What happens when Simmonds comes back?

[crump]

He will probably fill in for some other injury, we never catch a break.

 

[selltrade]

Always be injuries. Need 14 forwards

 

[Alamo Leafer]

Slap Matthew Tkachuk around!

 

[Mickey Marner]

I'm sure with injuries and load management for our old guys (including himself), he'll still get plenty of looks with our top six.

 

[ottomaddox]

He’ll go right back with Tavares and Nylander

Pretty much this. You are not going to have Kerfoot screening the goalie or digging pucks for you. Simmonds has played his way to the top 6, so bring him back there.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

oh wait, maybe Vesey will swap out for Robertson and Simmonds will take Boyd's spot? oh that would be super spicy

Lol. Not traditional but imagine a 4th line of Simmonds-Spezza-Robertson? But yeah, Leafs lack depth.

 

[Spirit of 67]

I'd say a couple games lower in the line up to get back up to speed and then with Willy and JT again.

 

[Wiseguys]

When Simmons comes back the opposition will be aware of it. So no more cheap shots to the Leaf players.

 

[saltming]

When he comes back we get better and deeper

 

[DarkKnight]

Vesey out, one decent game doesn’t counter a woeful overall performance to date. Easy call.

 

[Carltons Cup]

Whats going to happen is that he's going to kick some azz.

 

[TheGroceryStick]

To me, it kinda looks easy.
No need to rush Simmonds, especially if the team is firing on all cylinders. Wait for the right time and blend him in a success role. I don't think I've EVER been more confident in a coach utilizing his players than I am now with Keefe and Co.

. I thought the next move was sending a message to both Nylander and Vesey - what does he do? Rides them more, adds confidence and whammo,we have guys that now know they can score.

The same should and likely will happen with Simmonds. find his way back in - get some PP time, some good linemates at the right time; just like that, we have pre-injury Simmonds and everyone talking about how we basically did an 'internal' deadline add of the exact player everyone is saying we lack

 

[Leafsfan74]

The team gains more net presence, forecheck and toughness when needed. Their PP is provided another body around the crease.

 

[meefer]

What a wonderful dilemma, where to put Wayne. I'd like to see what type of space and effect he'd have with Willy and JT.

Jumbo Matthews Marner
Nylander JT Simmonds
Mikky Engvall Hyman (please be the line I think it is, Van and Peg to conclusively prove)
Vesey Kerfoot Spezza
Barabanov, Boyd, Petan

Kerfoot against other 4th liners in the league, please. An upgrade to dishing to Spezza, I think by that time Vesey will be so pumped to play with a contender his efforts will be full on.

 

[18leafsfan18]

This is why I'm a bit confused about leafs apparently shopping for a Forward, I guess one of the current forwards would be going the other way ?

 

[Gallagbi]

This is why I'm a bit confused about leafs apparently shopping for a Forward, I guess one of the current forwards would be going the other way ?

I figure they're looking to either upgrade Kerfoot outright or push him down to the third line C.

 

[notbias]

People putting Simmonds in the top 9, why? He hasn't been good 5v5. He has two jobs. Be a net front presence on the PP and punch people in the face.

Put him on the 4th line (move out Vesey/Boyd), Vesey can PK (and Keefe trusts him defensively), so Boyd may be coming out.

Alternatively, Engvall may have fallen off a cliff by then again, so he may be coming out.

But Simmonds should not be a top 9 player on this team.

 

[Auston Marlander]

I hope if they do take out Boyd the plan isn't to try Spezza down the middle. Spezza looks much better on the wing IMO. Not a fan of his at centre even though he's great on faceoffs.

I'd still have Spezza take the draws, then slide over to the wing. We can't not use one of, if not the best faceoff man in the league.

 

[Not My Tempo]

I figure they're looking to either upgrade Kerfoot outright or push him down to the third line C.

I think a Kerfoot upgrade would make the most sense. We’re more or less gonna lose 1 of him or Dermott in the expansion draft. Might as well trade him and got back a better expiring player if we’re going to lose him anyways.

I don’t think they’ll go 7F 3D. That doesn’t leave enough forwards exposed

 

[18leafsfan18]

I figure they're looking to either upgrade Kerfoot outright or push him down to the third line C.

But they seem to already have the players to do that

 

[Gallagbi]

But they seem to already have the players to do that

They do, but it weakens that 3rd line if they swap Hyman and Simmonds may be a stretch as a true top 6 forward

 

[18leafsfan18]

They do, but it weakens that 3rd line if they swap Hyman and Simmonds may be a stretch as a true top 6 forward

Really depends on how he plays on that line, I honestly didn't think Thornton would be able to be a top 6 guy on this team either, but he has been great.

They have Robinson also who could likely step in.

I'm not opposed to any trade for the right price, just hoping they aren't paying a premium for a player that may not be needed.

 

[18leafsfan18]

They do, but it weakens that 3rd line if they swap Hyman and Simmonds may be a stretch as a true top 6 forward

Really depends on if Simmonds can produce on that line. I personally didn't think Thornton could play in the top 6 with this team either, but he has been great.

I'm all for trades for an appropriate price, but hopefully they aren't making a trade for a position that isn't needed.

Nick Robinson still available and could likely step into the lineup as well.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Kerfoot is def a useful and versatile player but I think he's the one to go in a trade

 

[BlueForever75]

Its easy. You dont touch what is working with the top 3 lines. You slide him in on the 4th line with Boyd-Spezza with his usual PP1 time. As games progress depending on injuries and how lines are going, there is an opportunity to move him up in the lineup if needed.

You let him get his legs back on the 4th line and take it from there.

Another option is to move Engvall back to the wing on 4th line with Spezza and Boyd. And you put Hyman back with Tavares-Nylander, with Kerfoot at C with Simmonds and Micheyev.

But I dont want to touch that 3rd line right now with how they are playing.

Either way Vesey becomes the odd man out. Maybe rotation with Boyd and Spezza for rest depending on team we play.