Should Bunting be put back into the lineup?
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I understand the hesitancy, and there's something to be said about not making changes to a winning lineup, but he makes us better, and it's probably safer to put him in at home up 3-1 than any other potential situation this series.
He's going to get abused though.
He's going to get abused though.
Drytoast
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- Sep 27, 2017
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Why would you change anything about a line up that just went 3-0 after getting blown up in game 1, the only game Bunting's been in where he caused the Leafs to implode by his antics in taking a 5 minute major?
He's gonna take penalties. It's unfortunate, but the refs are all over him and he can't help himself. Not worth the risk. He sees ice time unless some other Leaf has royally screwed up. And so far that's not the case.
He's gonna take penalties. It's unfortunate, but the refs are all over him and he can't help himself. Not worth the risk. He sees ice time unless some other Leaf has royally screwed up. And so far that's not the case.
robertmac43
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I would be shocked to see him in the press box next game. It will be interesting to see who the odd man out is next practice.
ACC1224
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Stash him in the 4th line.
You're crazy if you think the guy doesn't wanna make a big impression in game 5 after letting the team down with the suspension. You give him that opportunity.
You're crazy if you think the guy doesn't wanna make a big impression in game 5 after letting the team down with the suspension. You give him that opportunity.
banks
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I get the argument against putting Bunting in. He was a problem in game 1. And the 4th line has been great, so it's hard to find someone to scratch in his place.
But it's not good to overthink it. He's a really good hockey player. He's unquestionably better than Lafferty or ZAR. The job of a coach is to put the players in a position to succeed. Bunting is part of the best lineup TOR can make. Put him in.
But it's not good to overthink it. He's a really good hockey player. He's unquestionably better than Lafferty or ZAR. The job of a coach is to put the players in a position to succeed. Bunting is part of the best lineup TOR can make. Put him in.
Bunting is better than Lafferty and Aston-Reese, you scratch one of those guys to make room for Bunting.
Let Tampa go after him, hopefully it puts us on the PP.
Let Tampa go after him, hopefully it puts us on the PP.
That's why you have him on the 4th line. If things start getting too chippy, bench Bunting for awhile and it's no big deal. You win in the playoffs with goals from your soldiers further down the lineup. Bunting really stands out to me as a guy who could score that goal and help eliminate Tampa.
kevsh
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- Nov 28, 2018
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I don't see how you can sit him? He's been a solid player for this team the past two years - there's a reason why he was in the top 6 virtually every game - and he's paid his debt sitting out 3 games. To bench him and not give him the opportunity to redeem himself I think would be a slap in the face to Bunting.
Keefe just has to make the obvious clear to him: Do your thing but don't cross the line, and don't let the Bolts rope you into making another stupid play. I'd insert him on the 4th line to start and see how things play out shift-by-shift before considering moving him up the lineup.
Keefe just has to make the obvious clear to him: Do your thing but don't cross the line, and don't let the Bolts rope you into making another stupid play. I'd insert him on the 4th line to start and see how things play out shift-by-shift before considering moving him up the lineup.
robertmac43
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Personally I'm thinking it's ZAR. Laff gets the odd look on the PK.
leafsfan5
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Jarnkrok - Matthews - Nylander
Knies - Tavares - Marner
Bunting - ROR - Acciari
Kerfoot - Kampf - ZAR/Lafferty
Talk to him and make sure he's on his best behaviour, but give him a chance to redeem himself. Let ROR babysit him while he gets into the groove of the game again, but I'd also be fine if he started on line 4 and Kerfoot on line 3
Knies - Tavares - Marner
Bunting - ROR - Acciari
Kerfoot - Kampf - ZAR/Lafferty
Talk to him and make sure he's on his best behaviour, but give him a chance to redeem himself. Let ROR babysit him while he gets into the groove of the game again, but I'd also be fine if he started on line 4 and Kerfoot on line 3
Buds17
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- Nov 29, 2015
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Consider me thrilled that this is even up for debate as Bunting likely couldn't be welcomed back fast enough with the Leafs not in control of this series. I do imagine Bunting will ultimately be back in for Thursday night's tilt. My guess is that he'll be supplanting ZAR ('indirectly' and maybe also 'directly').
TheGreatOne11
Registered User
I agree, have him 4th line throwing hits, creating space, trying to draw penalties, and maybe he pots one against the opposing 4th line.
If we are icing our best lineup, Bunting goes in for one of those two in my opinion, and I lean Aston-Reese being the odd man out.
SImpelton
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- Mar 1, 2018
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TBH guys I wouldn't fix what's working. Try him again in game 1 of round 2 if you get that far.
That major was a huge problem in game 1, and it's literally the only game the Leafs weren't able to win. even if Bunting is a good player, what does it say that the leafs play better overall hockey without him? I feel like his suspension is almost an addition by subtracction.
Guys like Bunting have the potential to be much less than the sum of their parts if they turn momentum against their team like he did in game 1. Yes he's a good skater in isolation but he can have a large negative impact too and there's no need to risk this.
That major was a huge problem in game 1, and it's literally the only game the Leafs weren't able to win. even if Bunting is a good player, what does it say that the leafs play better overall hockey without him? I feel like his suspension is almost an addition by subtracction.
Guys like Bunting have the potential to be much less than the sum of their parts if they turn momentum against their team like he did in game 1. Yes he's a good skater in isolation but he can have a large negative impact too and there's no need to risk this.
He's a mental midget too often that's why you sit him. He hasn't got many calls lately because he dives too much. He's angered refs who can't wait to blow the whistle on him. Since he sat we haven't lost against a very good team. Is there a analytic bigger than that?
Also a good negotiating ploy if you actually want this mental midget back next season or two. Maybe this wakes him up. Sit him.
Also a good negotiating ploy if you actually want this mental midget back next season or two. Maybe this wakes him up. Sit him.
It's not that he's not better than ZAR, or Laffery,, or Kerfoot, or Acciari, he's better than all of them.
But he's also an idiot, he's been an, idiot most of the season, the refs TARGET him because he's an idiot.
He can't play game 5 because he can't be trusted not to be an idiot.
CantLoseWithMatthews
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They're a better team with him in the lineup, that's all that matters. He's thrown one bad hit in his career, I don't think fair to say they can't trust him to not do anything stupid because of it
As long as he doesn't complain heck we might end up getting a PP from it, as funny as that may sound.
I don't see how he gets back in unless Kerfoot, or Laffery, or ZAR can't go for game 5.
But otherwise I don't see how he gets back in.
The team has something cooking with these lines.
Keep this team as is.
Just get a good game out of Samsonov, and win.
But otherwise I don't see how he gets back in.
The team has something cooking with these lines.
Keep this team as is.
Just get a good game out of Samsonov, and win.
tmlms13
Registered User
To everyone who said don't change what's working. Is it really working? It took two miracles to win games they probably should have lost.
It's not a 1 time thing though, he does stupid shit all the time.
This isn't a talent thing, if it was just that put him in.
This is a he's an idiot thing.
Gary Nylund
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CantLoseWithMatthews
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He does do stupid shit, but it typically only ends up hurting him as the refs let opposing players get away with taking liberties on him. Taking a 5 minute penalty isn't the norm for him. He's also a very good player, especially when he's focused on playing hockey
