Kraken vs. Maple Leafs - Jan. 21st, 9:00pm - SN, Fan 590

[Guilt Trip]

Sammy is back, baby!!!

I really liked the look of Holmberg on the 4th line.

Now replace Gregor with McMann and see what they can do.

 

[herman]

I know Keefe will likely go back to his default lines once again since we're at risk of losing the playoff berth, but I kind of want to see what cooks

McMann-Matthews-Nylander
Roberton-Domi-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Jarnkrok
Knies-Kampf-Holmberg

I could go either way on Holmberg/McMann. Contemplated sitting Kampf, but then there'd be a huge onus on Matthews in DZ situations already trying lock down with Nylander. If Domi + whatever can be converted to Adam Henrique or Elias Lindholm (still dreaming), then... yeah.

 

[Guilt Trip]

I know Keefe will likely go back to his default lines once again since we're at risk of losing the playoff berth, but I kind of want to see what cooks

McMann-Matthews-Nylander
Roberton-Domi-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Jarnkrok
Knies-Kampf-Holmberg

I could go either way on Holmberg/McMann. Contemplated sitting Kampf, but then there'd be a huge onus on Matthews in DZ situations already trying lock down with Nylander. If Domi + whatever can be converted to Adam Henrique or Elias Lindholm (still dreaming), then... yeah.

Like it

 

[L K]

Timmins got fined for crosschecking Tanev.  Seriously?  There is some serious corruption in that department for how he handles business.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Timmins got fined for crosschecking Tanev.  Seriously?  There is some serious corruption in that department for how he handles business.

It was a stupid move by Timmins and well deserving of a penalty, but man the salary cap would probably double if the league fined a player every time something like that happened.

I'm aware player fines aren't considered HRR please don't nit pick my joke

 

[herman]

Timmins got fined for crosschecking Tanev.  Seriously?  There is some serious corruption in that department for how he handles business.

It was a stupid move by Timmins and well deserving of a penalty, but man the salary cap would probably double if the league fined a player every time something like that happened.

I'm aware player fines aren't considered HRR please don't nit pick my joke

would it be interesting if fines for dangerous plays were tacked onto the offending team's salary cap? Obviously there'd be overhead space allotted; most fines are coming in around the daily rate of a league min salary, but it might provide some internal incentive to self-police. And also that one salary cap floor team to load up on psychos and just screw high spenders by dragging them into the mud.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

would it be interesting if fines for dangerous plays were tacked onto the offending team's salary cap? Obviously there'd be overhead space allotted; most fines are coming in around the daily rate of a league min salary, but it might provide some internal incentive to self-police. And also that one salary cap floor team to load up on psychos and just screw high spenders by dragging them into the mud.

Nah. Teams would complain and players would just stop getting fined for anything short of attempted murder.

This is based off the last experience the league ever tried to do anything to toughen up the DOPS (when Shanny was in charge) and all the GMs complained and that led us to whatever this is.

 

[cw]

It's two decent games from Sammy since coming back from his week long vacation.  Granted the Leafs have limited shots against him.  He's faced 40 shots in his two games against Detroit and Seattle and is sitting on a .900 SV% in two games.  He's been fine.  I'm still not remotely confident in him as a load heavy starter but with Jones falling back to Earth in his last few games its nice to have an alternative again until Woll comes back and we see if he can keep his good form of play.

.903 is Sammy's career save%
About half the NHL goalies are below that this season.
Top 39 NHL goalies with 8 or more games played are .900 or better.
So .900 is not a bad number for a backup.
We'll see how he does.
But so far, he looks improved over how he looked prior to waivers.

 

[dappleganger]

I know Keefe will likely go back to his default lines once again since we're at risk of losing the playoff berth, but I kind of want to see what cooks

McMann-Matthews-Nylander
Roberton-Domi-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Jarnkrok
Knies-Kampf-Holmberg

What do you think about:

Domi-Matthews-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Nylander
Robertson-Holmberg-Jarnkrok
Knies-Kampf-Gregor

Play the 4th line!!! Let them bang and crash, forecheck and rush the puck.

 

[herman]

I know Keefe will likely go back to his default lines once again since we're at risk of losing the playoff berth, but I kind of want to see what cooks

McMann-Matthews-Nylander
Roberton-Domi-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Jarnkrok
Knies-Kampf-Holmberg

What do you think about:

Domi-Matthews-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Nylander
Robertson-Holmberg-Jarnkrok
Knies-Kampf-Gregor

Play the 4th line!!! Let them bang and crash, forecheck and rush the puck.

I don't think I could play Domi with 34/16. He is too dumb. It's like faster Nick Ritchie, who can make 1 really nice pass every 3 games, but will giveaway the puck 8 other times every game. 34/16 needs a forechecker who opens space for them to operate and doesn't need to puck to contribute: box out, net front screen, greasy cleanup.

He has helped commendably in a sheltered 3C role, but if we have the assets to do it after other critical upgrades (backend mobility to replace Brodie/Giordano's lost steps), I'd look to fix that.

 

[cw]

I know Keefe will likely go back to his default lines once again since we're at risk of losing the playoff berth, but I kind of want to see what cooks

McMann-Matthews-Nylander
Roberton-Domi-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Jarnkrok
Knies-Kampf-Holmberg

I could go either way on Holmberg/McMann. Contemplated sitting Kampf, but then there'd be a huge onus on Matthews in DZ situations already trying lock down with Nylander. If Domi + whatever can be converted to Adam Henrique or Elias Lindholm (still dreaming), then... yeah.

I like trying McMann on a scoring line. That's what he does - that is his talent as a finisher. They really haven't given him much of a chance to do what he does well.
He goes to the net - which they need in the playoffs. He's 6'2" 210lbs - he has some size and will use it. He's above average with skating speed.
Part of the reason Keefe sat McMann is a nagging injury.

On any of those top three lines (without Tavares), coach could say "Bobby, in the o-zone, go to the boards and retrieve the puck, pass it and then head to your office: around the blue paint, for screens, tips and scrums to shove it in." I say without Tavares because Tavares goes to the net.

I thought Bertuzzi did that but I reviewed his 30 goal season. Not as many came from around the blue paint as I thought.

Kampf is not a great center for that sort of thing. They were a checking line.

If they had started McMann on a scoring line at the start of the season, I bet he'd be right up there with the goal scoring leaders on left wing or past them. He's awesome on the PP as well.

The other guys haven't done so hot. I'd like to see him get a chance .. and not for 1-2 games - for 5-10 games. His price performance would be a heck of a lot better than Bertuzzi's to help the team manage the cap.

 

[azzurri63]

Nick Robertson has matched the scoring of Tavares, Knies, Bertuzzi, Gregor, Kampf, Domi

Not individually.  In total.  Robertson has 2 goals and the rest of them have combined for 2 goals in January

We have a depth scoring problem and Keefe keeps benching Robertson.  He's not a perfect player but 7 goals in 27 games shouldn't be sitting as much as he has this year.  Right now he's playing at a 20G 19A pace getting 10-11 minutes a night.  He's playing sheltered minutes but he has one of the better expected goals against on the team.  Doesn't mean a lot, but you rarely see him not making an effort on the ice.  I'm not entirely sure what Keefe has against him at this point.  If we had better options I would understand him sitting but right now it's just a rotation of the "younger" guys when some of the veteran depth to me are a far bigger problem.

It's two decent games from Sammy since coming back from his week long vacation.  Granted the Leafs have limited shots against him.  He's faced 40 shots in his two games against Detroit and Seattle and is sitting on a .900 SV% in two games.  He's been fine.  I'm still not remotely confident in him as a load heavy starter but with Jones falling back to Earth in his last few games its nice to have an alternative again until Woll comes back and we see if he can keep his good form of play.

Keefe's decisions are mind boggling at best. All a farce. I haven't been overly impressed with Nick from day 1 as he hasn't panned out. Some will say he hasn't been given a chance but he has. Problem in the past was staying healthy. Part of the injuries is the way he plays and he's not a big guy. He needs to play smarter and not so overly aggressive and it will limit the injuries. This year he looks more determined and playing well when inserted and he definitely should be in the lineup and playing regular minutes. Keefe has it out for certain guys plain and simple. He said guys would be held accountable. If that's the case Domi should have seen the bench after the dumb penalty that basically killed any momentum and maybe cost us some points Saturday.