, with the taxi squads confirmed? I thought I read that they all had to be confirmed today.
 
Have the rosters been officially set, with the taxi squads confirmed? I thought I read that they all had to be confirmed today.

Post #109 has the official January 13th starting roster and taxi squad. There could be changes daily from there, so don't get too comfortable with it or worry too much, if you don't like it.
 
Post #109 has the official January 13th starting roster and taxi squad. There could be changes daily from there, so don't get too comfortable with it or worry too much, if you don't like it.
Yeah just haven't seen anything official. The Habs, for example, announced the taxi squad and their page on Capfriendly reflects that actually has a taxi squad section, while the Leafs doesn't. I was under the impression that they all had to be officially confirmed by today but I guess not.
 
In frustrated to see Vesey on the team over Engvall and Robertson. I don’t get why they won’t start Robertson. He’s earned it. I assume they wanna not burn a year of ELC yet? They wanna space as much of the 6 games out through the season and maybe send him down?


That's what I was thinking. I think he has earned it.
 
Thought Anderson makes the taxi squad over Brooks but otherwise about as expected. His 3 year deal makes it less likely that he'd be claimed though you'd think , so maybe that played a part in the equation.
 
Thought Anderson makes the taxi squad over Brooks but otherwise about as expected. His 3 year deal makes it less likely that he'd be claimed though you'd think , so maybe that played a part in the equation.

Anderson wasn't waiver eligible to being with, and both Brooks and Boyd needed to clear waivers to go on the taxi squad. Anderson was sent to the Marlies so he can play and develop; the other two are good enough to play in the NHL (albeit in limited capacities) but also are not losing developmental opportunities by sitting on a taxi squad for a season.

Sandin is my biggest question mark. He should be in the AHL with Liljegren with Marincin or Rosen sitting on the taxi squad. Both are NHL caliber defenseman who are arguably as capable of filling an NHL job as Sandin right now.
 
Anderson wasn't waiver eligible to being with, and both Brooks and Boyd needed to clear waivers to go on the taxi squad. Anderson was sent to the Marlies so he can play and develop; the other two are good enough to play in the NHL (albeit in limited capacities) but also are not losing developmental opportunities by sitting on a taxi squad for a season.

Sandin is my biggest question mark. He should be in the AHL with Liljegren with Marincin or Rosen sitting on the taxi squad. Both are NHL caliber defenseman who are arguably as capable of filling an NHL job as Sandin right now.

Wasn't aware he did not require waivers. I'd rather Anderson than Brooks if either were to actually get playing time. However I see potential in Anderson so I prefer he does get AHL reps like you suggest rather then accruing splinters.
 
Anderson wasn't waiver eligible to being with, and both Brooks and Boyd needed to clear waivers to go on the taxi squad. Anderson was sent to the Marlies so he can play and develop; the other two are good enough to play in the NHL (albeit in limited capacities) but also are not losing developmental opportunities by sitting on a taxi squad for a season.

Sandin is my biggest question mark. He should be in the AHL with Liljegren with Marincin or Rosen sitting on the taxi squad. Both are NHL caliber defenseman who are arguably as capable of filling an NHL job as Sandin right now.

Agree with you there. How do you think Sandin and Lilly are progressing, btw? Curious to hear your thoughts.
 
Based on Dom's GSVA values at the Athletic, the Leafs roster should be more like this (more from best to worst than actual lines):

Nylander 2.43 - Matthews 4.59 - Marner 3.48
Mikheyev 1.05 - Tavares 3.16 - Hyman 1.71
Anderson 0.31 - Kerfoot 0.62 - Boyd 0.56
Vesey 0.30 - Engvall 0.29 - Spezza 0.21
(Barabanov 0.20 - Thornton -0.27 - Simmonds -0.04)

Rielly 2.27 - Brodie 1.16
Muzzin 1.33 - Dermott 0.60
Lehtonen 0.20 - Holl 0.47
(Sandin -0.16 - Bogosian -0.18)​
 
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Anderson wasn't waiver eligible to being with, and both Brooks and Boyd needed to clear waivers to go on the taxi squad. Anderson was sent to the Marlies so he can play and develop; the other two are good enough to play in the NHL (albeit in limited capacities) but also are not losing developmental opportunities by sitting on a taxi squad for a season.

Sandin is my biggest question mark. He should be in the AHL with Liljegren with Marincin or Rosen sitting on the taxi squad. Both are NHL caliber defenseman who are arguably as capable of filling an NHL job as Sandin right now.
We will see if AHL gets going for real ... don't want Marty anywhere near our ice surface ... but ur right Sandin needs to play games not just skate ... thinking Rosen comes up and Sandin goes down if AHL starts for real
 
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I'm starting to get worried about the Rielly Brodie top pairing.

What if it doesn't work out?
I hear Brodie is a very good stick checker and turns over a lot of pucks in his own end ... no one cares how he does it but get puck turned over and transition it to Rielly quickly ... if he can do that skill then it will work out great

If not then it really is not biggie he moves with Muzzy and we are still better off than last year overall ... Dermy played last camp with Rielly on right side and i hear Keefe thought it was ok ... not ideal but we can get through season

I would have preferred Edmundson with Rielly when I heard he was available as i mentioned in past ... he is very good at eliminating da cycle and very strong in clearing front of his own net so no screens ... not as skilled at TJ but much tougher defensively in his own end ... and at 6ft4.5 he can move up/down ice although not best technique
 
Early days, but from what we've seen in camp + the scrimmage and home opener, this would be my ideal lineup for 2020-2021:

Hyman - Matthews - Marner
Nylander - Tavares - Anderson*/Robertson
Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Robertson*/Anderson​
Barabanov - Thornton - Simmonds
[Vesey - Engvall - Spezza]

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Dermott
Lehtonen - Holl

[Sandin - Bogosian]​
 
I want to give the older guys a legit try, and see if it works - and I think it's obvious that slow vets will look worse in the early loosey goosey pseudo pre season and should be more valuable when the games get tighter and chippier later on.....but we have so much young talent that it wouldn't surprise me at all if our best lineup in the end looked more like this:

Hyman - Matthews - Marner
Robertson - Tavares - Nylander
Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Engvall
Barabanov - Boyd - Anderson

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Dermott
Sandin - Liljegren
Lehtonen

but i do think we should give the older slower guys a legit shot to see if they can help.
 
Sandin and Robertson should be playing every single game.

Bogosian is unplayable, I'd rather see Marincin.

Dermott needs minutes to play well otherwise he's useless. The issue is he's the 5th best D on the left side. He should be traded for help on forward.

Jumbo is alright but he shouldn't be on the 1st line and anyone with half a brain should've seen that from the day he signed.

With the surplus on D the Leafs should look into moving Dermott for a winger for the 1st line. Preferably a big PWF that can cause havoc in the mold of Hyman.
 
Sandin and Robertson should be playing every single game.

Bogosian is unplayable, I'd rather see Marincin.

Dermott needs minutes to play well otherwise he's useless. The issue is he's the 5th best D on the left side. He should be traded for help on forward.

Jumbo is alright but he shouldn't be on the 1st line and anyone with half a brain should've seen that from the day he signed.

With the surplus on D the Leafs should look into moving Dermott for a winger for the 1st line. Preferably a big PWF that can cause havoc in the mold of Hyman.

Where to start........
 
Yep. Back to the drawing board.

Can we try this?

Spezza Matthews Marner
Vesey Tavares Nylander
Hyman Kerfoot Mikheyev
Robertson Thornton Simmonds

Rielly Brodie
Muzzin Bogosian
Dermott Holl

Andersen
Campbell
 
Yep. Back to the drawing board.

Can we try this?

Spezza Matthews Marner
Vesey Tavares Nylander
Hyman Kerfoot Mikheyev
Robertson Thornton Simmonds

Rielly Brodie
Muzzin Bogosian
Dermott Holl

Andersen
Campbell

Vesey is a black hole. Taxi squad.

Hyman Matthews Willie
Soup Captain Marner
Robertson Kerfoot Simmons
Thornton Spezza Engvall

Reilly Muzz
Brodie Bogo
Lehtonen Dermott

Campbell
 
Mikheyev-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Robertson-Thornton-Hyman
Engvall-Spezza-Simmonds

Vesey-Brooks-Boyd

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Dermott
Lehtonen-Holl

Sandin-Liljegren

Campbell
Andersen

Dell
 
Yep. Back to the drawing board.

Can we try this?

Spezza Matthews Marner
Vesey Tavares Nylander
Hyman Kerfoot Mikheyev
Robertson Thornton Simmonds

Rielly Brodie
Muzzin Bogosian
Dermott Holl

Andersen
Campbell

This lineup was somewhat similar to what I thought this team would look like on the ice, except for Spezza on the 1st line. If he were willing to do the puck retrieval I suppose it would work, but I'd almost prefer Robertson on the first line in this set up then on the 4th. Maybe interchange different wingers on the top line from time to time.

I do understand Keefes thinking about having Joe on the wing, as he is a set up guy. It's too early to know, the still have to get on the same page, but, the big concern was always going to be his speed and the fact he won't be playing 22 minutes a game.

I do think that it's way too early to get into panic mode. Keefe should feel free to try different looks without cracking a smile. It's been a really cruel way for players to get thrown into the season, but, all teams are going through the same, many made vast changes as the Leafs did, so we are all in the same boat.
 
Utilizing the same players, I'd try:
Hyman-Matthews-Marner (to have a big line with familiarity)
Thornton-Tavares-Nylander (if Thornton is to stay in the top six)
Vesey-Kerfoot-Mikheyev
Barabanov-Spezza-Simmonds (hopefully a bit more ice time can be found for Barabanov)

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
Dermott-Bogosian

That blueline seems predicated on the Rielly-Brodie pairing meshing. Have to give it time. Switch Holl and Brodie if things really require some sort of change.
 
Last edited:
Hyman - Matthews - Marner
Nylander - Tavares - Anderson*
/Robertson
Mikheyev - Kerfoot - Robertson*/Anderson
Barabanov - Thornton - Simmonds
[Vesey - Engvall - Spezza]

Talents are watered down with the above, need a physical yet defensive player who can make the other team worry not zone in on specific players. One that can be moved up and down the line up yet secure a position to make a "Identity style line.

Eg.......Martin/Hyman - Matthews - Marner
Nylander-Tavares-Martin/Hyman
Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Robertson/Anderson/Spezza(6min Toi TBD)
Martin-Spezza/Thorton-Simmonds.....Solid skill/def/apply the hurt
This so called 4th line(not)can play against everyone(keeping teams
off balance)....Unfortunately cannot happen someone traded the key
guy.
Functional line up that teams will have trouble line changing against
(winner winner chicken dinner)Both Martin/Hyman interchangeable..one brings the
hurt on the forecheck the other dogs the puck.
 
Next years lineup preference for me:

Nylander Matthews Anderson
Robertson Tavares Hyman
Mik Kerfoot Korshkov
Engvall- Brooks or Boyd- ( FA physical tough guy)

Rielly Brodie
Muzzin Lilly
Lehtonen (FA)

Campbell
(FA)

Trade Marner for a Top 4 RHD and some prospects
 

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