Armchair GM 2018-2019

[herman]

I have Hyman up there because Kadri is still going to run the matchup line at home. On the road, yeah let?s stack more offensive potential on the overmatch 3rd line.

 

[Andy007]

Marleau is nearing 40, Hyman is a good 4th liner and Johnsson is still an unknown NHL commodity so I understand sniffing around Maroon. As long as Johnsson plays on the 3rd line, I think he'd fit in just fine:

Maroon    Matthews  Nylander
Marleau  Tavares    Marner
Johnsson  Kadri        Kapanen
Hyman    Lindholm  Brown

 

[Coco-puffs]

I have Hyman up there because Kadri is still going to run the matchup line at home. On the road, yeah let?s stack more offensive potential on the overmatch 3rd line.

I think Hyman is a bit overrated defensively tbh.  He's most effective as a displacement forechecker. He also doesn't transition the puck well by himself.  If I'm starting someone in the defensive zone alot, I definitely want someone defensively responsible, but I also want someone who's going to get the puck into the offensive zone rather quickly and that's why I prefer Kapanen there.  Also, if Kapanen and Brown are your two 4th line wingers, Brown will be switching sides before Kapanen and you can take that to the bank.

 

[Coco-puffs]

Marleau is nearing 40, Hyman is a good 4th liner and Johnsson is still an unknown NHL commodity so I understand sniffing around Maroon. As long as Johnsson plays on the 3rd line, I think he'd fit in just fine:

Maroon    Matthews  Nylander
Marleau  Tavares    Marner
Johnsson  Kadri        Kapanen
Hyman    Lindholm  Brown

I still like Maroon with Tavares and Marner, if no other reason than to say its the London Knights Connection line.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I still like Maroon with Tavares and Marner, if no other reason than to say its the London Knights Connection line.

Stylistically it's pretty darn similar to the Lee-Tavares-Bailey line that he had a lot of success with too.

 

[Coco-puffs]

I still like Maroon with Tavares and Marner, if no other reason than to say its the London Knights Connection line.

Stylistically it's pretty darn similar to the Lee-Tavares-Bailey line that he had a lot of success with too.

Very true.

Add Kadri to that forward line for PP1 and its the London Knights Connection PP.  Although I don't know if Maroon on the left flank would work well.

Speaking of the PP.... I seriously can't wait for the first PP of the season where we trot out:

Tavares
WHOCARES - Kadri - Marner
Rielly

Marleau
Matthews - Johnsson - Nylander
Gardiner

 

[herman]

I have Hyman up there because Kadri is still going to run the matchup line at home. On the road, yeah let?s stack more offensive potential on the overmatch 3rd line.

I think Hyman is a bit overrated defensively tbh.  He's most effective as a displacement forechecker. He also doesn't transition the puck well by himself.  If I'm starting someone in the defensive zone alot, I definitely want someone defensively responsible, but I also want someone who's going to get the puck into the offensive zone rather quickly and that's why I prefer Kapanen there.  Also, if Kapanen and Brown are your two 4th line wingers, Brown will be switching sides before Kapanen and you can take that to the bank.

Hyman and Brown are always on top of the play, and defensively playing on the strong side is more effective, so I prefer them both on the right side where possible. i.e. if we are still blowing the zone, I'd like these two to be the hanging back/red-line option, or mucking the puck out in the first place.

I think your better puck handlers should be the off-wing option. i.e. Kapanen and pretty much every European scoring winger plays or has played off-wing, due to space and offensive scoring options.

 

[Coco-puffs]

I have Hyman up there because Kadri is still going to run the matchup line at home. On the road, yeah let?s stack more offensive potential on the overmatch 3rd line.

I think Hyman is a bit overrated defensively tbh.  He's most effective as a displacement forechecker. He also doesn't transition the puck well by himself.  If I'm starting someone in the defensive zone alot, I definitely want someone defensively responsible, but I also want someone who's going to get the puck into the offensive zone rather quickly and that's why I prefer Kapanen there.  Also, if Kapanen and Brown are your two 4th line wingers, Brown will be switching sides before Kapanen and you can take that to the bank.

Hyman and Brown are always on top of the play, and defensively playing on the strong side is more effective, so I prefer them both on the right side where possible. i.e. if we are still blowing the zone, I'd like these two to be the hanging back/red-line option, or mucking the puck out in the first place.

I think your better puck handlers should be the off-wing option. i.e. Kapanen and pretty much every European scoring winger plays or has played off-wing, due to space and offensive scoring options.

Oh, I think I'd prefer Kapanen on the off wing as you said.  But we are talking about WHO will be on the offside in that scenario and you aren't taking Babcock's tendencies into account.  (Hint:  He almost always puts the more veteran/dependable guy on his off wing)

 

[herman]

(Hint:  He almost always puts the more veteran/dependable guy on his off wing)

My theory is that he off-wings the player who doesn't need the puck to play his best. And it goes into which winger makes up the 3rd player on a line pairing. I don't know it veteranness or trust goes into it that much, other than he trusts players who know how to play without the puck and they tend to be veterans.

His pairs are generally Center + opposite handed Winger for smoother , and a mucker/digger who doesn't need the puck to be good on the opposite side.

Matthews + Nylander: add off-wing Hyman who never needs the puck to be effective.
Kadri + Marner: add Marleau on Kadri's backhand because he always knows where soft ice is; bonus handedness match with Marner when they get sprung on stretch passes.
Tavares + Marner: Add Hyman as above.

 

[rdowdall]

Babcock has often said that in his forward lines he likes to have pairings.  So the pairings in the past have been:

Hyman - Matthews  ( I would rather say Nylander, but he is the guy that gets moved)
Marleau - Kadri
JVR - Bozak.

So based on that, I could see the pairings moving to something like this:

Hyman - Matthews
Tavares - Marner
Marleau - Kadri

Then based on those pairings I could see the lineup being similar to this if Maroon was signed:

Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Maroon - Tavares - Marner
Marleau - Kadri - Kapanen
Johnsson - 4th Line Centre - Brown

The 4th line becomes the shakeup line, so if someone isn't performing, Johnson or Brown gets moved up and the under-performing player moves there.

On the PP with Matthews, Johnsson takes Hyman's spot and Kadri joins that group.  Marleau takes Marners's spot as Marner is going to play off the backend as the 4th forward.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Leafs have signed Tyler Ennis to a 1 year 650k deal.

 

[Bullfrog]

Babcock has often said that in his forward lines he likes to have pairings.  So the pairings in the past have been:
....

'
I'm pretty confident saying that Matthews/Nylander is now a thing.

 

[dappleganger]

Babcock has often said that in his forward lines he likes to have pairings.  So the pairings in the past have been:
....

'
I'm pretty confident saying that Matthews/Nylander is now a thing.

I'm also confident Tavares/Marner is a thing.

 

[Frank E]

Through the reported attempted signing of de Haan, I was just thinking that maybe Gardiner is on the block.  Maybe.

If that's the case, I was going through teams trying to figure out who would be a good trading partner, considering the Leafs would likely like a more cost controlled RD to play with Rielly.  Dermott and Zaitsev would round out the 2nd pairing.

So what about this Honka kid in Dallas?  Or back to the old reliable rumour of Trouba?

 

[mr grieves]

Through the reported attempted signing of de Haan, I was just thinking that maybe Gardiner is on the block.  Maybe.

If that's the case, I was going through teams trying to figure out who would be a good trading partner, considering the Leafs would likely like a more cost controlled RD to play with Rielly.  Dermott and Zaitsev would round out the 2nd pairing.

So what about this Honka kid in Dallas?  Or back to the old reliable rumour of Trouba?

Is the idea that they'd trade Gardiner for a cost controlled RD? Or that they'd trade Gardiner and then use those and other assets to get one?

 

[Frank E]

Through the reported attempted signing of de Haan, I was just thinking that maybe Gardiner is on the block.  Maybe.

If that's the case, I was going through teams trying to figure out who would be a good trading partner, considering the Leafs would likely like a more cost controlled RD to play with Rielly.  Dermott and Zaitsev would round out the 2nd pairing.

So what about this Honka kid in Dallas?  Or back to the old reliable rumour of Trouba?

Is the idea that they'd trade Gardiner for a cost controlled RD? Or that they'd trade Gardiner and then use those and other assets to get one?

Yes.

 

[princedpw]

I don?t know where to put this but I?m pretty concerned about the rumors of Tampa getting Karlsson.

Related: can we please change the playoff format?

 

[rdowdall]

I don?t know where to put this but I?m pretty concerned about the rumors of Tampa getting Karlsson.

Related: can we please change the playoff format?

At some point, no matter what the playoff format is, the Leafs are going to have to play the best teams, so I don't think changing the format is really going to help at all.  If and when the Leafs play a Boston, or a Tampa, or a Pittsburgh, or a Washington, they need to be the better team to win the series. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I don't expect him to be a saviour or anything but a 1-year deal below $1mil for Cody Franson really couldn't hurt anybody at this point.

 

[Redleaf]

I don't expect him to be a saviour or anything but a 1-year deal below $1mil for Cody Franson really couldn't hurt anybody at this point.

Having watched Franson over and over again in that infamous game 7 against Boston , I would pass on having him return to the roster . He was way too soft for a team that, above all else , needs more toughness and mental fortitude . He?s a Large PASS for me .