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Should Bunting be put back into the lineup?

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Should Bunting be put into the lineup?

  • Yes

  • No

Results are only viewable after voting.
Normally I’d say sure, but to be honest, both teams have been feasting on the PP this series and the PKs have been abysmal.

Tampa’s PP is at like 30%. Penalties can literally make or break this series. I don’t trust him in the top 6. If he’s playing on the 4th line getting 8 mins a night then sure
 
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leafsfan5 said:
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
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Ideally yes Bunting does push Kerfoot down to the 4th line. I also think Kerfoot is the perfect 4th line player
 
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IPS said:
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.
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Yes but he could take a dumb penalty giving Tampa a PP goal just as easily.
 
authentic said:
As long as he doesn't complain heck we might end up getting a PP from it, as funny as that may sound.
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Personally I think it’s bad luck to change a winning lineup. I get he’s an upgrade offensively on the bottom line guys. We lose next game, put him in. He might be an acid test for Tampa players to resist retribution. If they get stupid we win on PP. I would just like to see the guys who got you here push it over the finish line. Clean slate after that.
 
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Put him on the 4th line as bait for Tampa to goon it up and send the Leafs to the powerplay...My lines would be:

Knies-Matthews-Nylander
Jarnkrok-ROR-Marner -> Shutdown line for the future too
Kerfoot-Tavares-Accari
Bunting-Kampf-Lafferty/ZAR
 
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I'd be interested to see the results of the Poll if you broke it down like:

1: No
2: Yes - 1st line
3: Yes - 2nd line
4: Yes - 3rd line
5: Yes - 4th line

It would be interesting to see how the numbers look.

For me, Bunting draws in no higher than the 3rd line.

I know he's the Sunshine boy today, but I'm not ready to have Kerfoot cemented into the lineup for him to be of any impact every 10 games. I think it needs to be a true competition between ZAR, Kerfoot, and Lafferty to stay in based on merit. Lafferty and ZAR should be given consideration that they are an established 4th line with Kampf that we know and has worked, but I can see Kerfoot adding value to the 4th line much more easily than I can see him on the 2nd line.

Nice problem to have. Bunting needs to keep his shit together or he's going to find himself sleeping in a bed that he doesn't want to be caught in.
 
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A simple swap in for ZAR is what I’d do.

Jarnkrok-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Knies-O’Reilly-Acciari
Bunting-Kampf-Lafferty
/ZAR

Let’s close out this series and then we can adjust the lines.
 
I would bring him in for ZAR.

Obviously, Knies has earned his spot and is much better than the 4th liners. The same goes for Bunting. The Leafs didn't dominate game 3 or 4 and still need Bunting's offensive ability in the lineup.
 
He won't play game 5 but possible later on .. Keefer won't change a winning formula .. go with da guys that fought and won

Eternal Leaf said:
I would bring him in for ZAR.

Obviously, Knies has earned his spot and is much better than the 4th liners. The same goes for Bunting. The Leafs didn't dominate game 3 or 4 and still need Bunting's offensive ability in the lineup.
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You never take out a grit grinder for a scorer .. winning in playoff hockey is all about grit grinders
 
If Bunting was only suspended for one game, would people still be considering not putting him back into the lineup?
 
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RoadWarrior said:
Yes but he could take a dumb penalty giving Tampa a PP goal just as easily.
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This all day. Just his presence on the ice, whether it's for 15 minutes a game or 5, is going to get the ref's radar up. They are going to be looking for anything the second he leaves the bench. And if we're just stashing his ass on the 4th line anyway, then him, Laff or ZAR are interchangeable...and the other two aren't carrying a "2 minutes for looking at me funny" sign. Bunts can sit until...well, I won't say when, but you know what I mean!
 
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Problem with putting Bunting on the 4th line is, the 4th line is taking most the D-zone starts, and Bunting needs to be sheltered. Bunting on the 4th IMO just is not workable.

Maybe put on the 3rd line and slide Kerfoot down to the 4th so they don't lose defensively, and the 4th line can still take the heavy D zone starts.

I can see arguments both ways....both pressbox and playing. Personally, I think he will be a target and that type of play does not bode well for the Leafs.
 
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I think it may be a good spot to put him in. I think of he can just be the bait, some of the tampa guys will go after him and as long as he just turtles, he probably wouldn't get a penalty. But he might.
 
JT AM da real deal said:
He won't play game 5 but possible later on .. Keefer won't change a winning formula .. go with da guys that fought and won
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A bit like Russian roulette though. Getting out played 3/4 games.
Your just waiting for the bullet to fire by waiting to lose.
 
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