If Knies decides he wants to come over, I think he finds his way into the lineup, Even if its just a fourth line role
Playoff Roster
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hockeynorth
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zeke
The Dube Abides
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Last year's playoffs roster vs this year's roster looks kinda like these are the changes, given that Tavares only had one shift:
Galchenyuk ---> Tavares
Hyman ----------> Bunting
Foligno ----------> Kampf
Thornton -------> Blackwell
Nash --------------> Kase/Clifford
Brooks -----------> Abbruzzese/Knies/Robertson
Bogosian -------> Giordano
Dermott ---------> Liljegren
Hutton -----------> Lyubushkin
Galchenyuk ---> Tavares
Hyman ----------> Bunting
Foligno ----------> Kampf
Thornton -------> Blackwell
Nash --------------> Kase/Clifford
Brooks -----------> Abbruzzese/Knies/Robertson
Bogosian -------> Giordano
Dermott ---------> Liljegren
Hutton -----------> Lyubushkin
If knives signs
Knives Blackwell Simmons
Move knives up the lineup when we see what we have.
Nylander88
Registered User
I think Simmonds last two games has really given him a step up on Spezza & Clifford in my eyes for a playoff spot.
Top 3 lines remain the same, or at least with the same players...4th line if playoffs started tomorrow should be Clifford-Blackwell-Simmonds imo. Clifford or Simmonds stop showing compete and a willingness to be physical, sit em and give Spezza a game. Playoffs if we're going to make noise, will have injuries and call for others to get in anyways, as sad as it is to sit Spezza. I thought Blackwell-Simmonds looked good together last night and provided energy. As realistically expected, Abruzzese is going to need Marlies time...he didn't seem very impactful last night. Of course a healthy Kase changes the 4th line to Simmonds-Blackwell-Kase potentially
Top 3 lines remain the same, or at least with the same players...4th line if playoffs started tomorrow should be Clifford-Blackwell-Simmonds imo. Clifford or Simmonds stop showing compete and a willingness to be physical, sit em and give Spezza a game. Playoffs if we're going to make noise, will have injuries and call for others to get in anyways, as sad as it is to sit Spezza. I thought Blackwell-Simmonds looked good together last night and provided energy. As realistically expected, Abruzzese is going to need Marlies time...he didn't seem very impactful last night. Of course a healthy Kase changes the 4th line to Simmonds-Blackwell-Kase potentially
crump
~ ~ (ړײ) ~ ~
Not convinced Kase will be back. Hard to judge Abruzzese on one game. Probably a bundle of nerves, wasn’t embarrassed, took a hit, looked a little too careful as he should. But I wouldn’t trust him in a playoff game. He needs more experience.
I like the idea of having Blackwell and Simmonds on the 4th line. If you have to have Spezza in for D zone face offs then he can be the third. I think he’ll be fine with some rest down the stretch here.
I like the idea of having Blackwell and Simmonds on the 4th line. If you have to have Spezza in for D zone face offs then he can be the third. I think he’ll be fine with some rest down the stretch here.
Pieces are being figured out over next month .. as Keefer has noted many times over summer we need 3 producing lines to make it through da Atlantic and a checking line
Bunting Matty ???
??? JT Marner
??? Kerfoot Willy
Engval Kam Mik
Hopefully Knies/Blackwell can help out with JT, Wayner with Willy and likely Kase with Matty (if healthy)
On D
Rielly Lub
Gio Brodie
Muzzy Lily
Lub really stabilizes Rielly .. i think this D can get through a round or two .. tending is a question mark here
Bunting Matty ???
??? JT Marner
??? Kerfoot Willy
Engval Kam Mik
Hopefully Knies/Blackwell can help out with JT, Wayner with Willy and likely Kase with Matty (if healthy)
On D
Rielly Lub
Gio Brodie
Muzzy Lily
Lub really stabilizes Rielly .. i think this D can get through a round or two .. tending is a question mark here
The 2 biggest unknowns for me going into the playoffs are:
1 - Campbell: which Campbell are we getting back? All-Star Campbell or after Christmas Campbell? I'd be happy with something in between and ecstatic for All Star Campbell.
2 - Muzzin: when he comes back, will he be any good? I don't think it's an automatic that he bumps one of Holl or Liljegren when he gets back. He was not good after he came back too soon from his 1st concussion, and we simply don't know what he's going to look like when he draws back in. In that time, we do know that Liljegren absolutely belongs in our line-up and Holl seems to be getting himself together. If Muzzin isn't ready, he simply needs to sit.
3rd wild card for me is Kase. We are playoff ready without him, but man does he bring a dynamic to our offence if he can play with impact. The guy can score, has a great motor, and can slide anywhere in the lineup. He would definitely up our depth and brings an additional threat to our lineup......
Common playoffs!
1 - Campbell: which Campbell are we getting back? All-Star Campbell or after Christmas Campbell? I'd be happy with something in between and ecstatic for All Star Campbell.
2 - Muzzin: when he comes back, will he be any good? I don't think it's an automatic that he bumps one of Holl or Liljegren when he gets back. He was not good after he came back too soon from his 1st concussion, and we simply don't know what he's going to look like when he draws back in. In that time, we do know that Liljegren absolutely belongs in our line-up and Holl seems to be getting himself together. If Muzzin isn't ready, he simply needs to sit.
3rd wild card for me is Kase. We are playoff ready without him, but man does he bring a dynamic to our offence if he can play with impact. The guy can score, has a great motor, and can slide anywhere in the lineup. He would definitely up our depth and brings an additional threat to our lineup......
Common playoffs!
kevsh
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I wouldn't have any rookies in the lineup for this post-season, even if Knies and Abruzzese look good down the stretch. Blackwell, Spezza, Simmonds and Clifford if needed for the fourth, the top nine looks pretty settled.
The blueline is bit more of a question with Rasmus/Jake out but Reilly, Brodie, Muzzin, Gio, Lub to me are locks. Liljegren is looking a lot better so it's between him and Holl for that 3rd RD spot. I don't see Sandin getting in on the left side (where he belongs) outside of injuries.
The blueline is bit more of a question with Rasmus/Jake out but Reilly, Brodie, Muzzin, Gio, Lub to me are locks. Liljegren is looking a lot better so it's between him and Holl for that 3rd RD spot. I don't see Sandin getting in on the left side (where he belongs) outside of injuries.
kb
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So all the people who say they wouldn't play the kids even if they are better.....
I'm confused. Is the purpose of the playoffs winning, or about attempting to "not lose"? Because sitting better players is dumb anytime.
Tampa played a 22 year old Cernak and a 21 year old Sergachev in their first Cup run. These are the bold and smart moves winning teams make.
I'm confused. Is the purpose of the playoffs winning, or about attempting to "not lose"? Because sitting better players is dumb anytime.
Tampa played a 22 year old Cernak and a 21 year old Sergachev in their first Cup run. These are the bold and smart moves winning teams make.
thusk
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kb
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Anyone who thinks Lily should sit is clearly not watching, or is watching with a prepackaged narrative and a closed mind.
Fun fact. Liljegren has played 33 AHL playoff games including being a key cog of a championship team, while Giordano has played 37 playoff games in his NA career (23 NHL) and Lyubushkin 0 in his NA career.
So who has more experience in pressure games, especially recently?
hockeynorth
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Man, I want Kase back. With how Mikheyev/Engvall are looking, this team would be awesome if we add Kase to the depth. Everyone talks about Florida's depth, they have 9 forwards pacing roughly 50 points, we have 8 plus Engvall/Kampf, we are right on par.
TML Dynasty
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Bunting. Matthews. Marner
Knies. Tavares. Nylander
Engvall Kampf Mikheyev
Blackwell Kerfoot Kase
Simmonds/Spezza/Marlies
Crazy depth if we get a couple more things go our way. (Knies/Kase)
Reilly Lube
Gio. Liljegrin
Muzzin Brodie
Sandin/Holl
Lol D too if Muzzin returns normal and Lube fits
Knies. Tavares. Nylander
Engvall Kampf Mikheyev
Blackwell Kerfoot Kase
Simmonds/Spezza/Marlies
Crazy depth if we get a couple more things go our way. (Knies/Kase)
Reilly Lube
Gio. Liljegrin
Muzzin Brodie
Sandin/Holl
Lol D too if Muzzin returns normal and Lube fits
thusk
Registered User
Lyubushkin physical play is something leafs really need in their d, hes by far the most physical d so he need to stay in the line up.
Holl defensivly you can use him against anybody and you can send him late in a game to keep a lead, help to keep the game tie or to kill an important penalty. Its also something leafs really need because keeping a lead this season was really hard.
Liljegren is good at every thing but excellent in any aspect of the game. Hes good offensivly in his transition but not enought to have a real impact on playoff game, defensivly hes fine but he cant play with regularity against top player without put his team in trouble. So hes a dman who can give you 14 min/game at even strenght who didn't have any other impact, thats it.
Holl defensivly you can use him against anybody and you can send him late in a game to keep a lead, help to keep the game tie or to kill an important penalty. Its also something leafs really need because keeping a lead this season was really hard.
Liljegren is good at every thing but excellent in any aspect of the game. Hes good offensivly in his transition but not enought to have a real impact on playoff game, defensivly hes fine but he cant play with regularity against top player without put his team in trouble. So hes a dman who can give you 14 min/game at even strenght who didn't have any other impact, thats it.
Last edited:
zeke
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There is still experimenting to be done and tinkering.
Biggest things to figure out:
LW with JT.
6th Dman
4th line
Line 1 - Big guns
Bunting Matthews Marner
Nuff said - no debate here imo.
Line 2 - Laugh if you want
Mik Kampf Engvall
Playoff time you need a shutdown line
Line 3 - Give the kid a shot
Knies JT Nylander
Spot them and give them O zone starts
Line 4 - I hope he’s healthy
Blackwell Kerfoot *Kase
*Simmonds- if not
Defense
Rielly Brodie 22-24mins
Gio Lilly 20-22 mins
Muzz Holl 14-18 mins
Biggest things to figure out:
LW with JT.
6th Dman
4th line
Line 1 - Big guns
Bunting Matthews Marner
Nuff said - no debate here imo.
Line 2 - Laugh if you want
Mik Kampf Engvall
Playoff time you need a shutdown line
Line 3 - Give the kid a shot
Knies JT Nylander
Spot them and give them O zone starts
Line 4 - I hope he’s healthy
Blackwell Kerfoot *Kase
*Simmonds- if not
Defense
Rielly Brodie 22-24mins
Gio Lilly 20-22 mins
Muzz Holl 14-18 mins
If you think Holl is gonna get benched come playoff time -- think again ....
Keefe won a championship on the Marlies with Holl as his #1D.
Keefe won a championship on the Marlies with Holl as his #1D.
Maplebeasts
I See Demons!!!!!
With the Marlies being the phrase here. In the real world where we have 6 better defensemen it's the wrong choice.
Nylander88
Registered User
I agree he probably isn't benched. But it's going to be sad to see Liljegren benched with the way he has played
ACC1224
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crump
~ ~ (ړײ) ~ ~
Unfortunately Boosh or Liljegren are probably going to sit. Not that I agree but Keefe sees Holl with size (reach) for the PK and enough skill to skate it up up the ice once in a while.
I really like Boosh for his hits and physical play, liljegren obviously for his skill, skating and hockey sense.
Holl would be my choice to sit, but who knows what is going to happen, Muzzin might not be 100%, another injury happens.
Maybe they run with Boosh sitting for a few games here to really let that head injury have time to heal. I can’t believe it’s 100% recovered.
They can evaluate Muzzin Holl and Liljegren combos. 13 games to evaluate and tweak things.
I really like Boosh for his hits and physical play, liljegren obviously for his skill, skating and hockey sense.
Holl would be my choice to sit, but who knows what is going to happen, Muzzin might not be 100%, another injury happens.
Maybe they run with Boosh sitting for a few games here to really let that head injury have time to heal. I can’t believe it’s 100% recovered.
They can evaluate Muzzin Holl and Liljegren combos. 13 games to evaluate and tweak things.
This is the best D group.
Morgan Rielly - T.J Brodie
Mark Giordano - Timothy Liljegren
Jake Muzzin - Ilya Lybushkin/ J. Holl
You cannot take out Rielly, Brodie, Gio, Muzzin. Liliegren is playing like a top 4, 6 million dollar D. So it comes down to Holl and Boosh. They both offer something different. Boosh offers size and physicality, Holl has size and good transition. They can rotate but Lilly cannot come out.
Morgan Rielly - T.J Brodie
Mark Giordano - Timothy Liljegren
Jake Muzzin - Ilya Lybushkin/ J. Holl
You cannot take out Rielly, Brodie, Gio, Muzzin. Liliegren is playing like a top 4, 6 million dollar D. So it comes down to Holl and Boosh. They both offer something different. Boosh offers size and physicality, Holl has size and good transition. They can rotate but Lilly cannot come out.
DarkKnight
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