General Leafs Talk: Post-Olympics Edition

[CarltonTheBear]

The NHL return is getting closer and closer. Kulemin practiced today on a line with Bolland and Raymond. Kadri was with Lupul and Clarkson. With the top line of course being set that's almost certainly what our top-9 will look like on Thursday.The only question now is what Carlyle will do with the 4th line.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Peter Holland was officially sent down to the Marlies today. Assuming everybody is healthy, one more player will have to be sent down as well. Ashton is the only other forward who can go without having to clear waivers.

 

[caver]

Why would they wait until today to send Holland down? Did his "lace bite" keep him out until now?

 

[Kessel Run]

Why would they wait until today to send Holland down? Did his "lace bite" keep him out until now?

That's my guess. They can't demote an injured player.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Lines at practice today:

Smith-Bozak-Bodie
Lupul-Kadri-Clarkson
Raymond-Bolland-Kulemin
McLaren-McClement-Orr
Ashton

Bodie and Smith are obviously just placeholders for JVR and Kessel. But going off of that we could see the bash brothers both in a full healthy line-up.

 

[bustaheims]

Bodie and Smith are obviously just placeholders for JVR and Kessel. But going off of that we could see the bash brothers both in a full healthy line-up.

That seems to be the feeling:

Hope_Smoke: I remember hearing Bob McKenzie say that Carlyle's 4th line of choice is Orr-McClement-McLaren & injuries haven't allowed that to happen yet

Hope_Smoke: McKenzie said as soon as the Leafs get fully healthy you can expect that 4th line to be reunited. Based on practice that looks likely

Sigh.

McClement on the 4th line is fine. That's absolutely where he belongs. The other two . . .

 

[Corn Flake]

That seems to be the feeling:

Hope_Smoke: I remember hearing Bob McKenzie say that Carlyle's 4th line of choice is Orr-McClement-McLaren & injuries haven't allowed that to happen yet

Hope_Smoke: McKenzie said as soon as the Leafs get fully healthy you can expect that 4th line to be reunited. Based on practice that looks likely

Sigh.

McClement on the 4th line is fine. That's absolutely where he belongs. The other two . . .

So even though he had the chance to have McLaren in the lineup on a regular basis over the last 2 months and he hasn't done that, we've concluded this is his preference?

This scenario keeps not happening yet the anti-Carlyle's keep gravitating to it.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

So even though he had the chance to have McLaren in the lineup on a regular basis over the last 2 months and he hasn't done that, we've concluded this is his preference?

This scenario keeps not happening yet the anti-Carlyle's keep gravitating to it.

So Bob McKenzie is anti-Carlyle now?

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That seems to be the feeling:

Hope_Smoke: I remember hearing Bob McKenzie say that Carlyle's 4th line of choice is Orr-McClement-McLaren & injuries haven't allowed that to happen yet

Hope_Smoke: McKenzie said as soon as the Leafs get fully healthy you can expect that 4th line to be reunited. Based on practice that looks likely

Sigh.

McClement on the 4th line is fine. That's absolutely where he belongs. The other two . . .

So even though he had the chance to have McLaren in the lineup on a regular basis over the last 2 months and he hasn't done that, we've concluded this is his preference?

This scenario keeps not happening yet the anti-Carlyle's keep gravitating to it.

I'm assuming the injuries referred to means not having Bolland, and thus Carlyle relying on McClement to a greater degree and not wanting Holland on the 4th line w/ Orr/McLaren.

EDIT: Plus, with Bolland set to come off IR, and Holland already sent down, that leaves Ashton as the most likely to be sent to the Marlies.  That wouldn't leave anyone else for that 4th line.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

EDIT: Plus, with Bolland set to come off IR, and Holland already sent down, that leaves Ashton as the most likely to be sent to the Marlies.  That wouldn't leave anyone else for that 4th line.

It's still possible Bodie gets dropped to the 4th line and that Carlyle just didn't want McLaren placeholding on the top line. We'll see.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

EDIT: Plus, with Bolland set to come off IR, and Holland already sent down, that leaves Ashton as the most likely to be sent to the Marlies.  That wouldn't leave anyone else for that 4th line.

It's still possible Bodie gets dropped to the 4th line and that Carlyle just didn't want McLaren placeholding on the top line. We'll see.

Oh right, Bodie.  I think he'll play then.

 

[bustaheims]

EDIT: Plus, with Bolland set to come off IR, and Holland already sent down, that leaves Ashton as the most likely to be sent to the Marlies.  That wouldn't leave anyone else for that 4th line.

I don't think Smith has been officially activated either, so, there are a couple more roster moves to come before Thursday's game. It is definitely shaping up in a way that could easily lead to a 4th line of McLaren-McClement-Orr out of lack of other options (because Carlyle and/or Nonis refused to send down McLaren and/or Orr).

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

EDIT: Plus, with Bolland set to come off IR, and Holland already sent down, that leaves Ashton as the most likely to be sent to the Marlies.  That wouldn't leave anyone else for that 4th line.

I don't think Smith has been officially activated either, so, there are a couple more roster moves to come before Thursday's game. It is definitely shaping up in a way that could easily lead to a 4th line of McLaren-McClement-Orr out of lack of other options (because Carlyle and/or Nonis refused to send down McLaren and/or Orr).

I'd be fine sticking with a Rick Nash - Matt Duchene - Patrick Sharp 4th line.

 

[Corn Flake]

So even though he had the chance to have McLaren in the lineup on a regular basis over the last 2 months and he hasn't done that, we've concluded this is his preference?

This scenario keeps not happening yet the anti-Carlyle's keep gravitating to it.

So Bob McKenzie is anti-Carlyle now?

Um, what?

I think he's wrong in the assumption.

 

[Corn Flake]

That seems to be the feeling:

Hope_Smoke: I remember hearing Bob McKenzie say that Carlyle's 4th line of choice is Orr-McClement-McLaren & injuries haven't allowed that to happen yet

Hope_Smoke: McKenzie said as soon as the Leafs get fully healthy you can expect that 4th line to be reunited. Based on practice that looks likely

Sigh.

McClement on the 4th line is fine. That's absolutely where he belongs. The other two . . .

So even though he had the chance to have McLaren in the lineup on a regular basis over the last 2 months and he hasn't done that, we've concluded this is his preference?

This scenario keeps not happening yet the anti-Carlyle's keep gravitating to it.

I'm assuming the injuries referred to means not having Bolland, and thus Carlyle relying on McClement to a greater degree and not wanting Holland on the 4th line w/ Orr/McLaren.

EDIT: Plus, with Bolland set to come off IR, and Holland already sent down, that leaves Ashton as the most likely to be sent to the Marlies.  That wouldn't leave anyone else for that 4th line.

With the injured returning, I expect the 4th line to be Bodie/McClement/Orr with Ashton slotting in here or there.

McLaren has played 3 games in the last 20 games or so and based on GP, has been surpassed by Bodie for playing time. I don't see why that is going to change out of the post-Olympic gate.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

That seems to be the feeling:

Hope_Smoke: I remember hearing Bob McKenzie say that Carlyle's 4th line of choice is Orr-McClement-McLaren & injuries haven't allowed that to happen yet

Hope_Smoke: McKenzie said as soon as the Leafs get fully healthy you can expect that 4th line to be reunited. Based on practice that looks likely

Sigh.

McClement on the 4th line is fine. That's absolutely where he belongs. The other two . . .

So even though he had the chance to have McLaren in the lineup on a regular basis over the last 2 months and he hasn't done that, we've concluded this is his preference?

This scenario keeps not happening yet the anti-Carlyle's keep gravitating to it.

I'm assuming the injuries referred to means not having Bolland, and thus Carlyle relying on McClement to a greater degree and not wanting Holland on the 4th line w/ Orr/McLaren.

EDIT: Plus, with Bolland set to come off IR, and Holland already sent down, that leaves Ashton as the most likely to be sent to the Marlies.  That wouldn't leave anyone else for that 4th line.

With the injured returning, I expect the 4th line to be Bodie/McClement/Orr with Ashton slotting in here or there.

McLaren has played 3 games in the last 20 games or so and based on GP, has been surpassed by Bodie for playing time. I don't see why that is going to change out of the post-Olympic gate.

Possibly, but there's been a couple other stretches of games Bodie has played in a row this season where I thought he'd be here to stay on the 4th line and then was sent back down.  Wouldn't surprise me if either scenario occurred.  I like Bodie, though, so hopefully he sticks.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

EDIT: Plus, with Bolland set to come off IR, and Holland already sent down, that leaves Ashton as the most likely to be sent to the Marlies.  That wouldn't leave anyone else for that 4th line.

I don't think Smith has been officially activated either, so, there are a couple more roster moves to come before Thursday's game. It is definitely shaping up in a way that could easily lead to a 4th line of McLaren-McClement-Orr out of lack of other options (because Carlyle and/or Nonis refused to send down McLaren and/or Orr).

And Carlyle has just said Smith is closer to returning than Bolland, so we'll probably not see the final shakedown for a bit still.

 

[bustaheims]

With the injured returning, I expect the 4th line to be Bodie/McClement/Orr with Ashton slotting in here or there.

McLaren has played 3 games in the last 20 games or so and based on GP, has been surpassed by Bodie for playing time. I don't see why that is going to change out of the post-Olympic gate.

At least one of Bodie/Ashton/Smith/McLaren/Orr has to be sent to the Marlies just to have roster space to activate all the injured players. Once the cap is taken into consideration, that means probably two of them are heading to Ricoh - almost certainly Ashton and likely one of Smith or Bodie. If the coaching staff and management group were open to sending McLaren down, it would have happened already. There's been a number of opportunities to keep a useful player on the roster instead of him, and, every time, that useful player has been returned to the AHL. I don't expect things to change now. The options for that 4th line are going to be extremely limited as long as Orr and McLaren remain on the roster.

 

[Corn Flake]

Possibly, but there's been a couple other stretches of games Bodie has played in a row this season where I thought he'd be here to stay on the 4th line and then was sent back down.  Wouldn't surprise me if either scenario occurred.  I like Bodie, though, so hopefully he sticks.

yes I recall those and I guess we shall see what happens, but since he was last called up he has stuck and Carlyle has used him in a number of situations and also publicly praised him for his play, so to me the signs point to him remaining a regular. 

Also, I'm fairly sure that Carlyle is seeing the writing on the wall with the two enforcer thing and that opponents are now rarely providing match ups that require as much muscle as you can dress. But a few teams like Ottawa will dress multiple goons too so he can justify keeping McLaren around for those games.  Then again, Bodie can (sort of) hold his own as a physical presence so there's that.

 

[Corn Flake]

With the injured returning, I expect the 4th line to be Bodie/McClement/Orr with Ashton slotting in here or there.

McLaren has played 3 games in the last 20 games or so and based on GP, has been surpassed by Bodie for playing time. I don't see why that is going to change out of the post-Olympic gate.

At least one of Bodie/Ashton/Smith/McLaren/Orr has to be sent to the Marlies just to have roster space to activate all the injured players. Once the cap is taken into consideration, that means probably two of them are heading to Ricoh - almost certainly Ashton and likely one of Smith or Bodie. If the coaching staff and management group were open to sending McLaren down, it would have happened already. There's been a number of opportunities to keep a useful player on the roster instead of him, and, every time, that useful player has been returned to the AHL. I don't expect things to change now. The options for that 4th line are going to be extremely limited as long as Orr and McLaren remain on the roster.

I would rather have McLaren sitting in the press box than Ashton, and even Smith to an extent.  If Smith isn't playing top 9 minutes he's not going to be of much use. He's more valuable to the Marlies than he is to the Leafs as a 13th forward. 

I still think we could see McLaren moved along and I don't see why that absolutely had to happen before the break. 

They also need to see where Bolland is really at as well before making roster decisions.  He is still on LTIR so they don't have to make decisions until that changes.