Line Combos: Opening night lineup / Line combinations - Discussions

[Cor]

So we just let him stay in Manitoba? I don't think they have the internet there yet, so maybe he won't show up to training camp at all.

 

[Pyrophorus]

Im afraid my worst fear will come true.
3. Team will make playoffs - get bounced in 4 games. Draft low.

Kings had to do this twice.

 

[mapleleaf979]

So we just let him stay in Manitoba? I don't think they have the internet there yet, so maybe he won't show up to training camp at all.

LOL. I wouldnt mind that ...would u ?

 

[showtime8]

McClement isn't a replacement over Steckel.

Carlyle likes a 2 scoring line, 2 checking/energy lines

Kulemin-McClement-Frattin
Komarov-Steckel-Brown

will likely be the bottom 6.

Kadri, Kessel, Lupul, Grabo, JVR, CMac, Bozak, Connolly will have to somehow fit into the top 6

Bingo!

I'd like to see a fighter in there somewhere too. I don't want to see Brown be the only person to drop the gloves on this team.

 

[DaveT83*]

So? Since then him reputation went down the drain and is even claimed to be a decent #3 D....

I like Dion. I hate him being our Captain - But I'm glad he's on our team.

That being said ... he collected some points playing in Ron Wilson's Do Whatever You Want Whenever You Want to system ... I don't know if he crack the Top4 in Any of Last Years playoff teams.

 

[ACC1224]

Seriously, how is there hate on Gunnarsson? He never even gets talked about but suddenly he's overrated?

WELCOME BACK LEAFS FANS!

I've yet to see anyone hate Gunnarsson. Because he's not seen by many as a top pairing defender doesn't mean he's hated.

 

[mapleleaf979]

I like Dion. I hate him being our Captain - But I'm glad he's on our team.

That being said ... he collected some points playing in Ron Wilson's Do Whatever You Want Whenever You Want to system ... I don't know if he crack the Top4 in Any of Last Years playoff teams.

His 6.5 million is way too much. Thats one issue i have with him, not his fault though, Id sign it too. Your captain has to be a very hard worker, Phaneuf sometimes is dis-engaged, not as tough as he thinks.

 

[Dangles McGavin]

Sorry this is the same guy who was voted the MOST OVER-RATED IN ENTIRE NHL BY HIS PEERS?
That same Dion ?

Woopdi-doo.

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

Reimer has major holes in his game. Huge question marks surrounding the LEafs net.

BLu should clear that right up.

And Komi shouldn't be on anyone's opening night lineup-- amnesty FTW! (just dreaming, I know)

 

[Pyrophorus]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Rielly get a few games before Gardiner comes back.

Depending on the CBA, he should get 9.

 

[mapleleaf979]

BLu should clear that right up.

And Komi shouldn't be on anyone's opening night lineup-- amnesty FTW! (just dreaming, I know)

Who is BLU?

 

[dimi78]

People could say the same thing about the Coyotes. They have a great defensive system though. Hopefully Carlyle can help the team do a lot better than people expect with a strong defensive system. We shall see.

If the goaltending doesn't improve there's nothing Carlyle can do to improve this team... Show me a good goalie and I'll show you a good coach + a good hockey team. Goaltending is what's been the main reason for this teams lack of improvement and until that area is fixed this team wont improve even if Burke traded Komisarek for Crosby that's how important good steady goaltending that gives the team in front of him a chance to win game in and game out is today in the game of hockey... The NHL is a goaltenders league without it your a pretender like Philly or a mess like the Leafs and if you do have good goaltending and still aren't a playoff team your an even bigger mess than the Leafs are like Montreal.

Fix the goaltending and you will fix the Leafs, everything else will start to fit it's place until that time comes this team is going nowhere.

 

[Johny Drama]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Rielly get a few games before Gardiner comes back.

Rielly isnt ready. From what we saw in the WJC needs to improve in his own end.
There are plenty of defencemen on the Marlies who can step up and play for the Leafs and do a decent job (Kostka, Ranger, Holzer, Fraser).

Leave Rielly in junior for rest of year and have a look during next years camp.

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

Who is BLU?

Sorry, Bobby Lu

 

[Dangles McGavin]

Rielly isnt ready. From what we saw in the WJC needs to improve in his own end.
There are plenty of defencemen on the Marlies who can step up and play for the Leafs and do a decent job (Kostka, Ranger, Holzer, Fraser).

Leave Rielly in junior for rest of year and have a look during next years camp.

I agree that he's not ready, but I'm saying with Gards out, we may have a shortage of mobile D, and Rielly may be able to do that, while getting a taste of the NHL.

 

[The Podium]

I like Dion. I hate him being our Captain - But I'm glad he's on our team.

That being said ... he collected some points playing in Ron Wilson's Do Whatever You Want Whenever You Want to system ... I don't know if he crack the Top4 in Any of Last Years playoff teams.

Did you just say he cant crack the top 4 in any of last years playoff teams?

The only teams he may have trouble being on the top pairing would be New York, Vancouver and Chicago. Even then, i dont take Hamhuis, Bieksa, or Girardi over him.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Sorry, Bobby Lu

His contract the length of it, worries me. Scrivens and Reimer have a ton of pressure on them with little pedigree to support such praise and pressure.

 

[diceman934]

Why are you bringing up offensive production when we're talking about steady defensive play?

Gunnarsson is not good offensively, but he can move the puck well in his own end, make smart passes, and play smart and steady defensively. Phaneuf looks a lot better when Gunnar is his partner. There's a reason he played every game when healthy and averaged 21:42 ice time per game, good for 2nd on the team.

But of course, I'm an idiot, and so are all of the Leafs' coaches, scouts, and management who see this in Carl, because you guys are right...

I said I liked him .....he is not a first pairing D man and is over rated IMHO on this board but not eslewhere.....I brought up the offensive stats because to support my opinion of him.....he is a great 3rd pairing D man. We had Aulie who played the same role, but was better defensively if you go by plus/minus....but that did not make him a number one pairing D man as well.

21:42 minutes a game produces 19 points as a top pairing ?

 

[The Podium]

i said I liked him .....he is not a first pairing D man and is over rated IMHO.....I brought up the offensive stats because to support my opinion of him.....he is a great 3rd pairing D man. We had Aulie who played the same role, but was better defensively if you go by plus/minus....but that did not make him a number one pairing D man as well.

21:42 minutes a game produces 19 points as a top pairing ?

Hes at the very minimum a #4 D. Likely to top out at 3. There is no stats that would suggest otherwise.

 

[Mr Knies Guy]

His contract the length of it, worries me. Scrivens and Reimer have a ton of pressure on them with little pedigree to support such praise and pressure.

Exactly, no confidence in them. Obviously I hate the length of his contract, I don't think a single person here likes it. But the cap hit's reasonable and he's one of the very few legit starters available.

A bit of the devil you know scenario I think

 

[Johny Drama]

Really think our line up lacks toughness...especially in our division. I see a real need to replace Rosehill/Orr with a tough winger, and would love to see Komo's contract bought out, so we can replace him with Fraser as the 7th D.

 

[mapleleaf979]

We have a huge logjam on D and a huge logjam of third and fourth liners. I dont think we need Steckel and McClement. Just one would be fine. Play both at the expense of Kadri? not a good idea.

 

[mapleleaf979]

Exactly, no confidence in them. Obviously I hate the length of his contract, I don't think a single person here likes it. But the cap hit's reasonable and he's one of the very few legit starters available.

A bit of the devil you know scenario I think

Yes bobby lou is an upgrade for sure...with a Vet in the net like that, the younger goalies would probably want out of MLSE as the opportunities would be minimal for Rynnas, Scrivens, Reimer, Owuya, Sparks. Sparks I like.

 

[smitty10]

If no trades are made:

Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
JVR-Grabovski-Kadri
MacArthur-McClement-Kulemin
Komarov-Steckel-Brown
Connolly-Lombardi

Gunnarsson-Phaneuf
Liles-Komisarek
Rielly-Holzer
Franson

Injured: Gardiner

Reimer
Scrivens

Rielly will be sent back after ~9 games.

 

[Johny Drama]

I agree that he's not ready, but I'm saying with Gards out, we may have a shortage of mobile D, and Rielly may be able to do that, while getting a taste of the NHL.

Kostka can come and give us some mobility and he is better defensively than Reilly at this point. Obviously he doesnt have the speed of Gardiner or Reilly, but really dont want to rush Reilly. Leafs will probably call him in and give him a taste of the camp and maybe an exhibition game, but he should be dispatched back to junior. To be honest, maybe a good callup for the Marlies once Junior season is over as a long playoff run looks on the cards for them.