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Playoff Roster

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We might have a chance if we could somehow organize an all Canadian division. Oh wait. Nevermind.
 
Auston Powers said:
I don't know why everyone is slating Lyubushkin playing the top line with Rielly all the time.

And yes I know that Giordano and Brodie were partners for so long but please also don't underestimate how well Rielly/Brodie pair played for us all year. We have only really separated them because of injuries to our D else I feel they would still be together. Also, when asked about Gio - Kyle said he wanted to give Keefe the most tools to play with back there and didn't get Gio just to play with Brodie. Personally, I would go with what has worked recently vs what has worked 3 years ago. Brodie has been the most stabilizing thing to Reilly I have ever seen. Better than when Hainsey was here.


So personally, I would go with something like this (if all are healthy):

Locked into position:

Rielly - Brodie
Giordano - ??
Muzzin - ??

Next in line to fill the available 2nd RD and 3rd RD spot in my preferred order:
Lybushkin/Liljegren/Sandin/Holl

Which gives you:

Rielly - Brodie
Giordano - Lybushkin
Muzzin - Liljegren

OR

Rielly - Brodie
Giordano - Liljegren (I think Gio would be great for Lily)
Muzzin - Lybushkin (heavy hitting)

*Sandin steps in for any injury.

Please please don't make Rielly/Lybushkin a permanent pairing. I think that is a big mistake.

My 2 cents.
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Probably because Rielly-Boosh are playing really well together and if Gio-Brodie can reignite their chemistry, or to 4 is Damn good
 
Gio-Brodie
Muzz-Holl/Lyubushkin

would be two very good pairings that can both handle facing tough matchups and deployment.

Which would let Rielly-Sandin/Lilly likely manhandle softer usage.

Not sure it's the best option but it might be.
 
Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Blackwell - Tavares - Nylander
Micheyev - Kampf - Engvall
Knies - Kerfoot - Kase

Rielly - Lybushkin
Giordano - Brodie
Muzzin - Liljegren

Campbell
Mrazek

HS:
Sandin, Holl, Spezza, Simmonds
 
TopCheese said:
Know it will never happen but would Love to see

Tavares - Matthews - Marner
Nylander - Kerfoot - Bunting
3rd line
Blackwell - Spezza - Simmonds
Click to expand...
You'll see that as soon as the Leafs are down a pair in the 3rd period or following a game where they get shut out. It's Keefe's go to adjustment.
 
Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Knies-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Kampf-Engvall
Blackwell-Kerfoot-Spezza
extra: Simmonds, Kase (will he be healthy?), Abruzzese (will he sign along with Knies after his college season?)

Rielly-Lyubushkin
Giordano-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
extra: Liljegren

Campbell
Kallgren or Mrazek
 
Last edited:
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tmlfan98 said:
Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Knies-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Kampf-Engvall
Blackwell-Kerfoot-Spezza
extra: Simmonds, Kase (will he be healthy?), Abruzzese (will he sign along with Knies after his college season?)

Rielly-Lyubushkin
Giordano-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl
extra: Liljegren

Campbell
Kallgren or Mrazek
Click to expand...
this seems to be it. if kase is healthy which he looks to be, id swap him for engvall.
i think knies and blackwell will both be a wait and see approach and they could swap spots. not sure how it works in hockey but just putting a young player with zero nhl experience this late into a season into 2nd line minutes seems aggressive to me. not just pace of play but understanding nhl level/getting up to speed - not sure just saying.
 
I am drafting this for playoff hockey .. not regular season hockey .. 2 completely different games .. in our division as Keefer preached this past summer you need 3 lines who can produce

Bunting - Matty - ???
??? - JT - Mitch
??? - Kerfoot - Willy
Mik - Kampf - Engval (shutdown line)

Rielly - Lub
Gio - Brodie
Muzzy - Sandin

Wayner likely plays with Kerfoot
Blackwell likely plays with JT
Kase, if healthy, likely plays with Matty

Whatever line is going hard that night gets more ice .. but long playoff runs are a war .. different lines need to produce on different nights
 
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Maplebeasts said:
Liljegren should be playing. He's better than all of Muzzin, Holl, and Lyubushkin this season.
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I'm hoping he'll be playing some of the time considering he has yet to suit up for an NHL playoff game. OTOH, having yet to appear in a playoff game is why I wouldn't expect him to play all of the time.
 
Buds17 said:
I'm hoping he'll be playing some of the time considering he has yet to suit up for an NHL playoff game. OTOH, having yet to appear in a playoff game is why I wouldn't expect him to play all of the time.
Click to expand...
I hope he plays all the games. Holl has been quite bad in the playoffs and there is no way Sandin is a better RHD. If we're being honest with ourselves Muzzin based purely on merit should be the one sitting. his results have been bad no matter who he's paired up with.
 
Maplebeasts said:
I hope he plays all the games. Holl has been quite bad in the playoffs and there is no way Sandin is a better RHD. If we're being honest with ourselves Muzzin based purely on merit should be the one sitting. his results have been bad no matter who he's paired up with.
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I don't expect Sandin will play much RD, if any at all. I think Sandin spells Muzzin if the latter is unable to play a full slate of games. Liljegren will probably replace Holl in the lineup (not sure about Lyubushkin) whenever he plays.
 
Roster looks solid, not perfect, but very capable. Haven’t been on here in a while, but just noticed the real possibility of Toronto vs Boston round 1. If Tampa isn’t completely healthy it’s conceivable that both the Bruins and Leafs outplay them by 2 points down the stretch. Haven’t considered the Bruins as a round 1 opponent all year either
 
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GoBuds14 said:
Roster looks solid, not perfect, but very capable. Haven’t been on here in a while, but just noticed the real possibility of Toronto vs Boston round 1. If Tampa isn’t completely healthy it’s conceivable that both the Bruins and Leafs outplay them by 2 points down the stretch. Haven’t considered the Bruins as a round 1 opponent all year either
Click to expand...
Demons
 
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Today's practise had Lily with Gio to start until Muzz is back. Then Muzz will go with Holl and Gio will go back with Brodie. Makes sense.

Blackwell was on 4th with Spezz and Simmons

Once Knies joins, I think he goes to 2nd line. Simmons likely sits. Blackwood and Kerfoot makes sense on 4th line as they have history together.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Knies-Tavares-Nylander
Mikky-Kampf-Kase/Engvall
Blackwood-Kerfoot-Spezza
 
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Duffman955 said:
The defense looks pretty dam good if Muzzin is healthy.

Rielly - Lyubushkin
Giordano - Brodie
Muzzin - Liljegren
Holl

Excellent even. Great puck movement, got some decent size, steady defender on each pair.

The forward group is way too soft and will get worn down in playoffs.
- 1st line is the best line in NHL
- 2nd line is a disaster
- 3rd line provides 0 offense.
- 4th line got 0 toughness
I would honestly throw the bottom 3 lines in a blender and see what works. Throw in some Marlies too.

Goaltending... disgusting. Not going to comment more.
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even if team wins a round or two, I move on from both Nylander and Tavares this off-season. See what you can get. This team needs 2-way players and need to support that 1st line even more now. Matthews and Marner are legit, no question.
 
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Auston Powers said:
I don't know why everyone is slating Lyubushkin playing the top line with Rielly all the time.

And yes I know that Giordano and Brodie were partners for so long but please also don't underestimate how well Rielly/Brodie pair played for us all year. We have only really separated them because of injuries to our D else I feel they would still be together. Also, when asked about Gio - Kyle said he wanted to give Keefe the most tools to play with back there and didn't get Gio just to play with Brodie. Personally, I would go with what has worked recently vs what has worked 3 years ago. Brodie has been the most stabilizing thing to Reilly I have ever seen. Better than when Hainsey was here.


So personally, I would go with something like this (if all are healthy):

Locked into position:

Rielly - Brodie
Giordano - ??
Muzzin - ??

Next in line to fill the available 2nd RD and 3rd RD spot in my preferred order:
Lybushkin/Liljegren/Sandin/Holl

Which gives you:

Rielly - Brodie
Giordano - Lybushkin
Muzzin - Liljegren

OR

Rielly - Brodie
Giordano - Liljegren (I think Gio would be great for Lily)
Muzzin - Lybushkin (heavy hitting)

*Sandin steps in for any injury.

Please please don't make Rielly/Lybushkin a permanent pairing. I think that is a big mistake.

My 2 cents.
Click to expand...
Imo the issue is with the first pairing right D. Brodie isn’t good enough in front of his own net especially in regards to tying up sticks. I think we keep pushing Lyubushkin there until he falters. We need someone doing the dirty work in front of our net on every pairing. Also a bit worried about having two average skaters on one pairing. A lot will be based on these last 20 games for sure but I’d be pushing for:

Rielly - Lyubushkin
Gio - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl/Lilly

I would slate Sandin higher on the chart than Holl and Lilly but he hasn’t shown much ability to play on the right side and I don’t see him as a good option over Muzzin unless Muzzin comes back ugly.
 
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Maplebeasts said:
Liljegren should be playing. He's better than all of Muzzin, Holl, and Lyubushkin this season.
Click to expand...
Keefe not recognizing this has been my biggest qualm with him.

Liljegren has had a positive impact on every partner he has played with this year except for Dermott.

He'll make mistakes like any rookie will but when he doesn't have a stretch of .700SV% goaltending behind him he's been fantastic.

On pace for 30 even strength points per 82 which has him 11th for U23 D-men in ppg despite no PP time, with great defensive metrics at just 22.

If Knies is playing playoff games this kid has to be in.
 
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