Potential NEW Leafs Line up:

[TMLAM34]

To Toronto: Frank Vatrano (50% retained)
To Anaheim: Draft picks from third team
Third Team: Alex Kerfoot


Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Jarnkrok - Tavares - Nylander
Engvall - O’Reilly - Vatrano
Lafferty - Kampf - Acciari

Rielly - McCabe
Brodie - Liljegren
Giordano - Holl

With Kerfoot getting shipped out and Anaheim retaining 50% of Vatrano’s contract, I’m pretty sure it gives us enough cap space to sign Knies to his ELC.

Sandin, Giordano and Holl can play a 3 man rotation down the stretch. This also allows Giordano to get some much needed rest.

 

[ACC1224]

Waiting for the other shoe to drop with our forwards. No way we're carrying all these guys.

Kerfoot is an interesting one to watch.
With his cap hit, performance and UFA status he seems like a no brainer to be moved but he's also a very popular player in the room.
Dubas has done some great things this deadline but he needs to make the right call on this one.

 

[ER89]

Kerfoot is an interesting one to watch.
With his cap hit, performance and UFA status he seems like a no brainer to be moved but he's also a very popular player in the room.
Dubas has done some great things this deadline but he needs to make the right call on this one.

it is def interesting in that the fit will matter - both with players incoming and outgoing.

If we change too much of the roster then do we lose our identity? Intangibles and culture are so huge in sports and much to our chagrin unquantifiable.

Having said all that - I think if we can get a top 6 winger we go for it. Although It's going to be interesting as to how the cap gymnastics work afterward.

 

[TMLAM34]

Kerfoot is an interesting one to watch.
With his cap hit, performance and UFA status he seems like a no brainer to be moved but he's also a very popular player in the room.
Dubas has done some great things this deadline but he needs to make the right call on this one.

Even though Kerfoot is a very popular player in the locker room and with the management group, moving his cap hit is the only thing that makes sense in order to get back under the salary cap and still have enough space to sign Knies.

Ideally we move him out for a player that’s a little more aggressive and has more of a shooters mentality.

I kept mentioning McCabe on these boards for a while as the fit made a ton of sense. The next name I’m going to keep bringing up is Vatrano at 50% retention.

 

[ACC1224]

it is def interesting in that the fit will matter - both with players incoming and outgoing.

If we change too much of the roster then do we lose our identity? Intangibles and culture are so huge in sports and much to our chagrin unquantifiable.

Having said all that - I think if we can get a top 6 winger we go for it. Although It's going to be interesting as to how the cap gymnastics work afterward.

I think they are pretty much done as far as additions. Moves made will just be done to recover some picks, balance the cap.

 

[ER89]

I think they are pretty much done as far as additions. Moves made will just be done to recover some picks, balance the cap.

I tend to agree.

Having said that if I was dubas I would push that 24 pick to IF there was something out there and we could manage the cap. At this point who gives a f*** lol.

But yeah I'd be happy with kerfoot/holl/engvall gone for the highest pick.

I'd keep holl the most because if we do have a long cup run, having fresh capable d-men could be absolutely huge.

 

[1specter]

I’d keep Kerfoot over Engvall, he’s shown some contributions come playoff time. Engvall to me disappears when the intensity ramps up. And, I don’t even think Engvall is a PKer on this team anymore with the additions.

He's had one good run where he rode the coattails of Nylander, but last season I would go as far as to say that he actually lost us the series against Tampa. That drop pass to nobody that resulted in the Palat goal and then the high stick call later in the game that brought Tampa back into it (in fairness that was also bad reffing and embellishment by Hedman). One of the worst individual games I've ever seen by a depth guy.

Engvall also disappears but at least he doesn't cost the team with stupid penalties or careless plays.

 

[DarkKnight]

He's had one good run where he rode the coattails of Nylander, but last season I would go as far as to say that he actually lost us the series against Tampa. That drop pass to nobody that resulted in the Palat goal and then the high stick call later in the game that brought Tampa back into it (in fairness that was also bad reffing and embellishment by Hedman). One of the worst individual games I've ever seen by a depth guy

I don’t love either guy. Still take him over a Engvall, who was also abysmal last year.

 

[RunItBackAgain]

You rhinking Tanev or Weeger?

I dream of Andersson but I know it's pretty far fetched haha!

 

[leafsfan2point0]

Kerfoot is fast and crafty but isn’t built for the playoffs.

At least Engvall has size, speed shot combo and won’t get pushed around even if he’s not super physical.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Kerfoot is an interesting one to watch.
With his cap hit, performance and UFA status he seems like a no brainer to be moved but he's also a very popular player in the room.
Dubas has done some great things this deadline but he needs to make the right call on this one.

Just got back in wind shear and snow yesterday afternoon .. what a mess of a landing omg .. missed a lot .. but all good by Dubie .. caught highlights and commentary last night from media .. do i have it right we need to download $2M in CAP space before Murray gets activated?????????????????? .. my gut says they will keep a deep defender base so Holl likely stays .. although I would move him .. likely Kerfoot goes so we can also add further and bring in another gritty depth defender or another tough winger .. Engval only gets Murray back in .. but to me none of those 3 guys will move da needle in a tough series so I couldn't care less which one goes

 

[Fogelhund]

These cheap contracts are so awesome for next year too. We could potentially run this with 4m space still in case OReilly doesn’t come as cheap or used for other upgrades. I signed Acciari for 2.5? Goalie obviously needs some attention too.

The dynasty finally begins.


View attachment 658944View attachment 658945

I mean.. on line one, we've got a guy who's never played in the NHL... but he's a 1st line player?
Line 2, we've got a guy who has played 8 games, and has no points.
On the fourth line, we have Steeves... a guy who has been objectively poor at the AHL level 5v5 this year, but suddenly he's useful at the NHL level...

I love your optimism, I just don't share it. I have high hopes for Knies, and hope that at some point McMann can turn into a useful bottom six guy, but I think we are counting chickens before the eggs even are laid.

 

[Budz]

I like ROR on the 3rd line.
I also would heavily reduce Rielly’s ice time.
Matthews needs Marner.
Pray Nylander/JT play well.

I go:
Jankrok Matthews Marber
Bunting JT Nylander
Acciari ROR Engvall
ZAR Kampf Lafferty

Brodie McCabe
Gio Lilligren
Rielly Holl

 

[crump]

Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Tavares - ROR- Nylander
Engvall. - Kampf. - Jarnkrok
ZAR. - Acciari. - Lafferty

Rielly. — Brodie
Gio. - McCabe
Sandin. - Liljegren

I think you switch between Sandin, Holl and Timmins until you find who is playing best heading into the last week. McCabe can switch between LD and RD enabling the others to come in and out.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I like ROR on the 3rd line.
I also would heavily reduce Rielly’s ice time.
Matthews needs Marner.
Pray Nylander/JT play well.

I go:
Jankrok Matthews Marber
Bunting JT Nylander
Acciari ROR Engvall
ZAR Kampf Lafferty

Brodie McCabe
Gio Lilligren
Rielly Holl

I luv JT but once playoffs start and game pace picks up 20%+ he is a huge liability as a 2C .. in short he can't hang with either Point or Cirelli .. it will be Matty and ORielly as our top 2 Cs .. we can't have ice tilted on us .. maybe JT as a 3rd line winger who can play a trap game or more likely with ORielly

 

[Chief Berube]

These cheap contracts are so awesome for next year too. We could potentially run this with 4m space still in case OReilly doesn’t come as cheap or used for other upgrades. I signed Acciari for 2.5? Goalie obviously needs some attention too.

The dynasty finally begins.


View attachment 658944View attachment 658945

That's our lineup next year. But with Murray gone. Sammy and Woll are in net.

 

[Sypher04]

I find it shocking how many people here have McMann in their posts. I have nothing against the kid, but he is nowhere close to cracking our lineup with 3 new forwards added

I luv JT but once playoffs start and game pace picks up 20%+ he is a huge liability as a 2C .. in short he can't hang with either Point or Cirelli .. it will be Matty and ORielly as our top 2 Cs .. we can't have ice tilted on us .. maybe JT as a 3rd line winger who can play a trap game or more likely with ORielly

Lol, no he isn’t. He hung fine last year fine and has been better, faster this year than last

That's our lineup next year. But with Murray gone. Sammy and Woll are in net.

I garauntee you we will not be playing a left wing of 3 rookies and one sophomore next year

 

[saffronleaf]

Love this for the fourth line:

Zar- Acciari - Lafferty

heavy hitting line but there's more to it than that. acciari is good on face offs, zar and acciari have a respectable shot, defensively responsible. they aren't late career clifford & simmonds. they're more complete players.

 

[notDatsyuk]

If ROR is staying on the top two lines and if JT willing to play wing. I like this.

Bunting- Matthews- JT

Styles- ROR- Marner

Food for thought.

Nobody to set up Matthews the way either Mitch or Willy can. O'Reilly would love it with those two wingers, but the balance is way off.

 

[Its not your fault]

I think some people are underrating Kerfoot. He is a fine bottom 6 player. 5 months ago Kerfoot was coming off a 51 point season and Lafferty was barely an NHLer. He can be replaced because he has a high cap hit but if we have him we should use him.

Kerfoot - Matthews - Nylander
Bunting - Tavares - Marner
Engvall - O'Reilly - Jarnkrok
Acciari - Kampf - Lafferty


Rielly - Brodie
McCabe - Lilgeren
Giordano - Holl

Samsonov
Murray

If they plan to sell players they really should do this at the start of the season.

 

[Stephen]

I want to see a shutdown duo with O’Reilly and Acciari line called the “Nolan Ryan Line.” Get it?

 

[Stephen]

To Toronto: Frank Vatrano (50% retained)
To Anaheim: Draft picks from third team
Third Team: Alex Kerfoot


Bunting - Matthews - Marner
Jarnkrok - Tavares - Nylander
Engvall - O’Reilly - Vatrano
Lafferty - Kampf - Acciari

Rielly - McCabe
Brodie - Liljegren
Giordano - Holl

With Kerfoot getting shipped out and Anaheim retaining 50% of Vatrano’s contract, I’m pretty sure it gives us enough cap space to sign Knies to his ELC.

Sandin, Giordano and Holl can play a 3 man rotation down the stretch. This also allows Giordano to get some much needed rest.

What if we got Kuraly form Columbus to get some more ex-Bruins.

 

[kk87]

I'd kick both Kerfoot and ZAR to the curb - don't think either of them really does much for this team given its current makeup.

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
O'Reilly-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Jarnkrok
Knies/Holmberg-Acciari-Lafferty

Give Knies reps with Matthews/Marner to close out the season - if he sticks, shift Bunting to the third line and Engvall down one. It really is an embarrassment of riches up front. I like the balance of this forward group more than any we've had recently; as dynamic a top six as we've ever seen, and a bottom six that actually has an identity.

Rielly-Brodie
Giordano-Mccabe
Sandin-Liljegren
Timmins

Ideal D core - I'd boot Holl out the door but I know it's not gonna happen.

 

[JT AM da real deal]

I find it shocking how many people here have McMann in their posts. I have nothing against the kid, but he is nowhere close to cracking our lineup with 3 new forwards added



Lol, no he isn’t. He hung fine last year fine and has been better, faster this year than last



I garauntee you we will not be playing a left wing of 3 rookies and one sophomore next year

Spreadsheet guys should stick to their spreadsheets' and not talk about things they have zero clue about .. JT is frightfully slow .. Keefer knows it and has already explained it to JT .. and JT has agreed

 

[LeafFanSam]

Many will disagree with my proposed lines. I'm in favour of masking our first line. Make the opponent decided when to put out their shutdown line:

Michael Bunting	Auston Matthews	Sam Lafferty
Calle Jarnkrok	John Tavares	Mitch Marner
Alexander Kerfoot	Ryan O'Reilly	William Nylander
Pierre Engvall	Noel Acciari	David Kampf

Matthews can make it work on his own. The Marner, Tavares, Jarnkrok line has looked good, O'Reilly, Kerfoot, Nylander has play-making, scoring and elements of a 200 foot game, 4th line is rockin' with Acciari, Engvall, and Kampf.