Anyone else not at all interested in line combinations? Sometimes a thread gets completely overrun by people posting lineup combinations with zero commentary and it’s just so boring. I just don’t get the appeal.
Pre-Game Talk: Time to talk Playoffs
- Thread starter zeke
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ToneDog
56 years and counting. #FireTheShanaClan!
Beats talking about the salary cap.
Seriously going into the playoffs, it does make sense to talk about the lineup, especially since there are so many unknowns and most of our forwards are playing well.
Beats talking about the salary cap.
Seriously going into the playoffs, it does make sense to talk about the lineup, especially since there are so many unknowns and most of our forwards are playing well.
Haha fair. Cap is probably even less interesting to most.
It makes sense to discuss it. I’m not really complaining, but it tends to become so dominant, and not tangible given they’re always so fluid. It’s more like choosing your magic cards stack going into a match.
kb
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Bolts got pounded by the remnants of Florida, who is also ahead of them in the standings.
Overblown. They are not the same team as last year....not even close.
zeke
The Dube Abides
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The Podium
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Foligno - Matthews - Marner
Hyman - Tavares - Nylander
Gally/Kerfoot - Engvall - Mikheyev
Gally/Jumbo - Nash - Spezza
Simmonds sits
Reilly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Sandin/Dermott - Bogo/Dermott
Campbell
Hyman - Tavares - Nylander
Gally/Kerfoot - Engvall - Mikheyev
Gally/Jumbo - Nash - Spezza
Simmonds sits
Reilly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Sandin/Dermott - Bogo/Dermott
Campbell
The Podium
Registered User
I tend to agree that Kerfoot always seems to look so much more effective as a winger.
Nash plays dead-puck hockey though. Not sure you want to combine Spezza with that since he has some offense. I’d be more inclined to combine him with Kerfoot and Mikheyev, whom have made my eyes bleed on most juicy offensive opportunities.
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Not My Tempo
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I’m low key hoping that the refs put their whistles away, aside from dangerous hits and such. We’re such a good 5v5 team this year.
Gary Nylund
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I'm in that camp. I think I had a strong opinion on a line combo once in the last 10 years, can't remember what it was though.
Beats talking about the salary cap.
Seriously going into the playoffs, it does make sense to talk about the lineup, especially since there are so many unknowns and most of our forwards are playing well.
This is all true too, especially the bolded.
Feeling more and more like a cup or bust situation than a case of 'finally won a round or 2!!' based on the fact that we know next year the regular season and playoffs obviously won't be as easy if it's a normal season.
Dallas is a good example of how it must be a shitty feeling to make the SCF then regress next season and almost miss. Regressing after a extremely hopeful season is worse than a stagnant 3-4 first round exits in a row I would think.
When you consider everything going forward into next season it does feel like cup or bust, maybe finals or bust.
Dallas is a good example of how it must be a shitty feeling to make the SCF then regress next season and almost miss. Regressing after a extremely hopeful season is worse than a stagnant 3-4 first round exits in a row I would think.
When you consider everything going forward into next season it does feel like cup or bust, maybe finals or bust.
This is north division dude. We can use Sens and Oilers as that example. Most notably the fanbases to most glorify winning a playoff round because they got lucky one season and did it, despite being terribad teams.
It’s like bragging that your mom loves you because she forgot to lock the basement door on you one night.
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
I'm not sure regression should be expected though. the Stars likely overachieved at the time, I think few people had them ahead of the Avs or Vegas in the West prior to the start of playoffs.
The Leafs roster, at least in terms of core players, is locked in place for next year (with only Hyman needing a renewal). The expection should be the team will remain competitive next season, though I agree the Leafs do face an ideal situation this post season for a deep run
Menzinger
Kessel4LadyByng
It's pretty amusing seeing the mental gymnastics of other fan bases, who spent weeks trying to argue that the North Division was garbage now try to argue the Leafs will be out in the first round
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The Podium
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Also the pretty stark difference in opinion about the quality of the division when discussing McDavid and Matthews respective accomplishments
It’s also telling how quickly canadian team fanbases will resort to trashing their own teams just because they can’t bear to admit the Leafs are a contender.
Guided by Veseys
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Seems weird to experiment with Nash and throw him in cold over somebody like Galchenyuk who has been on the roster awhile now. Is it even realistic to assume that he would suddenly debut when the playoffs start? I just don’t see it. Seems risky and unnecessary; similar to replacing Robertson with Johnsson during the play-ins..
He really has to be just a backup for injury or replacement for suboptimal performance by a bottom 6 player once the series has started.
He really has to be just a backup for injury or replacement for suboptimal performance by a bottom 6 player once the series has started.
Mess
Global Moderator
Winning a 1st round for the 1st time in 16 years will only be a good start, and long overdue.
However Toronto being the last Canadian team standing with just Montreal, Edmonton and/or Winnipeg in the way should be the floor for expectation this year. IMO
Leafs have to grab this once in a lifetime pandemic opportunity and run with it.
The idea of making the finals and falling short of the cup just to have to play another full regular season next year, the whole time being in the "wake me up when it's the playoffs, we have unfinished business" mindset is a dreadful one. If we have playoff success this year though, I think most of our fans will finally realize the regular season is pointless. We were close to collectively realizing that after the CBJ loss last year, but we were hit with the hype of an improved roster and easier regular season.
It is similar to a team like Pittsburgh in 2017-18 after winning two cups having the attitude of "we're a playoff team, wake us up when it's here". It comes with success. But right now for the Leafs it is because we have something to finally prove in the playoffs, the success mindset comes after
Teeder Keon
Defeat does not rest lightly on their shoulders
Hmmm , great point !
I think I’ve been guilty of this in the past ? If I can read your take properly ...
Either way , I think your right ....
..
I don’t think you need to have playoff success to be ambivalent about the regular season. When you just know you are a lock for the playoffs, you mostly care about your seeding and the playoff matchups. Usually being a lock for the playoffs goes hand in hand with good seeding and eventual success, but the Leafs division has been rough with Boston and Tampa a step ahead up top, that it just hasn’t happened, despite the matchups always going the distance.
I haven’t been too interested in regular season play for a couple years now. But obviously you still want your team to troll your geographical rivals for the shits and giggles along the way.
Nylander88
Registered User
Respectfully....theres zero chance Simmonds sits. We specifically targetted him as our first FA signing for a reason. Guys like him get more valuable come playoff time, not less. Not sure if you tuned in or not the last 4 years, but we've tried the kill em with speed and skill approach
Nylander88
Registered User
Me too. And hoping we see the boys take that next step forward in sticking up for one another. Guys like Foligno, Hyman, Simmonds, Muzzin, Thornton, Spezza, Bogosian are going to be instrumental in setting a standard. It'll be up to our skilled core to follow that lead
Nylander88
Registered User
I agree. Going to be hard for Nash to sneak in if the lineup is at full health. He'll see his chance, but it'll be fourth line to start and due to an injury opening a hole
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