GDT: Pre-Season Game #2: Toronto @ Montreal | 7pm

[WTFMAN99]

yeah the thing is the bumper spot is hard - you need some real nifty mittens to make it work right. which mitch has, of course.

Tavares

Nylander ----- Marner ----- Matthews

Rielly​

Seems like such an obvious thing to try, given marner's insane hands and touch and not great shot, and given Willy and Matthews' wicked shots.

He's got an accurate shot and from that range he should be able to do damage.

88 and Matthews on their one time sides along with JT / Ritchie / Simmonds (I imagine JT gets first crack) should be something teams can't cheat on as much, Marner just wasn't a threat to score from the half wall as evidenced by the 0 PP goals last year, that definitely changes this time.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

Where’s Mathews?

Trade block

 

[zeke]

 

[AvroArrow]

Excited to see Ritchie/Kampf/Kase. Hoping Ritchie can make an impact.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

think it's crazy that he hasn't been tried here before - not because i think it should be permanent or anything, but because Mitch and the other stars should all be movign and switching between all these spots on the PP constantly.

Probably hasn't been tried before because that is typically Tavares' spot (when we are not stacking), it doesn't really allow for Marner to handle the puck, and because Marner has no shot. You need a shot to be able to play bumper... Although we've used Marner in shooting positions before. Problem is, he has sucked there.

 

[SprDaVE]

 

[Muston Atthews]

Probably hasn't been tried before because that is typically Tavares' spot (when we are not stacking), it doesn't really allow for Marner to handle the puck, and because Marner has no shot. You need a shot to be able to play bumper... Although we've used Marner in shooting positions before. Problem is, he has sucked there.

I’m hoping Marner worked on his shot in the off season.

reason Point works so well in that bumper spot is because he’s always looking for the one timer, just like every other player on that PP.

Pass, one timer or pass fake one timer pass one timer

 

[Golden_Jet]

yeah the thing is the bumper spot is hard - you need some real nifty mittens to make it work right. which mitch has, of course.

Tavares

Nylander ----- Marner ----- Matthews

Rielly​

Seems like such an obvious thing to try, given marner's insane hands and touch and not great shot, and given Willy and Matthews' wicked shots.

Switch Reilly with Muzzin.

 

[VanW27]

Probably hasn't been tried before because that is typically Tavares' spot (when we are not stacking), it doesn't really allow for Marner to handle the puck, and because Marner has no shot. You need a shot to be able to play bumper... Although we've used Marner in shooting positions before. Problem is, he has sucked there.

You don't need a big shot to play the bumper spot, any shot you take is going to be from within 30ft of the net.

I want to see Marner in that spot mainly because it will force him to make quick decisions, contrary to what most seem to think I see the problem with Marner being indecision and nothing to do with his shot, or lack thereof. Force him to react quickly, don't give him a chance to overthink it and hopefully the skill and instincts take over.

 

[rojac]

I don't recall that.

I think I remember one where Ottawa and Toronto played two games -- one in Toronto, one in Ottawa. I seem to remember that TSN4 brought the Toronto while TSN5 had the Ottawa game. The two channels then broadcast a replay of the other game. But I might be misremembering.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I personally would have had Douglas in Seney's spot and then had Rielly-Villeneuve, Dermott-Holl, and Rubins/Dahlstrom - Menell. Seney is mostly AHL fodder, and at best may replace what Petan brought to the Marlies. Not likely going to get a sniff at the NHL at any point. Let Douglas get one (or some) game in before Marlies camp starts, since that is likely when he gets cut from Leafs camp.

Same with Villeneuve. He is playing close to his hometown (Sherbrooke) and his QMJHL regular season starts on Friday, so he likely can only get into one preseason game anyways. No better way to do that than getting to play with Rielly on the top pairing (or Menell and Villeneuve can swap spots). We will have time to evaluate Dahlstrom and Rubins as depth guys over the remaining games, and Kivihalme is AHL fodder who we should be looking to dump if possible.

 

[ottomaddox]

Switch Reilly with Muzzin.

At least you didn't say Switch Reilly with Sandin.

 

[zeke]

Probably hasn't been tried before because that is typically Tavares' spot (when we are not stacking), it doesn't really allow for Marner to handle the puck, and because Marner has no shot. You need a shot to be able to play bumper... Although we've used Marner in shooting positions before. Problem is, he has sucked there.

eh, Marner has an accurate shot with a quick release. that's all you need shot-wise in the bumper spot.

 

[zeke]

You don't need a big shot to play the bumper spot, any shot you take is going to be from within 30ft of the net.

I want to see Marner in that spot mainly because it will force him to make quick decisions, contrary to what most seem to think I see the problem with Marner being indecision and nothing to do with his shot, or lack thereof. Force him to react quickly, don't give him a chance to overthink it and hopefully the skill and instincts take over.

yeah sounds right

 

[zeke]

Switch Reilly with Muzzin.

i definitely don't mind Muzzin getting the full time 2nd PP slot, and maybe getting some looks with the top unit.

guy is one of the best even strength producing dmen in hockey.

 

[SeaOfBlue]

You don't need a big shot to play the bumper spot, any shot you take is going to be from within 30ft of the net.

I want to see Marner in that spot mainly because it will force him to make quick decisions, contrary to what most seem to think I see the problem with Marner being indecision and nothing to do with his shot, or lack thereof. Force him to react quickly, don't give him a chance to overthink it and hopefully the skill and instincts take over.

Point doesn't have a booming shot either, but he is able to score off of one-timers. Marner needs to be able to get better shots off if he wants to have anything remotely close to Point's success in that spot, and to this point in his career, he hasn't shown that he can consistently score goals from distance, or off of one-timers, or from snipes, unless it hits off someone or the goalie is heavily screened and it finds a hole. Marner scores most of his goals in tight, usually by way of his hands or by being in the right place at the right time.

He might score a few goals, but it is not going to be enough for him and I think you'd be able to find a bunch of other guys who can have just as much, if not more, success in that spot at that point.

 

[Cor]

I find the Sandin-Brodie, Rielly-Dermott, Muzzin-Liljegren camp lines interesting.

with such a condensed pre-season schedule, it will be interesting to see if those change starting the game after this one.

It would be odd for Holl to be the odd man out after we protected him in expansion, but I can’t say I was unhappy with how the Sandin/Brodie and Muzzin/Liljegren pairings looked last game, especially the latter

 

[zeke]

Mitch and Point score pretty much identically at even strentgh, funnily enough.

Last 3yrs Mitch has 52 goals in 196gms at even strength, Point has 55 in 201gms.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I find the Sandin-Brodie, Rielly-Dermott, Muzzin-Liljegren camp lines interesting.

with such a condensed pre-season schedule, it will be interesting to see if those change starting the game after this one.

It would be odd for Holl to be the odd man out after we protected him in expansion, but I can’t say I was unhappy with how the Sandin/Brodie and Muzzin/Liljegren pairings looked last game, especially the latter

Liljegren should be given a legitimate chance to beat out Dermott.

 

[Coachcorner]

yeah the thing is the bumper spot is hard - you need some real nifty mittens to make it work right. which mitch has, of course.

Tavares

Nylander ----- Marner ----- Matthews

Rielly​

Seems like such an obvious thing to try, given marner's insane hands and touch and not great shot, and given Willy and Matthews' wicked shots.

Oh mayne that powerplay finna kill suckas off like flies.......... mayne sire! That that hard DIRT!!!!!!!

 

[BlueForever75]

I am very intrigued to see how Gusev plays with more skill than he got a chance to play with in NJ.

This guy has some serious skill and playing with the right linemates may give us some more depth this team needs.

I was impressed with Ho-Sang as well. Both players that are skilled and played on woeful offensive teams.

 

[Community]

Liljegren should be given a legitimate chance to beat out Dermott.

I'm actually expecting that Dermott and Sandin will be in competition with one another as much as (or more than) Liljegren.

Lilly is actually our #3 RHD while Sandin and Dermott are our #3 & 4 LHDs. While we have some guys that can/have played on the right, I think Lilly will have every chance to lock down the #3 RHD position.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I'm actually expecting that Dermott and Sandin will be in competition with one another as much as (or more than) Liljegren.

Lilly is actually our #3 RHD while Sandin and Dermott are our #3 & 4 LHDs. While we have some guys that can/have played on the right, I think Lilly will have every chance to lock down the #3 RHD position.

Unfortunately cap is so tight we might not be able to keep an extra of each F and D on the roster.

If Dermott looks bad at RD I don't know what is going to happen with him, they seem committed to Rielly-Muzzin and likely Sandin at LD.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Unfortunately cap is so tight we might not be able to keep an extra of each F and D on the roster.

If Dermott looks bad at RD I don't know what is going to happen with him, they seem committed to Rielly-Muzzin and likely Sandin at LD.

If Rielly isn't signed, he is staying:

Muzzin Brodie
Sandin Holl
Dermott Liljegren

Terrible if we over pay Rielly and terrible if this is the best we can ice.

 

[TML Dynasty]

Oh mayne that powerplay finna kill suckas off like flies.......... mayne sire! That that hard DIRT!!!!!!!

took the words right outta my mouth