So, what are our top 13 forwards and what do we need?

[darrylsittler27]

He looks a year away at least.

 

[LeafEgo]

Knies is going back to college this year, but I like what he can potentially bring after his season is over, or next year.

re: Douglas - is he a good fighter? capable to go against guys like Maroon, Wilson, etc.? I know he's huge. I had got rid of my Spitfires season tickets long before he came here to play, and I honestly don't know much about his game other than he is huge.

He will probably have the heaviest hand in the league - his punches look lethal. Doesn't look very skilled, would be interesting.

I'm sure he could go Maroon though.

 

[A1LeafNation]

Bunting Matthews Marner
________ Tavares Nylander
Engvall Kerfoot Jankrok
________ Kampf Aube-Kubel
Clifford

Robertson Malgin Gaudette can audition until Knies comes in for that top 6 LW spot.

Need a competent bottom 6 LW to play on that shutdown line for the playoffs like ZAR.

 

[Dekes For Days]

You did leave out Mrazek and Ritchie

Well, no, I was referring to the lesser priced additions that a group of people thought weren't anything, that ended up being quite good, to compare to this offseason's lesser priced additions. Everybody expected Richie and Mrazek to play.

Engvall and Kampf had solid seasons last year but I wouldn't be crushed to see either player replaced. Hope they both outpace last year and prove me wrong though.

I don't think anybody is treating them as core pieces that can never be replaced, but they're quality depth, and certainly much better than "borderline replacement level players".

 

[613Leafer]

I think the main issue is a lack of north/south players that can play in the top 9. The physical guys that will actually drive the net, go for the tips, rebounds, etc. I wouldn't say we have enough of that element in there, which I think makes us easier to defend against in the playoffs as we're not bringing enough variety in how we try to score.

Because on paper, I think all of Engvall, Kampf, and Jarnkrok are good 3rd liners, and I think Kerfoot is a decent enough complimentary guy in the top 6 who has versatility (can play C, can play PK, etc), but our secondary scoring in the playoffs repeatedly dries up.

 

[banks]

I just hope Robertson and/or Malgin get a good chance. I think one or both could have a big year. I'd prefer Robertson, if I got to pick.

And I think they should add some Phil Kessel. He doesn't make much sense when you look at the strengths and weaknesses of the current roster. But he makes a lot of sense when you ignore reason and just want to watch something fun. Phil Kessel is awesome. Please sign Phil Kessel.

 

[Coachcorner]

Bunting Matthews Marner
________ Tavares Nylander
Engvall Kerfoot Jankrok
________ Kampf Aube-Kubel
Clifford

Robertson Malgin Gaudette can audition until Knies comes in for that top 6 LW spot.

Need a competent bottom 6 LW to play on that shutdown line for the playoffs like ZAR.

Knies will freakin KILL at will when he comes............. in. He will be in after the christmas mayne. Hard. He one of our best and special players.

Knies's brain will also be more interesting and sharper than so many of our other losing fools.... cause he decided that staying in school is more important still. Mayne... what a brain and guy. Rare in hockey. He out there sire.

 

[Fogelhund]

Knies will freakin KILL at will when he comes............. in. He will be in after the christmas mayne. Hard. He one of our best and special players.

Knies's brain will also be more interesting and sharper than so many of our other losing fools.... cause he decided that staying in school is more important still. Mayne... what a brain and guy. Rare in hockey. He out there sire.

He won't be in after Christmas... but after his NCAA season is done... NCAA Frozen Four ended April 9th this past year... and it's likely that Minnesota is good enough to be there again.

 

[therealkoho]

The only position I'm worried about is the 2LW, I like Kerf but I do not believe he's up to the task to do the kind of job that needs to be done there.

As others have stated I'd like to have an ideally big bodied guy that can produce 20+ goals and 40+ assists with at least some snarl in his game, but where do you get that guy and who would give him up

Candidates from teams way over the cap?

Puljujarvi or Foegele
Reilly Smith or Marchessault
Oshie, Connor Brown
Koneckny, Couturier
Killorn

Others

Miles Wood

Toews although Chicago would have to retain 40% and take back Kerfoot, Muzzin and one of Malgin, Steeves or Holmberg in a trade

M Foligno

 

[AvroArrow]

We need Knies to come in and replace Kerfoot on the 2nd line.

 

[Coachcorner]

He won't be in after Christmas... but after his NCAA season is done... NCAA Frozen Four ended April 9th this past year... and it's likely that Minnesota is good enough to be there again.

Uh ok sire and thank you for the information and answer. I meant not right after the christmas though, but like two months after it. But it goes even further than that I see.... long time. He will only be us for the playoffs and right before the reg.season ends So that's kinda of aaaaaaight too. Knies will be ours best players instantly. He that talented and got the special and skills and got that power like that oscar mayer errrbody's talkin bout you know what I'm saying.

 

[darrylsittler27]

We need Knies and Douglas to make the team but I doubt Douglas is ready for the NHL heavyweights yet. I have watched him fight and he makes some mistakes that could get him knocked out a lot.

 

[Its not your fault]

One thing of concern for me is if you push out Clifford and Simmonds we have some very small and soft wingers in our top 12. I don't know how but we could sure use a big top 6 winger for the playoffs. I think our defense is set if Sandin gets signed but I'm not sold on our top 12 forwards mix wise for the playoffs. Hopefully Knies is ready or? What is it we are missing to make a dent in next years playoffs?

As far as defense I think if Sandin and Liljegren play more it helps us. We may need to drop Holl to bottom pairing.

Thoughts?

Cap hit ouchies.

PROJECTED CAP SPACE

: $0 (-$1,493,116

)​

They don't play in the top twelve so it's only useful in home games. Best to be just rolling lines and having the other coach trying to match yours.

 

[Uncus13]

Hoping Robertson can handle that. I think Abruzz needs a full year in the AHL.

Abruzz will be a trade chip slow slow slow

 

[darrylsittler27]

I think the main issue is a lack of north/south players that can play in the top 9. The physical guys that will actually drive the net, go for the tips, rebounds, etc. I wouldn't say we have enough of that element in there, which I think makes us easier to defend against in the playoffs as we're not bringing enough variety in how we try to score.

Because on paper, I think all of Engvall, Kampf, and Jarnkrok are good 3rd liners, and I think Kerfoot is a decent enough complimentary guy in the top 6 who has versatility (can play C, can play PK, etc), but our secondary scoring in the playoffs repeatedly dries up.

All true we lack variety and the whole stacked with small, soft wingers is a flawed model that will never work in the playoffs. Dubas' thinks he just needs to do well in the reg season. Then a star gets injured and he will try and use it as an excuse.The East is tough. We are built like a Western team.

 

[Uncus13]

I just hope Robertson and/or Malgin get a good chance. I think one or both could have a big year. I'd prefer Robertson, if I got to pick.

And I think they should add some Phil Kessel. He doesn't make much sense when you look at the strengths and weaknesses of the current roster. But he makes a lot of sense when you ignore reason and just want to watch something fun. Phil Kessel is awesome. Please sign Phil Kessel.

Malgin? Malgin???? are you kidding?
is this dubas ..... Malgin? roflmao

Personally, I would prefer a player that doesn't do their clothes shopping in the kid's section of Walmart.

 

[saltming]

Statistically correct

OUT
============================
Mikheyev................................ 21 goals 32 points
Spezza ......................................12 goals 25 points
Kase ..........................................14 goals 27 points
Blackwell (TO/SEA) ............. 10 goals 20 points (2 goals 3 points Leafs)


Total OUT YTD ............. 49 goals 87 points (including only Leafs stats)

IN
===============================
Nicolas Aubé-Kubel (PHI/COL).........11 goals 23 points
Adam Gaudette (CHI/OTT)................... 5 goals 12 points
Calle Jarnkrock (CAL/SEA) ..................12 goals 30 points
Denis Malgin (Swiss league) .............. NA

Total IN YTD ...........................28 goals 65 points

It's a good thing team evaluation is done by points alone

 

[The Iceman]

Bunting Matthews Marner
________ Tavares Nylander
Engvall Kerfoot JankrokLarson types
________ Kampf Aube-Kubel
Clifford

Robertson Malgin Gaudette can audition until Knies comes in for that top 6 LW spot.

Need a competent bottom 6 LW to play on that shutdown line for the playoffs like ZAR.

YUP, need more bodies.

I would like Robertson, Malgin, Gaudette, Clifford to be our injury reinforcements.
Get me 1 or 2 of ZAR, Eakin, Pitlick, Milano, Larson types to round out the bottom 6.

 

[TorMapleJays]

Team has gotten progressively softer and less mean to play against. Easiest team in the league for sheer desire and tenacity to win.

They need more heart

 

[Jackothy]

Team has gotten progressively softer and less mean to play against. Easiest team in the league for sheer desire and tenacity to win.

They need more heart

Yupp

 

[tmlfan98]

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Jarnkrok
NAK-Holmberg-Anderson
Simmonds

I still think Kerfoot is traded before opening night.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I'm not holding my breath when it comes to Knies.

Maybe we see him play in the 23-24 season...

 

[Clyde Brewer]

There are a lot of people already penciling Robertson into 2LW spot. I sure hope he can play there, but I'm not even sure he'll be a full time NHL'er.

I also don't think that Robertson's style fits well with Tavares and Nylander. How bad would Joey Anderson look on that line? Steeves?

 

[sittler rules!!!]

Bunting-Matthews-Marner
Kerfoot-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kampf-Jarnkrok
Robertson-Gaudette-Aube-Kubel
Simmonds

We need a big body that uses it in the 2nd line, a 4c that can PK, and probably some more snarl in the bottom 6

Soft, soft, soft

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Soft, soft, soft

Hard to deny this. If Simmonds and Clifford don't make the team who's going to protect our pretty boys?