Line Combos: Opening night lineup / Line combinations - Discussions

[SteveV*]

Simple fact of matter, training camp probably starts Wed, Thur, Fri by sounds, which leaves around a week and a bit to get ready for opening night, likely 19th. This truncated camp means there is little time to try things out, we will go with our lineup straight out of the gate. If Reilly shone like the sun at WJ then potentially could stick, but with some questions remaining, I see no opportunity to make a big statement during an extremely short camp, not to mention shortened season, which demands immediate results.

I argued Reilly should make the team a couple months ago, but given where we are today, I don't see the slightest possibility he actually makes it, unless we have some injuries or something.

 

[onebighockeyfan]

I honestly think our defence is better just without Schenn back there. Now we only have one one dimensional plug

Who's replacing Schenn on D? More ice time for Komisarek? Yeah right...Our defence got worst with that trade.

 

[zeke]

Ranger is much, much better than schenn or komisarek.

that is a massive upgrade.

 

[Cor]

Who's replacing Schenn on D? More ice time for Komisarek? Yeah right...Our defence got worst with that trade.

Hopefully Paul Ranger, Holzer is pretty solid. We didnt really lose anything by losing Schenn. We gained JVR, who I am pumped to see

 

[onebighockeyfan]

You put Holzer in there and NOT Ranger? He is clearly coming up, the guy is an absolute stud with the Marlies.

Kadri as #1C. He's not even a PPG with the Marlies....

 

[onebighockeyfan]

Hopefully Paul Ranger, Holzer is pretty solid. We didnt really lose anything by losing Schenn. We gained JVR, who I am pumped to see

Ranger is good. Would prefer a little bit more experience though. I always liked Schenn personally so I was sad to see him go. And its quite obvious that the Leafs' problem was not scoring goals. It was in nets and on D so I'm not sure I liked that trade to begin with, it made little sense.

 

[ForSpareParts*]

TSN had JVR playing center. what?

 

[onebighockeyfan]

TSN had JVR playing center. what?

That's part of my problem with that trade. They got JVR instead of a #1C....hoping he can be #1C. Defies logic, he never played center in the NHL.

 

[Cor]

That's part of my problem with that trade. They got JVR instead of a #1C....hoping he can be #1C. Defies logic, he never played center in the NHL.

All Carlyle said was he would be looked at C in training camp because he played there before.

They got him because of his size, and he he goes to the net.

 

[Darcy Tucker]

is it me or do we have a surplus of serviceable forwards?? Kadri may not even crack the lineup and regulars like Lombardi and Brown may have to take a seat. There are so many possible line combinations that could gel that I dont see the point in guessing until we see the opening night lineup.

also I expect Gunnarsson to have a breakout year and really up his value.

 

[ForSpareParts*]

This is why I always have my doubts about TSN's ability to make logical projections. There's no way JVR is going to play Center for the leafs.

 

[fahad203]

There's no way I want to see Lombardi putting the Leafs jersey again.

Frattin should replace Lombardi.

We miss out nothing on Schenn. An over hype machine. Kostka deserves a chance, Holzer was ready last year and Ranger if signed should provide stability we lack at the back.

Bozak easily replaces Steckel.

 

[paulhiggins]

I have a concern. Unless we change our reputation for being "easy to play against" and perpetually out-of-the playoffs, teams are going to
be giving their tough guys and agitators playing time against us (vs. the top teams where these guys will be sitting). Starting the season with some guys injured and having injury problems last year scares me that we might set a record for man games lost to injury this year and these could be some of our important players who get pushed around most nights.

 

[onebighockeyfan]

All Carlyle said was he would be looked at C in training camp because he played there before.

They got him because of his size, and he he goes to the net.

I actually remember JVR not being very physical and not going to the net much. I did not see him play much though.

 

[mapleleaf979]

1) Kadri given a shot opening night?
2) Is Morgan Reilly getting an invite?
3) Will the Leafs use the buyout?

If Liles or JVR underachieve in the 50 plus games, I see one of them being bought out. Im not a fan of the grabovski contract @5.5 million for 5 years. I like him as a player, good effort, sometimes inconsistent, tough but a tad undersized. I would have liked to see grabovski payed less than Kessel at around 4 million per year. I like Grabovski but he is over-payed.

 

[showtime8]

1) Kadri given a shot opening night?
2) Is Morgan Reilly getting an invite?
3) Will the Leafs use the buyout?

If Liles or JVR underachieve in the 50 plus games, I see one of them being bought out. Im not a fan of the grabovski contract @5.5 million for 5 years. I like him as a player, good effort, sometimes inconsistent, tough but a tad undersized. I would have liked to see grabovski payed less than Kessel at around 4 million per year. I like Grabovski but he is over-payed.

1. I think that Kadri will get a very good shot for playing opening night.

2. Morgan Rielly will get the invite, but in no way is he ready to play at the NHL level. Thinking outside of the World Juniors, his defensive play will get him so exposed its not even funny.

3. Personally, I don't see them using a buy-out unless its on Lombardi.

The Grabovski contract is huge, but Burke will stand by it. He'll also make the same remark to JVR because its a steady contract throughout the duration.

 

[Kessely Snipes]

1) Kadri given a shot opening night?
2) Is Morgan Reilly getting an invite?
3) Will the Leafs use the buyout?

If Liles or JVR underachieve in the 50 plus games, I see one of them being bought out. Im not a fan of the grabovski contract @5.5 million for 5 years. I like him as a player, good effort, sometimes inconsistent, tough but a tad undersized. I would have liked to see grabovski payed less than Kessel at around 4 million per year. I like Grabovski but he is over-payed.

There is no way we buy out JVR. We gave up Schenn, and he is still young.

 

[ACC1224]

That's part of my problem with that trade. They got JVR instead of a #1C....hoping he can be #1C. Defies logic, he never played center in the NHL.

They did? First time I've heard that.
Who did they pass up on for JVR?

 

[francis246]

Without Luongo.

Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - JVR
MacArthur - Bozak - Frattin
Connolly - McClement - Brown

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf
Liles - Franson
Gardiner - Ranger
Komisarek

Riemer
Scrivens

With Luongo

Lupul - Kadri - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - JVR
Colborne - McClement - Frattin
Connolly - Steckel - Brown

Gunnarsson - Phaneuf
Liles - Franson
Gardiner - Ranger
Holzer

Luongo
Riemer

 

[BonMorrison]

I'm willing to bet my bottom dollar that Kulemin will NOT be played on the second line. Carlyle plans to play him to his strengths. He will be shutting down opposition.

Joffrey Lupul - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel
James Van Riemsdyk - Mikhail Grabovski - Clarke MacArthur (will be traded, Kadri takes spot)
Nikolai Kulemin - Tim Connolly (hopefully traded, McClement moves up) - Matt Frattin
Jay McClement (moves to 3rd, Komorav takes spot) - David Steckel - Mike Brown

Dion Phaneuf - Carl Gunnarsson
Paul Ranger - Morgan Rielly (9-day trial, Gardiner replaces him)
John-Michael Liles - Mike Komisarek (or Holzer)

James Reimer
Ben Scrivens

 

[Rare Jewel]

It's not a popular opinion, But I'd like to see JVR get a run at center if no one else is brought in.

 

[namttebih]

Kadri as #1C. He's not even a PPG with the Marlies....

Give him a couple of guys to pass to and learn from.

 

[ULF_55]

I'm willing to bet my bottom dollar that Kulemin will NOT be played on the second line. Carlyle plans to play him to his strengths. He will be shutting down opposition.

Joffrey Lupul - Tyler Bozak - Phil Kessel
James Van Riemsdyk - Mikhail Grabovski - Clarke MacArthur (will be traded, Kadri takes spot)
Nikolai Kulemin - Tim Connolly (hopefully traded, McClement moves up) - Matt Frattin
Jay McClement (moves to 3rd, Komorav takes spot) - David Steckel - Mike Brown

Dion Phaneuf - Carl Gunnarsson
Paul Ranger - Morgan Rielly (9-day trial, Gardiner replaces him)
John-Michael Liles - Mike Komisarek (or Holzer)

James Reimer
Ben Scrivens

Hard to say where Carlyle will play people, but the Leafs have 2 players who have scored 30 goals or more in the NHL.

 

[ForSpareParts*]

A Lupul Kadri Kessel top line will be the most defensively disinterested line in the history of hockey. Not a good move at all to have Kadri at 1C.

 

[ULF_55]

A Lupul Kadri Kessel top line will be the most defensively disinterested line in the history of hockey. Not a good move at all to have Kadri at 1C.

I'd like to see him 3rd. line center if he can beat of McClement, and then knock McClement down to the 4th. line and then shackle Steckel.