Why is Kerfoot on this team?

[Stephen]

Only thing I care about on the PP is stacking that top unit tbh. Lots of candidates to get the limited 2nd unit minutes and kerf is just one of them.

Just pointing out that he's not getting any PP time at all this year, which we should always note when looking at production.

I’m not a huge fan of the stacking on PP1. I think there’s not enough puck to go around at times and we really miss that pure PP QB who can bring the puck up reliably and efficiently and direct things from the blueline. Rielly fills that role but I don’t know if his game has just regressed a lot the past year or so. Certainly he doesn’t do it quite as calmly and as organized as Kaberle used to.

 

[ponder]

He's fast, hard working, fairly skilled, and just a good 2-way player. He's undersized, but a legit 3rd liner regardless.

The way I look at it, our forward core consists of:

• 4 star-to-superstar level players: Matthews, Marner, JT, Nylander
• 3 quality middle 6 types: Hyman, Mikheyev, Kerfoot
• 1 quality 4th liner: Spezza
• 4 bandaids, weak in their role: Thornton, Vesey, Simmonds, Barabanov

Having so many bandaid solutions on the roster is just the unfortunate reality of trying to make the COVID-cap work while Matthews/Marner/Tavares make ~$11 mil each, plus spending enough to get solid D and goaltending. The supporting forwards are going to be weak. Contrast this with, say, the Avs - Mac/Rantanen/Landeskog make $21.1 mil, vs. $33.5 for Matthews/Marner/Tavares, so they've got $12.4 mil more to spend on the rest of their team, and they use it to ensure there are essentially no weaknesses among their forwards, everyone is strong in their role, not a single bandaid: Colorado Avalanche - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

We have plenty of bandaid types on the team this year, but Kerfoot isn't one of them, he's a solid player. If we could afford strong bottom-6 wingers, this would be an unreal team:

Hyman - Matthews - Marner
Mikheyev - Tavares - Nylander
xxx - Kerfoot - xxx
xxx - Spezza - xxx

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Dermott - Bogo

Andersen
Campbell

 

[Bluelines]

Danault was the clear-cut #1 last year, and is closer to #1 than #3 again this year.

Watch a game or two.

For once, just stop being you. If you don't believe me, here is a link where many, many, many Hab fans discuss Danault as their 3rd line center.

Player Discussion - Phillip Danault 1st line 3rd C Edition

 

[Papi 4 Hart]

Lets focus on your first sentence ... did you watch last game? Does a defensively responsible centre with no one on him at all (ie zero pressure) pass puck behind his own net to da other team? I mean a complete give away. Is that getting puck out of da zone? I don't know ... and then after it happens why would you skate around net and go twice as far as required? why not chase puck right behind it and check da Oiler? ... I don't know ... lets just hope it was a pitiful game and it does not occur again ...

That was such a disaster of a sequence. The puck was stuck on the net there are 10 ppl battle and the puck bounces off 3 ppl and into the back of the net.

These things happen in hockey. That's what makes it such an interesting sport. I'd rather focus on the parts of the game that arent bad bounces which make up 99% of play.

 

[Bluelines]

That was such a disaster of a sequence. The puck was stuck on the net there are 10 ppl battle and the puck bounces off 3 ppl and into the back of the net.

These things happen in hockey. That's what makes it such an interesting sport. I'd rather focus on the parts of the game that arent bad bounces which make up 99% of play.

They happen but when you are a guy with his recent history, it was a brain dead move that cost the Leaf's 2 points. Short memory we move on and hope he learns from this. You make mistakes vs that line, it ends up back in your net. the team that makes the least mistakes tends to win the game.

 

[Papi 4 Hart]

They happen but when you are a guy with his recent history, it was a brain dead move that cost the Leaf's 2 points. Short memory we move on and hope he learns from this. You make mistakes vs that line, it ends up back in your net. the team that makes the least mistakes tends to win the game.

What's his recent history? The 4 Games before that he played great?

 

[BertCorbeau]

Could do better but could do worse as a #3C .. Would like to see more offense from him though.

 

[zeke]

For once, just stop being you. If you don't believe me, here is a link where many, many, many Hab fans discuss Danault as their 3rd line center.

Player Discussion - Phillip Danault 1st line 3rd C Edition

They are adorable fans who dream on their kids. Dont listen to fans, watch the games.

The Gallagher-Danault-Tatar line has been their clearcut #1 line for the last 2yrs. This year the Suzuki line is giving them a run for the title but its a close call between the two.

Even Strength TOI

Drouin 12:36 --- Suzuki 13:14 --- Anderson 12:51
Gallagher 12:39 --- Danault 12:46 --- Tatar 12:27
Toffoli 11:59 --- Kotkaniemi 11:58 --- Armia 10:45
Lehkonen 9:56 --- Evans 9:23 --- Byron 9:50​

 

[ShaneFalco]

He's fast, hard working, fairly skilled, and just a good 2-way player. He's undersized, but a legit 3rd liner regardless.

The way I look at it, our forward core consists of:

• 4 star-to-superstar level players: Matthews, Marner, JT, Nylander
• 3 quality middle 6 types: Hyman, Mikheyev, Kerfoot
• 1 quality 4th liner: Spezza
• 4 bandaids, weak in their role: Thornton, Vesey, Simmonds, Barabanov

Having so many bandaid solutions on the roster is just the unfortunate reality of trying to make the COVID-cap work while Matthews/Marner/Tavares make ~$11 mil each, plus spending enough to get solid D and goaltending. The supporting forwards are going to be weak. Contrast this with, say, the Avs - Mac/Rantanen/Landeskog make $21.1 mil, vs. $33.5 for Matthews/Marner/Tavares, so they've got $12.4 mil more to spend on the rest of their team, and they use it to ensure there are essentially no weaknesses among their forwards, everyone is strong in their role, not a single bandaid: Colorado Avalanche - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

We have plenty of bandaid types on the team this year, but Kerfoot isn't one of them, he's a solid player. If we could afford strong bottom-6 wingers, this would be an unreal team:

Hyman - Matthews - Marner
Mikheyev - Tavares - Nylander
xxx - Kerfoot - xxx
xxx - Spezza - xxx

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Dermott - Bogo

Andersen
Campbell

Not disrespect to the Jimmy Veseys or Travis Boyds of the world, but having to go out every offseason to find them because you don't have a Jason Studnicka (five picks after Leafs pick in 2017) or Jordan Kyrou (four picks after Korshkov in 2016) has been hurting the Leafs.

 

[zeke]

He's fast, hard working, fairly skilled, and just a good 2-way player. He's undersized, but a legit 3rd liner regardless.

The way I look at it, our forward core consists of:

• 4 star-to-superstar level players: Matthews, Marner, JT, Nylander
• 3 quality middle 6 types: Hyman, Mikheyev, Kerfoot
• 1 quality 4th liner: Spezza
• 4 bandaids, weak in their role: Thornton, Vesey, Simmonds, Barabanov

Having so many bandaid solutions on the roster is just the unfortunate reality of trying to make the COVID-cap work while Matthews/Marner/Tavares make ~$11 mil each, plus spending enough to get solid D and goaltending. The supporting forwards are going to be weak. Contrast this with, say, the Avs - Mac/Rantanen/Landeskog make $21.1 mil, vs. $33.5 for Matthews/Marner/Tavares, so they've got $12.4 mil more to spend on the rest of their team, and they use it to ensure there are essentially no weaknesses among their forwards, everyone is strong in their role, not a single bandaid: Colorado Avalanche - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps

We have plenty of bandaid types on the team this year, but Kerfoot isn't one of them, he's a solid player. If we could afford strong bottom-6 wingers, this would be an unreal team:

Hyman - Matthews - Marner
Mikheyev - Tavares - Nylander
xxx - Kerfoot - xxx
xxx - Spezza - xxx

Rielly - Brodie
Muzzin - Holl
Dermott - Bogo

Andersen
Campbell

Thornton has looked solid in his role this year. I'd have him in the solid middle 6 group.

I'm not sure Spezza is even a solid 4th liner tho.

In general I think Engvall Anderson and Robertson could all well be quality middle 6 forwards if given the chance too.

 

[Papi 4 Hart]

Not disrespect to the Jimmy Veseys or Travis Boyds of the world, but having to go out every offseason to find them because you don't have a Jason Studnicka (five picks after Leafs pick in 2017) or Jordan Kyrou (four picks after Korshkov in 2016) has been hurting the Leafs.

We literally have these type of guys playing in the line up or hurt. What are you talking about?

Robertson, Dermott and Sandin of who we drafted. Multiple of who we signed.

We also traded a bunch like johnsson and grundstrom who got us other pieces who can contribute.

 

[Lemontree]

I want to start by saying that Kerfoot is a solid (not great) hockey player. He does represent the flawed vision of Dubas on how to build a contending team.

He is talented enough to play in a top 6 role (on a contender he would be the worst of your top 6) however he does not fit or bring anything to the Leafs that they don't already have in a better/talented model already. When you already have Marner and Nylander who have similar flaws (much better strengths) to their game as Kerfoot there is no room for him within the top 6.

Kerfoot should be moved to a team that has an obvious need in a top 6 (ie: LA Kings) for picks/depth. To answer the next question of who plays 3rd line C. Rotate between Spezza, Thornton, and Barabanov. Would also allow for cap flexibility to bring up Pierre Engvall for the bottom 6 as well as a Joey Anderson or Adam Brooks.

Based on the construction of this team, you need to overplay the top 6 forwards and try and find some spark plugs to bring energy out of the bottom 6 and shuffle lines each night when you find some players who are rolling.

 

[zeke]

We literally have these type of guys playing in the line up or hurt. What are you talking about?

Robertson, Dermott and Sandin of who we drafted. Multiple of who we signed.

We also traded a bunch like johnsson and grundstrom who got us other pieces who can contribute.

I think he's pointing to the gap between dermott (2015) and Sandin (2018).

That being said we could potentially be missing out on value by not using Engvall (2015), Brooks (2016), Anderson (2016), Liljegren (2017), and Sandin (2018) right now....all of whom might potentially be upgrades to the lineup immediately.

 

[Dale Gribble]

Lets focus on your first sentence ... did you watch last game? Does a defensively responsible centre with no one on him at all (ie zero pressure) pass puck behind his own net to da other team? I mean a complete give away. Is that getting puck out of da zone? I don't know ... and then after it happens why would you skate around net and go twice as far as required? why not chase puck right behind it and check da Oiler? ... I don't know ... lets just hope it was a pitiful game and it does not occur again ...

Did I miss something, when did "da" officially replace the word "the" ?

 

[Dragao6]

He’s ok player
I do miss kadri though
If he’s not the 3rd line C kadri would have been a great winger in any of the top two lines ;(

 

[Ryan Michaels]

Kerfoots name was tossed around in trade rumours but no one wanted kerfoot with his cap/production/play on his team.

Could you imaging still having kadri and then signing brodie in the off-season anyway.

Dubas is clueless; i can't wait for the day till he is fired ! no sane organization will hire him

Get over it.

 

[OVO16]

Miss Kadri heavy

 

[ShaneFalco]

Kadri had to be moved - I don't understand why people don't get that.

 

[zeke]

Also - Kadri is a PP specialist at this point.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Translation: If I admit he's not worth his salary, I have to admit that Dubas completely blew the Kadri trade.

That is not a translation.

 

[Ryan Michaels]

Also - Kadri is a PP specialist at this point.

Also these guys want to pretend Kadri was going to pot 30 goals from the third line which wasn't happening. He's not a massive improvement on Kerfoot playing where he'd be playing.

 

[All Mod Cons]

Kadri had to be moved - I don't understand why people don't get that.

I don't think it's the fact that Kadri had to be moved that gets to most fans. It's what they got in return that seems to be the horrific reality we find ourselves in.

 

[Papi 4 Hart]

I think he's pointing to the gap between dermott (2015) and Sandin (2018).

That being said we could potentially be missing out on value by not using Engvall (2015), Brooks (2016), Anderson (2016), Liljegren (2017), and Sandin (2018) right now....all of whom might potentially be upgrades to the lineup immediately.

Ya he just listed 2 players out of 32 teams and we have a lot of replacement level forwards. We would have more and Korshkov would 100% be playing if there was no covid.

 

[Ryan Michaels]

Kadri had to be moved - I don't understand why people don't get that.

They see it they're just intellectually dishonest, there's no depth to these cantankerous dinosaurs on hfboards opinions beyond being afraid of young people. So Dubas made one bad move and they latch onto it and belabor the point for years as proof that Kyle "Dumbass" is a clown. Nevermind that these were the guys who wouldn't hear a bad word about Babcock because his critiques weren't NHL coaches.

No consistency, no nuance, just sadness, anger and hating Kyle Dubass. It's fine to be critical of Dubass but their schtick is pathetic and beyond transparent.

 

[Super Mega]

Jumbo, Hyman, Soup all provide better cap value. He's comparable to Vesey for me but I think him being a center option is why he is still around. If we can get a competent 3C for a good cap hit he becomes redundant for sure.