GDT: Training Camp Discussion

[Torontonian]

What would a pure shutdown line look like from Toronto standpoint? Would they try to make their 4th line become a shutdown line and try to put the top 9 as scoring lines? This is what I would guess if that was the case, and Keefe wanted to put scoring throughout the lineup and not on the first two lines only. Hard to get a grasp as to what a real shutdown line on Toronto would look like right now.

Ritchie - Matthews - Marner
Bunting - Tavares - Kase
Mikayev - Kerfoot - Nylander (Kerfoot - Nylander played real well together in the playoffs for us)
Spezza - Kampf - Simmonds/Engvall

 

[ULF_55]

The question becomes if we have a true shut down line will Keefe actually use them as intended.
He has already indicated by word and action that he doesn’t believe in line matching

What exactly does he mean by line matching though?

Putting out your shutdown line in the d-zone depending on who is out there for opposition when you have the last change isn't "line matching", but more like situational deployment.

Top line in the Leafs O-Zone you might put out your "next" line again not strictly line matching, maybe you put out your top line if the opposition line is tired/couldn't make a change.

 

[Papi 4 Hart]

yeah that’s not at all what this is. I’ve been consistent in my opinions. Hyman is a good player but his impact on the first line was always minimal. And he absolutely did not show up every night. (See; the whole playoffs the last 2 years, for starters)

What player showed up (besides spezza) in the playoffs?

Who else was effective on the top line other than Hyman? what were the other options?

 

[stickty111]

Siegel wrote an article on what he has seen from the PP so far in camp. He says Marner looks to be in the bumper spot. Nylander takes over Marner's spot last year on the half wall. Matthews on the other flank. Tavares right now is on other units but says most likely he will be in net front on PP1.

I like it but seems crazy it took a new coach to figure this out.

 

[Twine Tickler]

The question becomes if we have a true shut down line will Keefe actually use them as intended.
He has already indicated by word and action that he doesn’t believe in line matching

Ya exactly. Which is why I don't think we will see a line matching style of "shutdown line". Sheldon is not Randy Carlisle. Line matching has never been the way Sheldon coaches, this year will be no different

I do see a scenario where Kampf's line starts in the defensive zone for faceoffs. He's not necessarily the best at the faceoff, But he is definitely not terrible either. I really think this is one area that Manny Molhotra can actually really help David on to get him to that next level of the 55% and higher crowd. We haven't really had a true defensive zone faceoff guy that works with efficiency since like David Steckel.

I am not expecting Kampf to get to that elite level of faceoff guy, but what I am expecting is from him and his linemates is to know what to do when they lose the draw. We got scored on a ton last year off of defensive zone lost draws. Hell it's been a long time of that shit TBH. Losing draws are going to happen, even for the best faceoff guys in the game. It's how you react thereafter that keeps the puck out of the net.

Offensive zone draws are the area in hockey where you see the most set plays that result in goals. Having defensively responsible forwards that don't lose their assignments after a lost draw is pivotal in mitigating those set plays.

I see that form of "shut down" being what Kampf and his line will do. I also see that line being a line that goes out after a goal against, or in a moment where the momentum has shifted in the opponents direction. That sort of thing. By all accounts Kampf has an endless motor, so does Micheyev, Kerfoot and Semyonov. There are a ton of line combos floating in my head right now, But if they were looking to run Kampf a little more than what he has shown historically I could see something like:

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

It kind of falls in line with everything they said when they signed Kampf in the first place. KD mentioned they wanted the flexibility to move Kerf to the wing, and Kampf said yesterday he was looking for a more expanded role than what he was getting in Chicago. I know in this scenario Micheyev doesn't get his wishes, but hopefully it's mitigated by playing with a fellow Avangard childhood teammate in Semyonov.

I still kind of view Kampf as more of a 4th line guy, but who knows what he was "promised" when he signed. By all the interviews it looks like he might get a role increase.

 

[TheScandal89]

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

Ex: Simmonds/Engvall

I'd say if Robertson could hold his own then this would be as well balanced of a team as we could have to roll 4 lines effective. I know Robertson most likely starts with the Marlies, maybe this could be our playoff lines if we dont make any trades

 

[Twine Tickler]

He says Marner looks to be in the bumper spot

Thank god. This is where the most creative player should be. Either in the bumper or below the goal line. But we never Ice a skater below the goal line on the PP like teams were doing last year more frequently.

Tavares has the turn and shoot ability from the bumper, but he lacks the ability to creatively dish the puck from that spot. I've long thought Marner would be worth a shot in that position. Willy and Matthews on their 1 timer side, JT in front of the net picking up the trash. the puck movement can be through each wall guy, the dmen, and the bumper. Short quick passes of the puck and limit the wall to wall passes from Matthews to Marner that were completely eliminated last year. Every team read our PP like a book. Marner has the ability to take a pass from one Matthews on the RW wall and backhand sauce it on a tee to willy on the LW wall for a 1T. or he can bump it back out or down low. When teams game plan around eliminating Marner in the bumper it will only open up Willy and Matthews to either walk in and rip it, or work it to JT down low. JT is just not creative enough to make the level of plays that Marner can in the Bumper IMO.

Happy to hear about this.

 

[Knies iT]

Siegel wrote an article on what he has seen from the PP so far in camp. He says Marner looks to be in the bumper spot. Nylander takes over Marner's spot last year on the half wall. Matthews on the other flank. Tavares right now is on other units but says most likely he will be in net front on PP1.

I like it but seems crazy it took a new coach to figure this out.

Should be a question from the press. You need an entire season and PP coaching change to swap one player?

Nylander is a way better option in Marner’s old spot. Huge shot threat if he actually shoots more. Can thread the needle better/faster than Mitch too.

 

[Menzinger]

I think Mennel is definitely on the active roster at the start of the year as well. Not being waiver exempt will be the big reason why.

You'd have to think something has to give with Dermott or Lilly. I just don't see any reason why we'd play Dermott over Liljegren if Timmy shows up to camp and looks ready. He's been ready for a while now. It's hardly like Dermott plays mistake free hockey. We may as well go with the younger more affordable option that gives us more roster flexibility. The cap implications of holding Dermott and say Engvall only allows for a 21 man roster, whereas trading Derms and waiving Pierre allows for a 22 man roster. We don't have the luxury of a taxi squad this year, so runing a 21 man roster seems a bit unlikely in my mind. Waiving Pierre alone is not enough to carry 22 players. We need an injury or another contract to go. I think Derms is the obvious choice if Lilly appears ready.

I like Dermott, I think he can be a solid defensemen in this league. But I am not sure I see anything overwhelming that would eventually bite us in the ass. Take what you can get for him, and get the roster flexibility.

The way I see it is, someone will have an injury in their defense at camp. Dermott poses as a viable trade option at a manageable cap hit that likely could be had for a single mid round draft pick.

Of course this all hinges on if Mennel looks good enough to be able to be our 7th defensemen. Which I suspect he will. If not, we may have to move Micheyev to get a 22 man roster.

All n All there really isn't many options to maintain a 22 man roster without Engvall and one of dermott or Micheyev getting off the books

I think Mennel is going to surprise a lot of people.

The Wild were one of the few teams where a young rhd could be kept off the depth charts for longer than they should have. He's finally going to get that opportunity

 

[egd27]

The question becomes if we have a true shut down line will Keefe actually use them as intended.
He has already indicated by word and action that he doesn’t believe in line matching

He'll do as Dubas tells him, just like he has been doing.

What would a pure shutdown line look like from Toronto standpoint? Would they try to make their 4th line become a shutdown line and try to put the top 9 as scoring lines?

Here's a better question.....who would they be tasked to "shut down"?

 

[Gabriel426]

I would try Spezza with AM and Marner.
Then have Ritchie-JT-Kase
Bunting with AF and Willie
Soup-Kampf-Simmonds

 

[Menzinger]

What would a pure shutdown line look like from Toronto standpoint? Would they try to make their 4th line become a shutdown line and try to put the top 9 as scoring lines? This is what I would guess if that was the case, and Keefe wanted to put scoring throughout the lineup and not on the first two lines only. Hard to get a grasp as to what a real shutdown line on Toronto would look like right now.

Ritchie - Matthews - Marner
Bunting - Tavares - Kase
Mikayev - Kerfoot - Nylander (Kerfoot - Nylander played real well together in the playoffs for us)
Spezza - Kampf - Simmonds/Engvall

I think the bottom two lines will get similar minutes with one getting more offensive starts (and have Spezza on it) and the other gets the heavier defensive workload (with Kampf)

 

[The Iceman]

Siegel wrote an article on what he has seen from the PP so far in camp. He says Marner looks to be in the bumper spot. Nylander takes over Marner's spot last year on the half wall. Matthews on the other flank. Tavares right now is on other units but says most likely he will be in net front on PP1.

I like it but seems crazy it took a new coach to figure this out.

Now, Marner will be a modest threat to fire from the middle. Nylander will lurk menacingly to his left (or right). Matthews will be there on the other side, the most threatening shooter on the planet. Tavares, who does his best work around the blue paint, will be around to cash in on rebounds or be an option for Marner.
The mystery is which D will man the point.

 

[SniperOnTheWing]

Has Gusev even gotten so much as a line rush with a roster player so far in camp or do they just have him out for a skate with the nobodies?

 

[The Iceman]

That would be excellent news.

I think Holl is needed on the PK. Especially with BOGO gone.

 

[zeke]

Has Gusev even gotten so much as a line rush with a roster player so far in camp or do they just have him out for a skate with the nobodies?

He's been with 2 likely roster players - Kampf and Kase.

 

[LeafChief]

Has Gusev even gotten so much as a line rush with a roster player so far in camp or do they just have him out for a skate with the nobodies?

Gusev - Kampf - Kase has been the line so far from what I recall.

 

[zeke]

He'll do as Dubas tells him, just like he has been doing.



Here's a better question.....who would they be tasked to "shut down"?

Nobody really. Matthews and Tavares won't stop getting their shifts.

But the kampf line will likely take the extra dzone face-offs.

 

[Willchel Marlynder]

The Kampf quote seems another indication they're going to have a defensive minded 3rd line shutdown unit

If that's the case then I'm expecting a second line of Kerfoot-JT-Nylander. Question remains who plays with Auston and Mitch.

 

[Nylanderthal]

What player showed up (besides spezza) in the playoffs?

Who else was effective on the top line other than Hyman? what were the other options?

Nylander & Kerfoot were both good in the series against Montreal.

 

[Holystik]

Did the Leafs release tomorrow's lineup agains't the habs?

 

[Coachcorner]

Did the Leafs release tomorrow's lineup agains't the habs?

I don't think so sire. Not yet, like the film gladiator says in the end.

Did the leafs train with their powerplay units already sire? And if so, whom was playing in the first unit? Help would be appreciated.

 

[Holystik]

Habs lineup tomorrow if anyone curious.

Toffoli - Suzuki - Caufield
Lehkonen - Poehling - Dauphin
Perreault - Paquette - Belzile
Baddock - Beaudin - Vejdemo

Romanov - Petry
Kulak - Fairbrother
Ouellet - Xhekaj

Primeau
McNiven

 

[hockeywiz542]

Maple Leafs' Tavares hosted players-only getaway: 'We kept it real' - Sportsnet.ca

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs needed to get away from the noise, so their quiet leader made it happen.

By the middle of the summer, some new faces had arrived in town, but some old ghosts had hung around.

Captain John Tavares came up with an idea: Invite every Leaf living or training in Toronto to flee north. Players only. He’d host them in his Muskoka cottage. They’d train during the day, find some ice to stay sharp. But they’d mix in a little time on the water and have a little fun before the business mode of training camp.

The captain provided a casual space where the veterans could mix with the rookies, the leadership crew with the cluster of UFA signings. They got to know each other better as men, as teammates.

Perhaps most importantly, they tackled the elephant in the room.

“Yeah. One hundred per cent,” Wayne Simmonds said. “I think that was one of the main things in going to Johnny’s house. We had a great dialogue with one another — and we kept it real."

“We got to address what happened last year head-on, and we're not hiding from it. It’s for us to learn from and get better and to mature as a team.”

Sheldon Keefe did not receive an invite, however. The coach knows that’s a good thing.

“The feedback was terrific,” Keefe said. “I don't know a whole lot that went on there; I don't really want to know. That’s their time."

“John's initiative to do it speaks to his leadership and his growth as he's established himself here over time as the captain, the leader of this team. And I think it was a very positive step that sets us up for success going into this camp and into the season.”

 

[Gabriel426]

Maple Leafs' Tavares hosted players-only getaway: 'We kept it real' - Sportsnet.ca

TORONTO — The Toronto Maple Leafs needed to get away from the noise, so their quiet leader made it happen.

By the middle of the summer, some new faces had arrived in town, but some old ghosts had hung around.

Captain John Tavares came up with an idea: Invite every Leaf living or training in Toronto to flee north. Players only. He’d host them in his Muskoka cottage. They’d train during the day, find some ice to stay sharp. But they’d mix in a little time on the water and have a little fun before the business mode of training camp.

The captain provided a casual space where the veterans could mix with the rookies, the leadership crew with the cluster of UFA signings. They got to know each other better as men, as teammates.

Perhaps most importantly, they tackled the elephant in the room.

“Yeah. One hundred per cent,” Wayne Simmonds said. “I think that was one of the main things in going to Johnny’s house. We had a great dialogue with one another — and we kept it real."

“We got to address what happened last year head-on, and we're not hiding from it. It’s for us to learn from and get better and to mature as a team.”

Sheldon Keefe did not receive an invite, however. The coach knows that’s a good thing.

“The feedback was terrific,” Keefe said. “I don't know a whole lot that went on there; I don't really want to know. That’s their time."

“John's initiative to do it speaks to his leadership and his growth as he's established himself here over time as the captain, the leader of this team. And I think it was a very positive step that sets us up for success going into this camp and into the season.”

Whenever I read these players only get away at a cottage, the image of those parties scene in Wolf of Wall Street will always pop in my head.

Anyhow, glad they did that and hopefully they learn from last year instead of looking at advanced stats and believe they did good and if it weren’t for opposing goaltending and injuries they would have advanced.