Sheldons' new look lines, will they work?

[Morbo]

I don't think the Leafs are getting enough value out of Tavares or Marner this year, and the answer is to find a way to have enough depth to make a superline, not split them apart on 3 units. IMO.

we'll find out I guess, but I don't see this experiment lasting.

 

[Mess]

I don't think the Leafs are getting enough value out of Tavares or Marner this year, and the answer is to find a way to have enough depth to make a superline, not split them apart on 3 units. IMO.

we'll find out I guess, but I don't see this experiment lasting.

Tavares has 36 points in 37 games but has the #5th highest Cap hit, but sits 46th overall in NHL scoring.
Marner has 26 points in 29 games but has the #7th highest Cap hit, but sits 108th overall in NHL scoring.

You're not wrong suggesting Leafs are not getting enough return on cap investment for this pair and perhaps playing them together for awhile is the solution to return better bang for you cap buck, and the new line combos designed to address this.

 

[Stonehands1990]

I don't think the Leafs are getting enough value out of Tavares or Marner this year, and the answer is to find a way to have enough depth to make a superline, not split them apart on 3 units. IMO.

we'll find out I guess, but I don't see this experiment lasting.

Forming a super line is how you get shutdown in the playoffs. Even Cassidy broke up the perfection line from time to time

 

[Gabriel426]

Forming a super line is how you get shutdown in the playoffs. Even Cassidy broke up the perfection line from time to time

I agree with you. Super line is only entertaining for fans and at the end of the day, you need balance lines or else will get shut down in the playoffs.
Have Bruins won anything with the perfection line?

 

[Stonehands1990]

I agree with you. Super line is only entertaining for fans and at the end of the day, you need balance lines or else will get shut down in the playoffs.
Have Bruins won anything with the perfection line?

Only 1 guy can carry the puck at a time. Such a waste of talent to put your 2-3 best play drivers on one line. Especially when each line needs a guy specifically to be the defensive conscience, recover pucks and crash the net

 

[zeke]

Leafs have so many options.

Not many teams can super-stack one line and still have an elite player to lead a 2nd line. And not many teams can spread out 3 elite line drivers on 3 lines and still have a 4th to add to one of them too.

I want them to try them all so they're easily comfortable with anything they want to try in the playoffs.

If you'll notice - teams like Tampa and Florida are constantly mixing and matching their forwards together.

 

[Stonehands1990]

Leafs have so many options.

Not many teams can super-stack one line and still have an elite player to lead a 2nd line. And not many teams can spread out 3 elite line drivers on 3 lines and still have a 4th to add to one of them too.

I want them to try them all so they're easily comfortable with anything they want to try in the playoffs.

If you'll notice - teams like Tampa and Florida are constantly mixing and matching their forwards together.

You can add Washington to that list also. They flip flop between stacked lines and spread talent. Have as many looks at your disposal for the playoffs. When you’re playing a team like Montreal that’s implementing a 1-2-2 forecheck and collapsing back you want to spread them out

 

[Shooter2x]

Leafs have so many options.

Not many teams can super-stack one line and still have an elite player to lead a 2nd line. And not many teams can spread out 3 elite line drivers on 3 lines and still have a 4th to add to one of them too.

I want them to try them all so they're easily comfortable with anything they want to try in the playoffs.

If you'll notice - teams like Tampa and Florida are constantly mixing and matching their forwards together.

We have Nylander beside zero offence David Kampf. He would get to play with consistent 20+ goal scorer Sam Reinhart on the third line if he played for Florida.

Tampa was 1 billion over the cap in the playoffs they better be able to spread the offence

 

[Shooter2x]

You can add Washington to that list also. They flip flop between stacked lines and spread talent. Have as many looks at your disposal for the playoffs. When you’re playing a team like Montreal that’s implementing a 1-2-2 forecheck and collapsing back you want to spread them out

What tier are you guys putting Nylander in to compare this spread to other teams? Have some respect for the beast. Right wing version of Kuznetsov would never be paired with Kampf.

Leafs problems will be solved if Ritchie can have a second half comeback, one of the Marlies guys take off or we bring in a rental shooter. We're missing one shot in the top 9 to make this work. I love Kerfoot but it sucks he's a 10 / 30 kinda guy instead of a 30 / 10

 

[Morbo]

Forming a super line is how you get shutdown in the playoffs. Even Cassidy broke up the perfection line from time to time

It's not the playoffs right now. let's worry about that when we get there.

 

[Stonehands1990]

What tier are you guys putting Nylander in to compare this spread to other teams? Have some respect for the beast. Right wing version of Kuznetsov would never be paired with Kampf.

Leafs problems will be solved if Ritchie can have a second half comeback, one of the Marlies guys take off or we bring in a rental shooter. We're missing one shot in the top 9 to make this work. I love Kerfoot but it sucks he's a 10 / 30 kinda guy instead of a 30 / 10

Nylander would be the equivalent of Hagelin-Bonino-Kessel line which won a cup with Kessel leading Pittsburgh in scoring

 

[Stonehands1990]

It's not the playoffs right now. let's worry about that when we get there.

Yes let’s try out new combinations when we GET to the playoffs. Fantastic idea

“We don’t know if this will work but let’s slap together new lines”

 

[zeke]

We have Nylander beside zero offence David Kampf. He would get to play with consistent 20+ goal scorer Sam Reinhart on the third line if he played for Florida.

And they do that by putting Mamin and his 30pt pace (same as Spezza/engvall/simmonds) on their 1st line.

 

[Morbo]

Yes let’s try out new combinations when we GET to the playoffs. Fantastic idea

“We don’t know if this will work but let’s slap together new lines”

didn't you just get done telling me that "even Cassidy broke up the perfection line at times"?

make up your mind.

 

[Stonehands1990]

didn't you just get done telling me that "even Cassidy broke up the perfection line at times"?

make up your mind.

Sorry what about my comment was playoff specific?

 

[Stonehands1990]

didn't you just get done telling me that "even Cassidy broke up the perfection line at times"?

make up your mind.

Check the date

Bruce Cassidy credits lineup changes to a "pow-wow" with his top guys

 

[Dough72]

Or maybe this is the first time you've ever actually watched simmonds shift by shift.

Next time you watch the Leafs watch how actively they try to avoid hits on dump ins. Wayne Simmonds has had a long career of smashing defecemen on dump ins. I know this because I have watched all sorts of his games over the years. Your stat is obviously not differentiating a hit from a 'hit'.

 

[aingefan]

Next time you watch the Leafs watch how actively they try to avoid hits on dump ins. Wayne Simmonds has had a long career of smashing defecemen on dump ins. I know this because I have watched all sorts of his games over the years. Your stat is obviously not differentiating a hit from a 'hit'.

He’s also 33 now, and in the twilight of his career.

 

[therealkoho]

I expect Kerfoot and Mikheyev to switch spots before long.

possible but Wiilie and Alex work really well together, Kampf may be the guy that needs to up his game to stay there

Mikheyev has been skating really well and using his body more now than before, that presence and speed makes the opposition weary of going to deep into the Leafs zone. Marners passing ability makes the breakaway pass a very real threat. He doesn't need to play the starring role on that line, just be a threat and chip in a little, get to the net front and tie up defenders, JT and MM will do most of the rest, which is what they were doing with Kerf at the start of the season. At least that is until MM was moved to help get Matty going if you remember.

 

[therealkoho]

OP why you used Sheldon instead of Keefe? The moment I saw the name Sheldon I thought....

uhhh not sure what you mean?

 

[Morbo]

Sorry what about my comment was playoff specific?

post 132?

 

[Niagara Bill]

He’s also 33 now, and in the twilight of his career.

His coach does not want aggression. Rarely a face wash, or a push back in our crease, or retaliation from anyone.

 

[aingefan]

Rolls the ‘old’ third line after the PP .

 

[Jarqui]

Far from committed to this idea but I'd be curious about seeing:
Spezza centering a 3rd scoring line
Kerfoot Spezza Nylander for example
Jason might roll back a few years for that.
Maybe save it for the playoffs.

This could work too:
If the top 6 stayed as they were
Bunting Matthews Marner
Kerfoot Tavares Nylander
Mikheyev Spezza Kase
Engvall Kampf Simmonds

Kampf centering Mikheyev & Engvall would be a decent 3b checking line.
It could get a little more ice time than the 4th line typically does as situations dictated.

 

[hobarth]

Some players can thrive with stars even tho they aren't stars themselves, other players are bewildered when they play with stars because they don't understand the game or how to benefit playing with stars.

I figure Engvall and Mikeyev could be perfect linemates without Kampf , they can be useful and even productive together, they aren't stars and probably wouldn't benefit from playing with AM, MM, JT or WN, they're outstanding 3rd line players and fine PKers.

Kampf with Spezza and Simmonds makes more sense because Kampf's IQ is 4th line quality and he also is well suited to PKing.

I'd like to see:

Kerfoot/AM/WN
Kase/JT/MM
Bunting/Engvall/Mikeyev
Simmonds/Kampf/Simmonds