GDT: Training Camp Discussion PART II

[hamzarocks]

Leafs can't develop defenseman for the life of them

f***ed up Dermott, are messing lilijgren's development and Sandin isn't looking that great either from an overall play perspective.

Lilijgren + Dermott should be our bottom pairing this year, with both getting a chance to push out Holl from the 2nd pair if they are playing well

Sandin should get 25 mins in the AHL against top competition and some PK time, basically groom him to be a 75-80% Rielly next year

Lilijgren not making the NHL in his D+5 is wrong, he needs to be either given the chance to show he's a good NHL player or we need to move him if the organization isn't high on him.

 

[Jannik Hansen]

How has Bunting looked in camp? Is it looking like he'll get a spot in the top 6?

 

[Fantomas]

So what are Menell's chances?

 

[uncleben]

Have they made any cuts yet?

Rich Clune, Curtis Douglas, Teemu Kivihalme, William Villeneuve

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

How has Bunting looked in camp? Is it looking like he'll get a spot in the top 6?

He has 4 goals in the 2 games he's played. Has played both games beside Tavares and Ho-Sang, and has pissed everybody off on the other teams while doing so.

 

[diehardleafsfan9878]

So what are Menell's chances?

Only played the 1 game, but was 1 of only 2 defensemen in that game that I'd give a passing grade to. The other being his partner Rubins. I think he's going to be the 6/7 while Sandin and Liljegren both start with the Marlies, until there is enough cap space to have 1 up full time. At which point I see them going back and forth to the Marlies. Along with Dermott, I see all 4 guys rotating in and out until someone either shows they can't play, or they are far and away better than the others.

 

[Knies iT]

Did you go by a different Screen name? Never really saw you before, but you have over 3000 posts.

I enjoy reading your posts. They are always well thought out and not knee-jerk, chicken-little responses that clutter this Board.

Cheers.

Formerly @saintblue

Cheers man.

 

[Edgelord]

He has 4 goals in the 2 games he's played. Has played both games beside Tavares and Ho-Sang, and has pissed everybody off on the other teams while doing so.

Man, I really hope Ritche and Ho-sang are not in the top 6.
IMO Ritche is too slow and Ho-Sang is bad under pressure.

I say give Mik a shot beside Matthews and Marner.
Run Bunting-Tavares-Nylander
Then a 3rd line of Ritche-Kerfoot-Kase
4th line Simmonds-Kampf-Speeza
I feel that gives us some depth and 3 solid scoring lines and a decent shut down line.

 

[Edgelord]

Rich Clune, Curtis Douglas, Teemu Kivihalme

thanks I see that we are playing back to back so I am assuming the next round of cuts is after Tues?

 

[uncleben]

thanks I see that we are playing back to back so I am assuming the next round of cuts is after Tues?

That's the working theory, yeah!

 

[zeke]

OK so I'm a bit surprised but heading into the last 3 preseason games it seems pretty clear to me we're looking at this first choice roster:

Ritchie ----- Matthews ------ Marner
Mikheyev ----- Tavares ----- Nylander
Kerfoot ----- Kampf ----- Kase
Bunting ----- Spezza ----- Simmonds

Rielly ----- Brodie
Muzzin ----- Holl
Sandin ----- Dermott
Liljegren
​

Personally I differ in a few choices:

1. Bunting should probably be higher up.
2. Spezza shouldn't be at C.
(Move Kerfoot to C takes care of both 1 and 2)
3. I would start Liljegren over Sandin but I get why they would being the PP guys first.

 

[D4ngleSZN]

who's the #1 goalie?
for fantasy purposes lol

 

[D4ngleSZN]

As much as I hate the leafs I drafted marner, nylander and campbell so I hope you guys do well lol

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

who's the #1 goalie?
for fantasy purposes lol

Campbell and Mrazek will be split pretty evenly to start, and then they'll go with whoever is hot at the time

 

[zeke]

who's the #1 goalie?
for fantasy purposes lol

For fantasy assume an even split. But keep a close eye to see if one runs away with it.

 

[zeke]

As much as I hate the leafs I drafted marner, nylander and campbell so I hope you guys do well lol

Smart man.

 

[hotpaws]

who's the #1 goalie?
for fantasy purposes lol

go with Mzarek , Leafs will favor him since we can't to give Campbell a raise

 

[mcleex]

I thought this game was going to be on TSN

 

[Nylander88]

Excited to see Kerfoot on the Kampf-Kase 3rd line. It's what I always thought it should be. Mikheyev getting a look with Tavares-Nylander I don't agree with, unless that's just showcasing. Bunting has definitely earned his spot there thus far.
Ritchie-Matthews-Marner
Bunting-Tavares-Nylander
Kerfoot-Kampf-Kase
_______-Spezza-Simmonds

Seems to be the way it's shaping up so far. I'd definitely be okay moving Mikheyev since he won't be getting the opportunity he wants imo (he won't stick in the top 6), and free Spezza up from C duties with a guy like Brooks. Simmonds-Brooks-Spezza would be a good 4th line. Brooks was able to make Thornton-Brooks-Spezza look respectable when it was used last year

 

[stickty111]

OK so I'm a bit surprised but heading into the last 3 preseason games it seems pretty clear to me we're looking at this first choice roster:

Ritchie ----- Matthews ------ Marner
Mikheyev ----- Tavares ----- Nylander
Kerfoot ----- Kampf ----- Kase
Bunting ----- Spezza ----- Simmonds

Rielly ----- Brodie
Muzzin ----- Holl
Sandin ----- Dermott
Liljegren
​

Personally I differ in a few choices:

1. Bunting should probably be higher up.
2. Spezza shouldn't be at C.
(Move Kerfoot to C takes care of both 1 and 2)
3. I would start Liljegren over Sandin but I get why they would being the PP guys first.

The roster works cap wise too. If Lilly makes it as a 7th d man, I'll admit I jumped to conclusions but I'm not sure they aren't sending him to the AHL.

 

[showtime8]

Excited to see Kerfoot on the Kampf-Kase 3rd line. It's what I always thought it should be. Mikheyev getting a look with Tavares-Nylander I don't agree with, unless that's just showcasing. Bunting has definitely earned his spot there this far.
Ritchie-Matthews-Marner
Bunting-Tavares-Nylander
Kerfoot-Kampf-Kase
_______-Spezza-Simmonds

Seems to be the way it's shaping up so far. I'd definitely be okay moving Mikheyev since he won't be getting the opportunity he wants imo (he won't stick in the top 6), and free Spezza up from C duties with a guy like Brooks. Simmonds-Brooks-Spezza would be a good 4th line. Brooks was able to make Thornton-Brooks-Spezza look respectable when it was used last year

I wish there was an opportunity since the start of camp for the Leafs to try out 1 top line and stick with it. Last season, the Leafs rotated Jumbo, Vesey, Hyman, etc. all through the position and really it didn't slow down that line. But having Ritchie up there doesn't seem like it would be the long term solution, especially early in the season.

Personally, I think that Bunting joins that top line for the first stretch of games. His skating will create something similar to what Hyman brought to the table. Play with an edge and get the puck to the other guys.

I really like that 3rd line though. Ability to skate and provide a bit of offense, while shutting down the other teams top line.

The 4th line is going to be the question mark to me. I could see Ritchie playing 4th line left wing & at the same time I could see Mikheyev playing there as well.

Dubas needs to get whatever he can for Engvall and move on. His role is being filled by free agents and the depth in the organization can handle his loss.

 

[Zybalto]

Leafs proposed centers are pretty strong on faceoffs:

Last season:

Matthews: 51.90%
Tavares: 55.28%
Kampf: 52.77%
Spezza: 56.94%

Matthews has been getting stronger every year as well.

 

[TMLAM34]

After seeing guys like Ho-Sang and Brooks earning roster spots during training camp, I wouldn’t be too upset to see Mikheyev get traded after his request earlier in the summer. I’d package Dermott with him and aim to acquire a slightly better defenceman.

Marcus Pettersson comes to mind.

To Toronto: Marcus Pettersson
To Pittsburgh: Travis Dermott, Ilya Mikheyev, Pierre Engvall

 

[Martin Skoula]

After seeing guys like Ho-Sang and Brooks earning roster spots during training camp, I wouldn’t be too upset to see Mikheyev get traded after his request earlier in the summer. I’d package Dermott with him and aim to acquire a slightly better defenceman.

Marcus Pettersson comes to mind.

To Toronto: Marcus Pettersson
To Pittsburgh: Travis Dermott, Ilya Mikheyev, Pierre Engvall

Yeah I'm curious what we could get if we bundled some leftovers along the lines of Lou moving 5 contracts or whatever it was for Grabner. If I'm a team looking to tank this year, I like my odds on a gamble that one of Dermott/Mikheyev/Engvall will be worth more than a 2nd at the deadline if you feed them minutes.

 

[SI]

Man, I really hope Ritche and Ho-sang are not in the top 6.
IMO Ritche is too slow and Ho-Sang is bad under pressure.

I say give Mik a shot beside Matthews and Marner.
Run Bunting-Tavares-Nylander
Then a 3rd line of Ritche-Kerfoot-Kase
4th line Simmonds-Kampf-Speeza
I feel that gives us some depth and 3 solid scoring lines and a decent shut down line.

Where's the shutdown line?