Playoff Roster

[Fogelhund]

I'd like to see some Marlies get a shot before playoffs to see who does well

Anderson, Steeves, Douglas etc.

Try them out

I don't think Douglas gets a shot this year. He's not on a NHL contract, and if we sign both Abruzzese, and Knies, there are no more slots for him.

 

[phillipmike]

It's probably actually

Rielly Lyubushkin
Giordano Brodie
Muzzin Liljegren
Sandin

When everyone is healthy.

It's a pretty solid D core.

It’s solid in terms of name/personnel, but it may not be in terms of planning. Do we want Bush playing top line minutes with Rielly and Muzzin playing bottom pairing minutes in the playoffs vs Tampa or Florida?

 

[A1LeafNation]

lol, its obv. spezza and blackwell.

Is it? Both been scratched some games this season.

 

[Fogelhund]

It’s solid in terms of name/personnel, but it may not be in terms of planning. Do we want Bush playing top line minutes with Rielly and Muzzin playing bottom pairing minutes in the playoffs vs Tampa or Florida?

With a lineup like this, I don't see "top" line minutes, or "bottom" pairing minutes. I see rolling three good pairings, pretty evenly 5 v 5, plus whomever gets PK, and PP duties.

 

[phillipmike]

With a lineup like this, I don't see "top" line minutes, or "bottom" pairing minutes. I see rolling three good pairings, pretty evenly 5 v 5, plus whomever gets PK, and PP duties.

If so hope it works, I don’t want Bush and Liljegren getting the same amount of minutes as Rielly, Gio and Brodie in the playoffs.

 

[The Masters]

Sign Knies with a contract slot. We're super soft so Simmonds needs to stay in the lineup imo even though him and Spezza haven't brought much of anything to our 4th line this season. Give Simmonds speed around him. 1st and 3rd lines are locked in. Blackwell & Kerfoot were College teammates I believe I heard Blackwell say in his interview.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Knies-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Mikheyev
Blackwell-Kerfoot-Simmonds
Rielly-Lyubushkin
Giordano-Brodie
Muzzin-Holl

With the addition of Knies....I don't hate this lineup. Assuming Knies can play the way he has been all season/on the big stage. Kase can come in for Knies if he struggles, Engvall if he goes back to Engvall ways, or Simmonds if we're willing to abort any toughness at all. We definitely have too many NHL forwards and NHL defenseman (Spezza, Kase, Robertson, Sandin, Liljegren not mentioned in this lineup)

I have the same lineup. Hopefully Knies can provide some energy to thast 2nd line.

 

[Fogelhund]

If so hope it works, I don’t want Bush and Liljegren getting the same amount of minutes as Rielly, Gio and Brodie in the playoffs.

I don't care if they get the most minutes. Just friggin win.

 

[Coachcorner]

It’s solid in terms of name/personnel, but it may not be in terms of planning. Do we want Bush playing top line minutes with Rielly and Muzzin playing bottom pairing minutes in the playoffs vs Tampa or Florida?

LOL sire. Muzzin will always play top minutes in the playoffs when he in. PERIOD. I know bout ice hockey. You can invest on that knowledge too sire.

 

[The Podium]

It’s solid in terms of name/personnel, but it may not be in terms of planning. Do we want Bush playing top line minutes with Rielly and Muzzin playing bottom pairing minutes in the playoffs vs Tampa or Florida?

Having 3 solid pairings that you can essentially roll against anyone? That would be ideal against Tampa and Florida.

Not to mention running 6D ~20 minutes a night will keep them fresh, especially if they go deep.

Worst case Ontario they have one of Lilly/Holl to cover for injuries and can adjust minutes accordingly if a second D goes down.

 

[Coachcorner]

Muzzin will f***in eat noses and ears off when back again.... He a hockey player, a tough one too. He ain't playing at all if he ain't a player in. And soon he in.

 

[Nylanderthal]

On Kyper and Bourne Dubas really mentioned Lilly a lot when talking about the defense.

Probably because idiot Bourne spends half the show shitting on tim

 

[Nylanderthal]

Having 3 solid pairings that you can essentially roll against anyone? That would be ideal against Tampa and Florida.

Not to mention running 6D ~20 minutes a night will keep them fresh, especially if they go deep.

Worse case Ontario they have one of Lilly/Holl to cover for injuries and can adjust minutes accordingly if a second D goes down.

I fully expect rielly-boosh Gio-Brodie Muzz-Holl when at full strength. That’s three pairings that can eat decent match ups and minutes

 

[Legion34]

Sooo is mrazek still with the team or in the AHL?

I wanted the leafs to try to get a younger
Solution like vanacek or kakko or hill last year to pair with Campbell. But I have high goes for petruzelli.

As horrific as he has been this year. Mrazek has had playoff Magic in the past. He could take a couple of weeks to fix his game and end up playing well. He has done it before

Ultimately we see what Campbell is. If he falters. Then we try to get Gibson/helly or husso

 

[The Masters]

Hopefully Kase can come back soon here. Good news that he's feeling well. I love Kampf and Kase this year. The bash brothers from mighty ducks. Lol

I think u roll with:

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Knies - Tavares - Nylander
Kase - Kampf - Mikeyev
Blackwell - Kerfoot - Engvall

Rielly - Bushkin
Gio - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl


It looks like Knies will be signed for playoffs as per dubas comments. I like him next to Tavares, that 2nd line needs major help.
Put Kase and Kampf together with Mikky. Great checking line that will grind. 4th line much improved too.

 

[phillipmike]

I don't care if they get the most minutes. Just friggin win.

Well and that’s the point for my comments, having inferior players get the same amount of minutes as your best defenders doesn’t appear to put you in the best position to win.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Kyle's kind of done everything in reverse. Blew his load on cap space and 1st round picks early doors. And has now backed down on the 1st round picks (although every other pick is free game).

It's unconventional, I'll give him that.

 

[phillipmike]

LOL sire. Muzzin will always play top minutes in the playoffs when he in. PERIOD. I know bout ice hockey. You can invest on that knowledge too sire.

Let’s see how he comes back first after another head injury.

I apologize if asking legitimate questions about usage and pairings on a discussion board rubs you the wrong way

 

[Nylander88]

To me, that's GM speak. He, like most of us, were praying someone would claim him. The fan base was more upset that he didn't get claimed than they were Sateri did, although both were disappointing.

This is where I find Kyle disingenuous and I wonder how it plays with players. Mrazek knows he wasn't just sent down for cap space purposes even though that's what he was told. He knows because of his play he's persona non grata and Kyle was crushed to see him not get claimed. Curious what effect that has on him. When the Canes didn't want him he came here and has been awful. Now, he has to stay here knowing he's not wanted. It can't get worse, can it?

It's a business. I'm sure the meeting between player, coach, and GM was clear cut that it hasn't been good enough. Hence Dubas said in his interview the Mrazek has a confidence in himself that he'll regain it, implying it hasn't been up to snuff. You think the GM comes out and tells it to the media like it was said behind closed doors? Nobody would want to be here. He's protecting his players in the media the best way he can. Doesn't make him disingenuous.

 

[phillipmike]

Having 3 solid pairings that you can essentially roll against anyone? That would be ideal against Tampa and Florida.

Not to mention running 6D ~20 minutes a night will keep them fresh, especially if they go deep.

Worst case Ontario they have one of Lilly/Holl to cover for injuries and can adjust minutes accordingly if a second D goes down.

If they play quality minutes then sure. But how can you say you want Liljegren playing 20 with Muzzin in the playoffs when his career high is 15 in the regular season. I know I don’t want Bush playing 20 minutes against Tampa and Florida’s top lines when his career high is 18 with Arizona and 16:30 with the Leafs.

Those are 4-5 minute jumps during the most important time of the year vs the other team’s best lines. That’s a bad idea.

To me that is setting your inexperienced defenders up for failure especially when they don’t have a goalie to bail them out.

 

[phillipmike]

Sooo is mrazek still with the team or in the AHL?

I wanted the leafs to try to get a younger
Solution like vanacek or kakko or hill last year to pair with Campbell. But I have high goes for petruzelli.

As horrific as he has been this year. Mrazek has had playoff Magic in the past. He could take a couple of weeks to fix his game and end up playing well. He has done it before

Ultimately we see what Campbell is. If he falters. Then we try to get Gibson/helly or husso

Dubas said he will get called up or has already been recalled. I can’t remember. But he will be available on Wednesday vs Jersey.

 

[The Podium]

If they play quality minutes then sure. But how can you say you want Liljegren playing 20 with Muzzin in the playoffs is a good idea when his career high is 15 in the regular season. I know I don’t want Bush playing 20 minutes against Tampa and Florida’s top lines when his career high is 18 with Arizona and 16:30 with the Leafs.

To me that is setting your inexperienced defenders up for failure especially when they don’t have a goalie to bail them out.

When they don’t play special teams they don’t hit those minutes. We’re talking about even strength minutes, which will settle around 16-18 per pairing.

 

[peconcan]

Assuming Kase is done and Knies is signed and proves he can play like he has at everyone level

Bunting Matthews Marner
Knies Tavares Nylander
Robertson Kerfoot Mikheyev
Engvall Kampf Spezza

Simmonds Blackwell Clifford

Rielly Bush
Giordano Brodie
Muzzin Sandin
Holl Liljegren

 

[Coachcorner]

Let’s see how he comes back first after another head injury.

I apologize if asking legitimate questions about usage and pairings on a discussion board rubs you the wrong way

Not at all sire. You rule the earth and is really bout the life sire! Love it! I did not even know you ain't a leafs fan. Welcome to the discussion. Muzzin will kill at will like ice cube in the playoffs again. Eat noses off.

 

[phillipmike]

When they don’t play special teams they don’t hit those minutes. We’re talking about even strength minutes, which will settle around 16-18 per pairing.

Sure 16-18 works fine for me. Having 2 of your defenders playing 16-18 a night means your other 4 defenders are playing 21+ Minutes a night, which is the average time on ice for 3 of our top 4;

Brodie: 21:33
Giordano: 21:29
Muzzin: 21:00

So it’s not a break for a majority of the top 4, it’s their normal usage. No material change.

But that’s not what you said, you said playing 6 D will keep the fresh every night;

Not to mention running 6D ~20 minutes a night will keep them fresh, especially if they go deep.

 

[phillipmike]

Not at all sire. You rule the earth and is really bout the life sire! Love it! I did not even know you ain't a leafs fan. Welcome to the discussion. Muzzin will kill at will like ice cube in the playoffs again. Eat noses off.

Really adds to the discussion. Hurt your feelings so much for daring to question the Leafs for level 10 sarcasm. Boo hoo.