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Why is Keefe so reluctant to split up Matthews and Marner?

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How many duos put up more goals? It's frustrating because they've looked bad the last 5 or 6 games, but you'd have to be a pretty dumb coach to split them up when Matthews is playing hurt and we're still hovering around 1st in the division. I don't see how either player suddenly finds their groove playing with someone else.
 
socko said:
I question Hyman on the line more than anything. I don't think Hyman makes much of a difference on line 1 but he makes a big difference on line 3.
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Hyman is a puck possession beast.
He needs the puck on his stick to succeed. He isn't as great a pure finisher or a playmaker.

He needs to be the focal point of his line in order to be at his best. Hyman can do wonders when the line is focused on him being the offensive star. We saw him make plays out of nothing on the 3rd line, just dangling and out skating weaker competition.
Playing Hyman on the 1st line limits him, since he's matching up with the opponents best skaters.

Hyman isn't going to outplay Schiefle, McDavid, Pastrnak, or an Eichel.
But he is going to severely outplay the opponents 3rd line, due to his motor and speed.
 
Lets go back to unsubstantiated fan rumors. there was a story circulating with in the hockey community in Toronto that the reason why Babcock traveled to Arizona to meet with AM was because AM was SUPER pissed with the linemates he had... (Hyman/Nylander).

This is just me speculating but if the rumor was true and if you don't listen to AM's opinions, your most valuable player will not feel like his opinion is respected. When he becomes UFA, why would he want to stay? I would think there is some of this, there is also they are the highest scoring duo in the league. AM's cold streak is not because of his line mates, its because his wrist is jacked up.
 
Matthews and Marner are working awesome together. And I think they're getting better.
The thing about Hyman... he tries. Seriously it's a testament to his character that even when he first started
playing with the Leafs when he didn't show any skill he was always giving it his 100%
It's amazing when you look at the Leafs 2nd line, Tavares and Nylander feel like they're just there despite the
fact they put up numbers.
 
Mats13 said:
They’re literally the best duo in hockey

A better question would be why is he so hell bent on putting jumbo with them? He slows them down so much
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When one of them is slumping, it's not a bad idea to scramble the recipe.
 
If keefe wants a solid forchecking/ Scoring line he should try putting Hyman with Tavares and Gally. That would be a cycle line that jams the net hard.
Willy slipped down to the 3rd line would be a headache for teams
 
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Stephen said:
When one of them is slumping, it's not a bad idea to scramble the recipe.
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It’s also not a good idea to scramble something that doesn’t need to be scrambled. Throughout a season, the two of them will go through a few droughts. If they had been playing poorly together and not creating anything for an extended period of time - sure. They do on a nightly basis.
 
Man Bear Pig said:
How many duos put up more goals? It's frustrating because they've looked bad the last 5 or 6 games, but you'd have to be a pretty dumb coach to split them up when Matthews is playing hurt and we're still hovering around 1st in the division. I don't see how either player suddenly finds their groove playing with someone else.
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I would split them up in a heart beat

JT /WN are not good enough together to pull the best out of each player

Use AM to get the better out of willi

and DEFINATELY use MM to get JT rolling again
 
Damisoph said:
Now that they've slowed down, I would be interested to see Mitch go back with JT and the 88-34-11 line be reunited. Or put Simmonds with AM and Willy.
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mitch needs a shooter and Matty has stopped shooting

let willi be the sniper with Matty and maybe mitch gets JT going

we need JT in 18/19 form if matty is hurting
 
How many years did we spend screaming at Babcock to play them together?

It really can't hurt to give it a try if nothing else is working, but it's hard to get on Keefe too much. The real issue is that the forward depth is not what it once was and no matter what combinations he tries, there will be challenges.
 
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Marmoset said:
How many years did we spend screaming at Babcock to play them together?

It really can't hurt to give it a try if nothing else is working, but it's hard to get on Keefe too much. The real issue is that the forward depth is not what it once was and no matter what combinations he tries, there will be challenges.
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i sure as hell was not screaming for it when JT was potting 47 goals
 
To be honest, Tavares and Nylander are being compensated well that would expect them to score some goals without Mitch.

I would personally love to add Hall to that line, or possibly Rakell.
 
BlackTipReefer said:
To be honest, Tavares and Nylander are being compensated well that would expect them to score some goals without Mitch.

I would personally love to add Hall to that line, or possibly Rakell.
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Should we worry about who is paid what right now

or

worry about how we are going to keep getting wins

right now , Matty is not shooting and JT needs help getting his shots off,,the JT slump has gone long enough , i believe they need to use Mitch to light a spark ,while Matty heals and gets his shot back

put willi the sniper with Matty who has lost his shot
 
sxvnert said:
Keefe should load up the first line and make the second line "the shutdown line".

Nylander Matthews Marner
Hyman Tavares Mik
Thornton Staal Simmonds
Spezza Boyd ----------

At 11m Tavares should be capable of driving his own line as well no?
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Staal is a hab now for a 3rd and a 5th...
 
al secord said:
One of the best playmakers in the league with one of the best goal scorers. Ya. what a marooon.
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The best goal scorer who is injured and in the middle of a scoring slump. Uh what do you think?

Context is everything. Such a bad amateurish argument using general stereotypes to address current problems.
 
At the very least we should try Nylander as 3c and give Tavares a look with Hyman.
 
I really want to reunite Marner with JT more than anything.

Hymen-JT-Marner

and really give JT no excuse to not get going.

then I would audition a winger for AM & Nylander.

Simmonds/Thorton/Spezza in reduced minutes can work or maybe try Galchenyuk. For a poor-man Hyman option use Mikyeyev.
 
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