Leafs talk 2

13 Apr 2021 03:18:27
What do people think is our best playoff lineup ? Below is the best I can come up with.


Alex g / Matthews / Marner
Foligno / Tavares / Nylander
Hyman / kerfoot / Ilya
Spezza / Nash / Simmonds

Other
Thornton
Robertson
Engerval

I think keefe has Nash penciled in for 4th line center which should relegate engerval. Keefe is super bullish on rash based on press conference and nash is amazing defensively. Can't really take time from spezza IMO as he has been so good. Thornton seems like odd man out and we still don't know if Robertson is accretive - my view is he just seems like he would take simmonds before anyone else.

What do people think ?

13 Apr 2021 06:18:15
Engvall plays higher up the depth chart right now than Kerfoot.

Hard to say Thornton doesn't play. Been wondering that myself.

13 Apr 2021 11:32:12
I think Nash is going to play on the third line center position he’s a defensive centre and keefe has wanted that third line to be a shutdown line my prediction is

Galchenyuk matthews marner
Foligno Tavares Nylander
Mikheyev Nash Hyman
Simmonds Kerfoot Spezza
Thornton engvall

The leafs need to start using Thornton better he should not be dressed every game.

14 Apr 2021 00:43:44
Hyman and Gally look good in the top 6 so far. I'm more leaving towards Nash and Foligno being the bottom 6 centres. Foligno would look good beside Mathews/ Marner though in my opinion. Both are making great strides in the defensive side of the game but Foligno can show them how a true defensive forward plays.

12 Apr 2021 19:53:59
So these are the lines I would roll out for playoffs.

Hyman Matthews Marner
Galchenyuk Tavares Nylander
Foligno Kerfoot Simmonds
Mikheyev Nash Spezza
Thornton in case of injury or if someone isn't playing well.

12 Apr 2021 22:49:07
Kerfoot is not a capable centre. He’s not.

Foligno or Engvall as 3C and put Kerfoot on the 4th line somewhere.

Hyman/ Matthews/ Marner
Galchenyuk/ Tavares/ Nylander
Foligno/ Engvall/ Simmonds
Thornton/ Kerfoot/ Spezza
*Mikheyev, Nash (IR)

Mikheyev has done nothing to prove he deserves a spot ahead of any of these players on this team. He is a good player. Fast. Well liked. But the results aren’t there. Him and Thornton can rotate in and out of the lineup.

Trade Kerfoot in the off season or expose him for Seattle and hope they take him. $3.5M for a 4th line player who can’t play centre is too much.

13 Apr 2021 06:19:06
I would rather use Mikheyev than Kerfoot. I like his style and effort better.

13 Apr 2021 08:05:26
You convinced me. I agree. Bench Kerfoot and play Mikheyev.

13 Apr 2021 15:42:11
And I mean he's (micheyev) having a down offensive year but he is probably our best penalty killer, I'd honestly just say sorry Thornton you're not pulling your weight, you've had a hell of a career but you are a spare piece on this team, we will use you if there are injuries.

14 Apr 2021 00:44:35
Jumbo and Kerfoot are my picks to sit. The problem is Dubas. I can't see a world in which they don't play barring injury.

12 Apr 2021 17:34:23
The additions of Nick Foligno and Big Save Dave have given clear signs the Leafs are prepared to go all the way.

While not exactly going all in, Dubas has upped the ante enough to make the rest of the table sweat.

Dubas is very much holding his breath right now. The stakes just got a lot higher. The possible reward is greater. The consequences of losing are even more severe.

All Leafs Nation is rejoicing just now. Foligno was a popular choice. Probably the most popular of rumoured players. A middle six forward capable of both centre and the penalty kill. He was a good choice.

While being better than completely useless is a bar low enough even Kerfoot can jump. It is only by the smallest increment. I feel much more confident in Foligno holding that spot on the third line. Whether centre or wing.

The more exciting news for me is the acquisition of Big Save Dave.

This is not a backup goalie. This is a man capable of playing starting goalie. A guy that is above “replacement level”. A player that is proven NHL caliber. Someone we can trust to do at least as good as job as Andersen. Or better.

The likelihood of Andersen ever playing for the Leafs again has been reduced to basically nothing.

Wish you the best Freddie. Sorry about your luck.

Hopefully you played enough games this year that if the Leafs win the cup, you get your name on it too. You probably deserve it.

Though a few jerks in the fan and media base might not agree.

14 Apr 2021 00:46:55
I agree Freddy is probably fine. If Freddy comes back before playoffs what's the plan? Going to run a short roster with 3 goalies? I just don't see how this works.

Soup/ Rittich is a good tandem. If need be Freddy can still play if injuries happen as well.

This year's draft is going to be some nonsense. Scouting is way down. That pick is also a first round exit pick at best. It's not a top 15. I'm happy to hang on to prospects instead.

12 Apr 2021 04:24:44
Let's look at playoff lines but I'm sure I'll have to do this again after tomorrow.
Galchenyuk Matthews Marner
Foligno Tavares Nylander
Hyman Kerfoot Mikheyev
Simmonds Nash Spezza

Riley Brodie
Muzzin Holl
Dermott Bogosian

Cambell
Andersen
Rittich
Hutch
Vevalinen
Woll

Obviously you wanna have Thornton in your lineup somehow because he did come here to win a cup but I'm assuming there's going to be injuries and Riley Nash won't be ready until at least the playoffs so maybe if Thornton is playing well he stays in the lineup.

12 Apr 2021 15:15:50
I think the leafs chose rittich hoping he can be signed cheap enough next year to keep Hyman, Reilly will be a little tougher, especially if micheyev has a good year next year.

The leafs want to scout rittich as a 1B in Toronto.

I'd love to see campbell and rittich play a play til you lose system next year.

12 Apr 2021 03:12:54
Everyone wants to talk about Foligno but the real news is Rittich. The acquisition has to mean the end of an era. You don't get a starting calibre goaltender if you believe Freddy is coming back.

I'll miss you Freddy. You may have aged out but you stuck by us in some bad times. Good luck in Buffalo.

12 Apr 2021 12:30:53
Freddy will be back. If nobody gets hurt and soupy plays well down the stretch he gets the nod in game 1, no doubt, with freddy as the backup. I think its a great idea to challenge all the goalies and Rittich is great insurance.

12 Apr 2021 14:26:41
I think the idea is to bring in Rittich and resign him and move on from Freddy but the next question would be with Andersen being out so much of the season can you bring him back for cheap as in cheaper than 5 mil.

12 Apr 2021 15:20:04
I think I like rittich more than Andersen tbh, we now have 2 battlers in net. I was talking with my old man about that Ottawa game on Saturday, if Andersen was in net and they come back from being down 2-0, the games already over Andersen can't shut the door there. Campbell probably had his worst game of the season, but he made 4 or 5 big saves at the right times.

12 Apr 2021 19:40:31
@AF7 that's the big thing for me as well. Freddy can have some great games but he never battles back late in a game. You won't see him keep his team in it after letting in 4-5 goals.

12 Apr 2021 01:53:25
Good move today but I'm very curious as to what Dubas is up to he's taken on three guys and moved no one off the current roster does this mean more moves or is it the end of the line for a guy like Thornton

12 Apr 2021 06:43:43
Was thinking that as well @L94.

Riley Nash is a better 4C than Jumbo. Foligno is obviously better as well. Kerfoot and Thornton get bumped down? What's the plan?

12 Apr 2021 11:36:52
I could see two things that could happen the leafs either double down and go get Granlund or laffalo or the pick up a depth d I wouldn’t mind either way I think our defence is the last hole Dubas will fix.

11 Apr 2021 22:28:16
Nice piece of business by Dubas. I'm not his biggest fan but he got the guy I wanted in Foligno without having to give up a top prospect

We will see how he finishes tomorrow

More secondary depth needed.

12 Apr 2021 00:38:48
Next up, the trade with the Hawks. Kerfoot and a 3rd for Janmark and Zadorov.

12 Apr 2021 00:40:06
How much more depth are you wanting? Riley Nash and Foligno mean 2 guys currently playing will be in the press box.


If some how enough injuries happen you even still have Robertson and Sandin.

12 Apr 2021 15:21:10
And lily and Rosen.

11 Apr 2021 22:11:59
Let's look at the lines if the leafs don't make another trade tomorrow and that's a big if.

Hyman Matthews Marner
Galchenyuk Tavares Nylander
Foligno Kerfoot Simmonds
Mikheyev Thornton Spezza.

11 Apr 2021 23:29:31
Interested to see how much Thornton plays in the playoffs with Engvall and Nash being scratched.

12 Apr 2021 00:40:54
I would sit Kerfoot and use Engvall but that's more preference I guess. Looks like it's coming together.

12 Apr 2021 04:02:12
I'd take Thornton out before engvall.