Highlander
Active member
Just think if Gautier had stayed, we would have had a Goat, Giraffe and Elephant all on the same team.
2020-2021 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion
- Thread starter herman
- Start date
herman
Well-known member
Frank E said:
Holl is merely a minor deity in my pantheon and appreciation is still a far cry from worship (praise be to Willy). Thornton and Spezza are both just nice-to-haves that I'm not getting too attached to. I like what they bring on and off the ice, the risk is minimal, but I'm not holding them to any particular expectations as super old interns.
I just think Holl is unheralded by many because he is wonderfully invisible 90% of the time, just moving the puck into good space. After being annexed unceremoniously by Babcock, he has outplayed every RD acquisition we've had since he joined the roster full time (low hurdle, sure). To a decent degree propped up by Muzzin last year, this year Holl's been holding his own so far as Muzzin warms up.
https://connorcarrick.podbean.com/e/s3-ep3-justin-holl-staying-true-to-your-game-finding-your-way/
Highlander
Active member
I agree with Herman, Holl is approaching minor deity status. To be honest, I wanted them to jettison Holl and his 2 M contract before the season. However he has been a very pleasant surprise, very steady and doing a solid job. Considering he is only in his second semi full season, I wonder if his ceiling is even higher if he hangs around.
For one, I am interested in seeing how he plays out.
I would like to Sandin get some time sooner than later as well
For one, I am interested in seeing how he plays out.
I would like to Sandin get some time sooner than later as well
herman
Well-known member
Now we are down our youngest AND oldest players
Completely oblivious to the cap situation (in Pridham we trust), I think they're going to want to keep the Kerfoot line's purpose intact
Easy solution would be bump Hyman to Matthews' wing as they've been doing for parts of games to good effect, and call up a defensive winger for Kerfoot: Engvall and Barabanov are immediate options on the SRS. Boyd and Anderson might also be worth a look, cap situation dependent.
Completely oblivious to the cap situation (in Pridham we trust), I think they're going to want to keep the Kerfoot line's purpose intact
Easy solution would be bump Hyman to Matthews' wing as they've been doing for parts of games to good effect, and call up a defensive winger for Kerfoot: Engvall and Barabanov are immediate options on the SRS. Boyd and Anderson might also be worth a look, cap situation dependent.
herman said:
The shutdown line falls apart without Hyman. Period. So if they bump him back into the top-6 then they need to move away from having Kerfoot matched up against other top-6 lines. Granted that's not exactly the end of the world since it's not as if Tavares and Nylander NEED that type of sheltering. It was just a nice luxury to have.
herman
Well-known member
CarltonTheBear said:
If 2016 could see us now...
I don't disagree, per se. But the function of the shutdown line is to make nothing happen at our net, so while it's hard thankless work, I can't say that it takes a talent our roster does not have. Getting a top-line capable complementary winger is harder and Hyman is the only one left who fits the bill.
herman said:
Keefe will have lots of options. If he thinks Hyman is the only guy who could/should replace Thornton then that's fine, but the Tavares line will need to take on more match-ups. Maybe that requires Mikheyev replacing Vesey on it, and that's fine too. This option stacks our top-6 but leaves our bottom-6 looking a little weak.
He could also keep the checking line in tact and throw in a guy like Barabanov or Simmonds on the top line just to see if they could fill that role temporarily.
Or maybe the middle ground option is to take Mikheyev off the checking line to replace Thornton and have Barabanov or Engvall take the spot on the 3rd line. While I like Mikheyev I don't think his presence is as essential to the line's success as Hyman's so that might work.
There's lot of options that I'd be open to seeing Keefe try... except the Hyman-less checking line one.
Guilt Trip
Active member
I agree. I think he should put Vesey on the checking line and move Mikheyev up. Like you said, try Barabanov or Simmonds with one of the top 2 lines and see how it goes. If Barabanov is this supposed puck hound, we'll see it soon enough.CarltonTheBear said:
https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1352293696490844166
It's on.
It's on.
Guilt Trip
Active member
Moves could be coming today...wonder which way the Leafs will go. LTIR, Emergency or demote Lehtonen and use 2 of Boyd, Anderson, Brooks.CarltonTheBear said:
Bullfrog said:
He may have the mind for it but what else? Thornton obviously has the mind for it but had nothing else to offer and was a drag on the line. They need someone who can at the least keep up with Matthews and Marner in terms of skating. Spezza? Sure, try it but I don't think it'll work. Same with Vesey, too slow. Better chances of meshing with someone like Engvall, Milkheyev, Hyman (obviously). I'd even consider trying Barabanov (see what he's got) or Brooks, though I'm not sure if Brooks is quick enough either.
Anderson is interesting but I've never really seen him play.
herman said:
Not the lines I would have predicted but I'm assuming this falls into the "no more shutdown line+we don't want to decimate our bottom-6" category of options.
Hopefully Simmonds makes the most of this opportunity. Montreal fight aside I think he's been a tad underwhelming so far. In his defence his usage/minutes have been pretty limited/sporadic.
L K said:
Reports were that he came on the ice and then left pretty quickly. Could be absolutely nothing, but a scheduled maintenance day seems unlikely considering that.