PTO: [TOR] F Steven Lorentz, Max Pacioretty, and Jon Gillies sign PTOs with the Maple Leafs; 21 others invited to camp

[HockeyVirus]

The Leaf's bottom 6 is very light right now. If he makes the team and Mcmann is on the 3rd line they need at least one more big/"heavy" forward

I'd be shocked to not see McMann in the top 6. He earned that last year with his play, I suspect his combination of tenacity and grit in the top 6 will be hard to scoff at.

Bottom 6 like basically every year I can remember we will hope some prospects make it respectable, because as of right now it is pretty meh. Not terrible there is some scoring and defensive players there but certainly no one who will make matchups a true challenge.

 

[tarheelhockey]

He’s a pretty good 4th liner. Canes didn’t especially want to give him up, but contracts and roster space were in a crunch. I’d imagine Florida feels about the same way now. He’s a good example of a guy who can make a good team deeper and harder to play against, as long as he stays in a clearly defined role.

 

[Gizmo Tkachuk]

Lorentz was solid for us in his limited role, best of luck.

Can he kill penalties?

He could, but didn't really play on the PK much for Florida. Less than 20min TOI

 

[crowi]

I find it odd he has to sign a PTO. He is a 4th line NHL player for sure. Perhaps he was asking too much and it bit him.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

I'd be shocked to not see McMann in the top 6. He earned that last year with his play, I suspect his combination of tenacity and grit in the top 6 will be hard to scoff at.

Bottom 6 like basically every year I can remember we will hope some prospects make it respectable, because as of right now it is pretty meh. Not terrible there is some scoring and defensive players there but certainly no one who will make matchups a true challenge.

Ok if Mcmann is top six then who from Domi, or Knies is on the 3rd line. Domi's defense is horrific and I think Knies skill set needs to be in the top 6. I really like Mcmann's game and not counting his scorching hot 10 game stretch he scored at a 30 goal pace. But his defense(top 3 last year of this forward group) with Kampf and Holmberg/Jarnkok would give the Leafs a strong 3rd line that can produce goals 5 vs 5.

 

[HockeyVirus]

Ok if Mcmann is top six then who from Domi, or Knies is on the 3rd line. Domi's defense is horrific and I think Knies skill set needs to be in the top 6. I really like Mcmann's game and not counting his scorching hot 10 game stretch he scored at a 30 goal pace. But his defense(top 3 last year of this forward group) with Kampf and Holmberg/Jarnkok would give the Leafs a strong 3rd line that can produce goals 5 vs 5.

We're at the time of year there are still unknowns. We have no idea what the realistic options are. Leafs have a handful of players who could be ready to be a legit help to their team but could also not be quite there. They have other guys who rehabbed all offseason and are unlikely to make the team but could be an option later on.

I would guess it is more likely one of JT, Marner, or Nylander find themselves on the third line.

Knies - Matthews - Domi
McMann - Tavares - Marner
XXX - Holmberg - Nylander

Was what they ran for a stretch last year.

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

We're at the time of year there are still unknowns. We have no idea what the realistic options are. Leafs have a handful of players who could be ready to be a legit help to their team but could also not be quite there. They have other guys who rehabbed all offseason and are unlikely to make the team but could be an option later on.

I would guess it is more likely one of JT, Marner, or Nylander find themselves on the third line.

Knies - Matthews - Domi
McMann - Tavares - Marner
XXX - Holmberg - Nylander

Was what they ran for a stretch last year.

I agree there are lots of unknowns. Going with the assumptions of everyone being perfectly healthy I would expect the Leafs to run the forwards like this.

Knies - Matthews - Marner
Domi - Tavares - Nylander
McMann - Kampf/Holmberg- Holmberg/Jarnkok/Cowan
Dewar - Kampf/Minten/Lorentz- Jarnkok/Reeves

For the people thinking Berube will spread out the "Core 4" nothing in his coaching history shows he will do that. He likes to load up and ice time gets decided due to effort/game situtations. He does like his bottom 6 to play heavy with very defined roles, all the while having speed and size especially on the wings. Lorentz definately fits this profile. He also likes his botttom 6 to be strong defensively. one of the reasons I can see Mcmann and Kampf together on a line.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I do like the fact he's got a cup ring and I do like the size but I don't really see the point because they have a 4C in Kampf.

If they are doing PTO's I was hoping for Matt Martin or Clutterbuck or Kubalik.

They need a winger

Every center that ever played can play the wing.....it is actually better to have wingers who are also centers, not sure what your issue is?

 

[Bust]

According to HockeyDB Lorentz is a center which is why this is an odd PTO

Precursor to a Kampf+Robertson trade IMO

 

[Mogo]

damn, liked him a lot with us

only one on the 4th line who could do a dang thing

Stenlund

 

[Idiot Stick]

Stenlund

Stenlund elite on pk, but was focusing on scoring

 

[HockeyVirus]

For the people thinking Berube will spread out the "Core 4" nothing in his coaching history shows he will do that. He likes to load up and ice time gets decided due to effort/game situtations. He does like his bottom 6 to play heavy with very defined roles, all the while having speed and size especially on the wings. Lorentz definately fits this profile. He also likes his botttom 6 to be strong defensively. one of the reasons I can see Mcmann and Kampf together on a line.

I just think Marner and Matthews is a waste when Domi and Matthews had such amazing chemistry. Domi also plays with some balls and Matthews was getting a mean streak playing with him. We desperately need Marner running another line. If he was a LW him and Willy would work amazing

 

[jaric1862]

According to HockeyDB Lorentz is a center which is why this is an odd PTO

Not true at all.

The only true centers on the team with consistent experience playing in the middle at the NHL level are Matthews, Tavares, and Kampf.

We a number of guys who *can* play center but have spent the majority of their career on the wing and tend to perform better in that role. (Domi, Dewar, Holmberg)

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I just think Marner and Matthews is a waste when Domi and Matthews had such amazing chemistry. Domi also plays with some balls and Matthews was getting a mean streak playing with him. We desperately need Marner running another line. If he was a LW him and Willy would work amazing

Matthews and Marner also have amazing chemistry.

Personally I'd like to see Domi-Matthews-Marner together.

Something like

Domi Matthews Marner

Knies Tavares Nylander

Mcmann Holmberg Jarnkork.

Moving Domi to LW fixes the hole at wing and allows them to hopefully focus on trading Robertson for a #3 center because I don't really like Holmberg at center, I don't like wingers playing center

Not true at all.

The only true centers on the team with consistent experience playing in the middle at the NHL level are Matthews, Tavares, and Kampf.

We a number of guys who *can* play center but have spent the majority of their career on the wing and tend to perform better in that role. (Domi, Dewar, Holmberg)

But that's why It's an odd PTO because they already have a 4C in Kampf, they need a #3 center and Lorentz isn't going to be that 3C

 

[jaric1862]

Matthews and Marner also have amazing chemistry.

Personally I'd like to see Domi-Matthews-Marner together.

Something like

Domi Matthews Marner

Knies Tavares Nylander

Mcmann Holmberg Jarnkork.

Moving Domi to LW fixes the hole at wing and allows them to hopefully focus on trading Robertson for a #3 center because I don't really like Holmberg at center, I don't like wingers playing center



But that's why It's an odd PTO because they already have a 4C in Kampf, they need a #3 center and Lorentz isn't going to be that 3C

That’s fair.

I can see them using Kampf/Holmberg at 3C until they upgrade at the deadline.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

That’s fair.

I can see them using Kampf/Holmberg at 3C until they upgrade at the deadline.

Hopefully they can use Robertson to address that need or at least use the assets he brings to address that need

 

[tarheelhockey]

Every center that ever played can play the wing.....it is actually better to have wingers who are also centers, not sure what your issue is?

And in this case, he has a lot more experience at wing than center, so the whole issue of the position battle at C seems moot. Lorentz is more like a guy that can jump in at center when needed rather than one you would want to pencil into the lineup at center.

 

[Paper]

Damn the Leafs are lucky.

 

[Kennedys]

The piece they needed to win a cup

 

[Paper]

An acute poster noticed that it was likely Lorentz who ruined Campbell when he was on the Leafs with a beautiful goal against. I wonder if they have been targeting him since just to make sure he doesn't destroy their next goalie.

Lorentz with a great single-man goal

Love to see it. His family must be proud.

forums.hfboards.com

 

[Leafs87]

Interesting lol

Nope. He's big but not physical.

He’s physical and excellent skater

 

[BobClarkesfrontteeth]

Interesting lol

people have a deferent definition of "physical". For some its a player who works hard, consistantly uses his body to lean into people and hits. For others he has to play every game like the Hanson brothers from slap shot or he is soft.
He can skate and plays a heavy game. similar to Mcmann without the scorching hot 10 game goal streak.

 

[TotalHomer]

Interesting lol

He does actually have pretty good skill for a fourth liner but Maurice likes his bottom line physical and that's why he was on and off the ice. Especially early on when he came he basically sat the first few months. It got better towards the end but if he was hitter he would've been a lock on the fourth line with his skill level.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

Nice pickup by Toronto. Would rather have Lorentz than Kampf in the bottom 6.

 

[Sypher04]

I just think Marner and Matthews is a waste when Domi and Matthews had such amazing chemistry. Domi also plays with some balls and Matthews was getting a mean streak playing with him. We desperately need Marner running another line. If he was a LW him and Willy would work amazing

Willy is capable of playing all 3 forward positions.