Playoff Roster

[thusk]

Muzzin is complete garbage, his legs are gone, he gets walked by almost every game, take that goal by Carlson for example.

Muzzin's a #6 at this point in his career, the injuries have put a toll on him.

Lmao Muzzin is not the #6, hes the #2/3 with Brodie..

When the leafs was the best defrnsivly this season? When Muzzin was fully healthy ans was playing before he get injured jan 15. Why? Because Muzzin was playing toughest matchup and did a pretty good job.

Its also why leafs are extremely careful with Muzzin health right now because they will need him healthy in playoff.

 

[Clark4Ever]

Let's see if Keefe does the right thing and starts Liljegren over Holl in game 1. I'm not convinced he will.

 

[ACC1224]

Let's see if Keefe does the right thing and starts Liljegren over Holl in game 1. I'm not convinced he will.

The Liljegren/Giordano pair is a lock IMO.

 

[Clark4Ever]

The Liljegren/Giordano pair is a lock IMO.

I freaking hope so.

 

[ACC1224]

I freaking hope so.

Barring an injury I would suspect we'll see last nights 6 starting game 1.

What will be interesting is what they do with Tavares and Nylander.

 

[TML Dynasty]

Yep:

Reilly Lyubushkin
Muzzin Brodie
Giordano Liljegrin
Holl

Edit: Sandin

Pretty damn solid

 

[TML Dynasty]

Bunting Matthews Marner
Kerfoot/Kase Tavares Nylander
Engvall Kampf Mikheyev
Blackwell Spezza Kase/Kerf
Simmonds/Clifford/Robertson

Damn solid too. 2 LW is my only question mark. Maybe use any of Mikheyev/Blackwell/Robertson/Engvall/…..

 

[zeke]

Bunting Matthews Marner
Mikheyev Tavares Engvall
Nylander Kerfoot Kase
Blackwell Kampf Spezza/Simmonds/Kid

 

[wingman75]

Barring an injury I would suspect we'll see last nights 6 starting game 1.

What will be interesting is what they do with Tavares and Nylander.

Indeed. we might see a different configuration in game 1 vs game 3 to adjust for matchups on the road.

Have to say, Willie and JT looked decent together last night, highlighted by that goal borne of their previoulsy established chemistry.

 

[bossram]

Yep:

Reilly Lyubushkin
Muzzin Brodie
Giordano Liljegrin
Holl

Edit: Sandin

Pretty damn solid

I'd be pretty worried about Boosh in a series against Tampa. He's a very limited player. With guys bearing down on him quickly, he doesn't have the mobility or IQ/passing ability to move the puck out of the defensive zone. Often just results in a punt (at best) and turnover at worst.

I think Holl should draw in over him.

 

[bossram]

Barring an injury I would suspect we'll see last nights 6 starting game 1.

What will be interesting is what they do with Tavares and Nylander.

They've looked much better apart than together, last night's goal notwithstanding.

It's looking increasingly likely Bunting won't be available for Game 1, which makes things even more difficult.

Kerfoot - Matthews - Marner
Mikeyhev - Tavares - Engvall
Nylander - Kampf - Spezza
Simmonds - Blackwell - Clifford

Something like this maybe? JT's playstyle and lack of pace blends much better with speedy "grinders" generally. M&M continued to dominate with Kerfoot last night. Nylander and Kampf have been a frequent combo as of late, and Spezza has showed recently he can still make some plays...maybe a decent combo with Nylander (and Kampf is the free safety).

 

[notDatsyuk]

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Mikheyev-Nylander-Kerfoot
Kampf-Tavares-Kase
Engvall-Blackwell-Simmonds

If Bunting isn't available, move Mikheyev or Kampf or Engvall up and fill in with Spezza.

 

[ponder]

Yeah I guess I worry about Sandin getting hammered on the forecheck from some of Tampa's bigger guys and giving up the puck. Happened vs. Montreal a few times and resulted in goals against.

Yeah, there are certainly pros and cons either way. That WAS a year ago too, significant for very young players, Sandin has IMO dealt with physical forecheckers better this year than last year.

 

[Frostitute]

I know it wont happen but...

Bunting - Matthews - Nylander
Mikheyev - Tavares - Marner
Engvall - Kampf - Kerfoot
Blackwell - Spezza - Simmons

We all know Mitchy has chemistry with Matthews and although he and Mitch play extremely well together I think the positives of having Tavares with Marner to get the captain as productive as possible outweighs that. Nylander and Matthews have been dynamic in the past and I'd like us to revisit that.

 

[Puckstuff]

Kerfoot-Matthews-Nylander
Bunting-Tavares-Marner
Engvall-Kampf-Mikheyev
Kase-Blackwell-Simmonds

 

[notDatsyuk]

I know it wont happen but...

Bunting - Matthews - Nylander
Mikheyev - Tavares - Marner
Engvall - Kampf - Kerfoot
Blackwell - Spezza - Simmons

We all know Mitchy has chemistry with Matthews and although he and Mitch play extremely well together I think the positives of having Tavares with Marner to get the captain as productive as possible outweighs that. Nylander and Matthews have been dynamic in the past and I'd like us to revisit that.

I think we're close to the point where we shouldn't be wasting our best players just "to get the captain as productive as possible".

We could move Matthews and Marner to the fourth line to make Spezza as productive as possible, but is it worth it?

I'm not comparing JT and Spezza, but I think it's time we stopped handicapping ourselves just to try to make the Tavares contract look ok.

 

[SHANNYPLAN]

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Engvall - Tavares - Mikheyev
Kerfoot - - Kampf - - Nylander
Clifford - Spezza - Simmonds
Blackwell

Rielly - - - - Boosh
Muzzin - - - Brodie
Giordano - Liljigren
Sandin, Holl

 

[TMLAM34]

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Mikheyev - Tavares - Engvall
Nylander - Kerfoot - Kase
Blackwell - Kampf - Simmonds
Spezza/Clifford

Rielly - Lyubushkin
Muzzin - Brodie
Giordano - Liljegren
Holl/Sandin

Campbell - Mrazek
Kallgren

 

[zeke]

I'll admit that I actually don't mind Boosh in the lineup when Muzz-Brodie and Gio-Lilly look so good.

It kind makes Mo-Boosh the 3rd pairing, at least in terms of QoC, and giving Mo a pure stay at home guy isn't the worst idea. If we needed that pairing to face tough QoC i'd be upset about it but in this set up we really don't. And it's easy to flip Brodie or Lilly up with Mo in more offensive situations.

Though it's kind of weird that our "stay at home dman" is a guy we don't want (and probably won't be) on either of our top 2 PK units.

Anyways, if there was ever a set up where Boosh's weaknesses could be minimized as much as possible, it would be this one.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I'll admit that I actually don't mind Boosh in the lineup when Muzz-Brodie and Gio-Lilly look so good.

It kind makes Mo-Boosh the 3rd pairing, at least in terms of QoC, and giving Mo a pure stay at home guy isn't the worst idea. If we needed that pairing to face tough QoC i'd be upset about it but in this set up we really don't. And it's easy to flip Brodie or Lilly up with Mo in more offensive situations.

Though it's kind of weird that our "stay at home dman" is a guy we don't want (and probably won't be) on either of our top 2 PK units.

Anyways, if there was ever a set up where Boosh's weaknesses could be minimized as much as possible, it would be this one.

When looking at D you have to look at strategic fit .. Rielly's brutal hockey skill weaknesses match up quite well with Lub's strengths .. it is why they play well together .. whoever plays playoff hockey with Rielly must have ability to stop da cycle and clear da net .. Rielly can't do either .. Hainsey did exact same thing which was why he was a great fit too

 

[zeke]

When looking at D you have to look at strategic fit .. Rielly's brutal hockey skill weaknesses match up quite well with Lub's strengths .. it is why they play well together .. whoever plays playoff hockey with Rielly must have ability to stop da cycle and clear da net .. Rielly can't do either .. Hainsey did exact same thing which was why he was a great fit too

I understand the fit, but if this was a pair we needed to rely on against other team's top lines i'd be pretty upset about it.

Thankfully we don't.

 

[zeke]

Bunting and Mrazek getting on-ice work in before practice today.

 

[zeke]

I keep coming back to the same point (and I think Keefe does too) - that while Brodie and Mo works together, ideally you want TJ on your top shutdown pairing and you do not want mo on your top shutdown pairing. Ideally it's Muzz with him if Muzz is back to form, but Holl worked very well beside TJ too and Gio is a fit there too (though at his age i'd rather not he face all the toughs). That's the starting point i think. Everything else flows from that shutdown pair decision which revolves largely around how Muzz is playing.

 

[ANDI P IS CUTE]

bunting update?

 

[ACC1224]

bunting update?

don't do it with two strikes