GDT: Training Camp Discussion

[SprDaVE]

So the best thing about the 2gms so far, imo, is that Bunting and Kase both look like legit good players. That answers most all of our questions if they can keep that up.

Also nice to see Mikheyev playing like a man possessed, and Ritchie looked decent as well.

Lilly looking good is also nice but I was pretty sure he would.

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

Rielly ----- Brodie
Muzzin ------- Holl
Dermott ---- Liljegren

Campbell
Mrazek


​

Let's go let's start the season.

That is more or less my top 21. I am hoping they can find a way to keep a 7th D though.

 

[The Iceman]

He still has good hands around the net and can bring the hitting/fighting element.. I just don't think he's capable of doing it over a season any more.

He should be waived and called up/plugged into the lineup here and there to make sure he's impactful when he is in the lineup.

Not sure who Wayne Simmonds is or wants to be as a player at the moment.
He weighed in down 11 lbs @ 180 lbs
Can't be chucking knuckles with the 200+ pound dudes. And I don't see him as a + defensive role player. Struggles to score.
WHAT IS HE??

 

[Havoc]

How long are they going to keep Brooks out of the bottom 6.

His IQ and finishing ability is leagues ahead of a guy like Miks or Engvalls. Reads the play, gets open, pass comes and it's in the net. How he reads the play and knows where to stand is what impresses me the most. This would be very valuable in the playoffs as well where conversion has been a major issue the past two seasons.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on the 2 on 1. He doesn't get to play with guys like Marner so it's understandable he wanted to respect the more skilled player and pass it back. Regular season 2 on 1 Brooks puts that in the back of the net.

Brooks is a sleeper for 12-18 goals @ under 13 minutes of ice time if given a full 82 games and can provide timely depth scoring in the playoffs which makes him more valuable than guys like Mik or Engvall who become waste of roster spots in the post-season. Can't even put the puck in on an open net to send us into round 2.

 

[ACC1224]

How long are they going to keep Brooks out of the bottom 6.

His IQ and finishing ability is leagues ahead of a guy like Miks or Engvalls. Reads the play, gets open, pass comes and it's in the net. How he reads the play and knows where to stand is what impresses me the most. This would be very valuable in the playoffs as well where conversion has been a major issue the past two seasons.

I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on the 2 on 1. He doesn't get to play with guys like Marner so it's understandable he wanted to respect the more skilled player and pass it back. Regular season 2 on 1 Brooks puts that in the back of the net.

Brooks is a sleeper for 12-18 goals @ under 13 minutes of ice time if given a full 82 games and can provide timely depth scoring in the playoffs which makes him more valuable than guys like Mik or Engvall who become waste of roster spots in the post-season. Can't even put the puck in on an open net to send us into round 2.

Yep, I'm with you on this one. Have to find a way to keep him on the roster.
He'll need to go through waivers if sent down?

 

[zeke]

 

[weems]

 

[zeke]

Is it also fair to say this team has the most holes to fill?

I see 2 holes to fill, so no.

 

[Tarmore]

Muzzin has a history of making any partner he plays with better / look better which is the perfect situation for Liljegren imo.

Despite the tough matchups he would face Muzzin has a few years left of being able to carry that type of pairing.

Throwing Holl back into that spot would be a huge waste of a development opportunity for Liljegren to become a solid top 4 defensemen by playoff time.

If you get 20-30 games in and he's getting caved in then fine, but at least give it a shot.

Like is rather mild, I love this post all of it actually!

 

[Menzinger]

He also pulled a sweet spin-o-rama play coming out of his own end. The guy's got some good tools but to this point it hasn't added up to an above average player.

It's kind of frustrating at this point. He certainly has the tools to be a top 4 D man, but mentally I'm not sure he will ever get there.

 

[Tarmore]

Is it also fair to say this team has the most holes to fill?

Leafs entire LW side is a who's who top to bottom of job openings and positions needing filling.

We have players on PTOs, Group VI career minor league free agents, and former RFA non qualified by their teams all jockeying for positions including 2 in Leafs top 6.

Dear Lord NO

Remember back to the bad teams of the 80's where there was about a forward line and one pair of defense you know were making the team and the rest was pretty much up for grabs.

 

[Stephen]

It's kind of frustrating at this point. He certainly has the tools to be a top 4 D man, but mentally I'm not sure he will ever get there.

Seems like he has similar tools to be a TJ Brodie type defenseman but all that’s missing is the processor.

 

[Mess]

Dear Lord NO

Remember back to the bad teams of the 80's where there was about a forward line and one pair of defense you know were making the team and the rest was pretty much up for grabs.

I was referring to recently just the past 5-6 years.

 

[LeafChief]

I see 2 holes to fill, so no.

The sky is falling.

 

[Kiwi]

Not sure who Wayne Simmonds is or wants to be as a player at the moment.
He weighed in down 11 lbs @ 180 lbs
Can't be chucking knuckles with the 200+ pound dudes. And I don't see him as a + defensive role player. Struggles to score.
WHAT IS HE??

Extremely average, I'd waive him but if he's as good for the room as they say you can justify 13th forwarding him

It's kind of frustrating at this point. He certainly has the tools to be a top 4 D man, but mentally I'm not sure he will ever get there.

He makes things harder on himself, instead of making the safe easy play he ends up taking unnecessary risks with the puck and making boneheaded decisions

Thousand dollar tools and a ten cent brain

 

[Fonzieleaf]

Maple Leafs sign Evan Cormier to a PTO

 

[Apex Predator]

new lines at practice for Group 1

 

[hamzarocks]

That is more or less my top 21. I am hoping they can find a way to keep a 7th D though.

Brooks needs to be in the NHL, man looked so good with Marner in the highlights, and has been constantly getting better.

He's going to be a better player than Mikheyev, Kampf, Engvall, and Simmonds next year. Hopefully the team moves Mikheyev soon and he gets a deserved spot

 

[29Potvin]

Maple Leafs sign Evan Cormier to a PTO

Sub .888 SV% over the last 4 years...guess is that Scott is out long term

 

[JT AM da real deal]

Let Lilly get his feet wet on the bottom pair like any other rookie.

No reason to put a rookie on your top matchup pair.

Normally I would concur .. but Dermy is not ready .. Sandin can't handle NHL speed yet .. and Holl is a 6th guy at best .. and Lily looks better then I have ever seen him so far .. I would keep him with Muzzy as long as his play dictates .. if he keeps it up then all year long .. but it won't happen as Dubie will force his favorites like usual

 

[4thline]

new lines at practice for Group 1

Reading into this, potential things of significance
-Liljegren / Muzzin switching sides, typo?
-Nylander to the left, might be looking to squeeze more of the RW's on the roster, particularly the top 9 (Marner, Nylander,Kase, Ho-Sang, Spezza), with Simmonds/Gabriel for 4th line
-Ho-Sang getting top 6 look over Robertson, likely Robby is on the outside looking in
-Kral with Brodie, Sandin with Biega, has Kral done some leap frogging?

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

Normally I would concur .. but Dermy is not ready .. Sandin can't handle NHL speed yet .. and Holl is a 6th guy at best .. and Lily looks better then I have ever seen him so far .. I would keep him with Muzzy as long as his play dictates .. if he keeps it up then all year long .. but it won't happen as Dubie will force his favorites like usual

The easy play would be to go 6D and start like this:

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Liljegren
Dermott-Holl

Keep Dahlstrom/Biega as the 7th if you want Sandin and Menell to get playing time with the Marlies.

Adjust the pairings if you need to later on.

 

[zeke]

new lines at practice for Group 1

Honestly Spezza with Tavares is something I've really wanted to see.

A WAY better option for top-6 duty than the older Marleau or Thornton ever were for us.


Meanwhile Sandin already (deservedly) bumped off Brodie pairing is bad news for him, imo, especially with Lilly impressing. I've thought from the start that Sandin is in more need of AHL time than Lilly....and that a Dermott-Lilly bottom pair is likely the best option for the Leafs, too.


Robertson also bumped down to the non-NHL linemates, while Ho-Sang gets demoted but still with NHLers.

 

[Jozay]

Hope Liljegren makes it. He needs some NHL run, would be huge if he could eventually be a top 4 D for the team in the coming years.

 

[Doc300c]

The easy play would be to go 6D and start like this:

Rielly-Brodie
Muzzin-Liljegren
Dermott-Holl

Keep Dahlstrom/Biega as the 7th if you want Sandin and Menell to get playing time with the Marlies.

Adjust the pairings if you need to later on.

Pretty sure Menell needs to clear waivers to go tot he Marlies.

 

[zeke]

Normally I would concur .. but Dermy is not ready .. Sandin can't handle NHL speed yet .. and Holl is a 6th guy at best .. and Lily looks better then I have ever seen him so far .. I would keep him with Muzzy as long as his play dictates .. if he keeps it up then all year long .. but it won't happen as Dubie will force his favorites like usual

Holl is a very good #4 dman, and has been a very good member of one of the better top-usage matchup D-pairings in hockey the past season and a half.